THESIS DECOLONIZING TRANSNESS IN SPORT MEDIA: THE FRAMES AND DEPICTIONS OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Submitted By Tammy Rae Matthews Department of Journalism and Media Communication In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Fall 2016 Master’s Committee: Advisor: Catherine Knight Steele Co-Advisor: Kris Kodrich Joseph Champ Caridad Souza Copyright by Tammy Rae Matthews 2016 All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT DECOLONIZING TRANSNESS IN SPORT MEDIA: THE FRAMES AND DEPICTIONS OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED This discourse analysis examines depictions of trans athletes in Sports Illustrated and sport culture through the lens of queer theory and the interpretive-packages model proposed by Gamson and Modigliani (1989). Four interpretive packages emerged from the print content: (1) Marginalization, (2) Labeling, (3) Fighting and Fairness and (4) Pride and Affirmation. The results illustrate that discourse has generally become more sensitive to trans issues. The author presents these results with cautious optimism. Blindingly affirming and romancing the transgender can be equally as superficial as marginalization, and representations of trans athletes secured by one person are problematic. Researchers and sport organizations should dismantle antiquated, coercive sex segregation in traditional sport and decolonize how it contributes to gender-based oppression. The author recommends that media outlets focus on presenting fair, accurate and inclusive representations of transness that combat oppressive positions. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................ 8 I. Hegemonic structures sex and gender sport ............................................................................ 8 II. Science affects the social understanding of sport ................................................................ 11 Biometrics and biopolitics ................................................................................................... 13 The transgender transition ................................................................................................... 14 Competitive advantage ........................................................................................................ 16 III. Sport creates challenges for marginalized groups. ............................................................. 17 Sport in society .................................................................................................................... 18 Gender in sport .................................................................................................................... 20 Transgender and intersex athletes ....................................................................................... 20 IV. The language of sex and gender evolve over time ............................................................. 22 The evolution of term “transgender” ................................................................................... 22 V. Sports media do not fully address sex and gender in athletics. ........................................... 26 VI. Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 29 Queer and feminist theories ................................................................................................. 29 Decolonization .................................................................................................................... 31 Additional theoretical approaches ....................................................................................... 32 iii Research questions .............................................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 36 I. Framing as a methodological approach ................................................................................ 37 II. Qualitative discourse analysis ............................................................................................. 38 III. Media packages .................................................................................................................. 42 IV. Analyzing media packages ................................................................................................. 45 Three classes of factors ....................................................................................................... 46 Cultural resonances ........................................................................................................ 46 Sponsored activities ........................................................................................................ 47 Media practices .............................................................................................................. 48 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................ 51 I. Marginalization ..................................................................................................................... 52 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 52 Framing devices .................................................................................................................. 53 Metaphor ........................................................................................................................ 53 Depiction ........................................................................................................................ 54 Catchphrase .................................................................................................................... 55 Exemplar ........................................................................................................................ 57 Visual Image .................................................................................................................. 58 Reasoning devices ............................................................................................................... 64 Roots ............................................................................................................................... 64 Appeals to Principle ....................................................................................................... 66 Consequences ................................................................................................................. 67 iv II. Labeling ............................................................................................................................... 67 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 67 Framing devices .................................................................................................................. 67 Metaphor ........................................................................................................................ 67 Depiction ........................................................................................................................ 68 Catchphrase .................................................................................................................... 69 Exemplar ........................................................................................................................ 69 Visual Image .................................................................................................................. 70 Reasoning devices ............................................................................................................... 71 Roots ............................................................................................................................... 71 Appeals to Principle ....................................................................................................... 71 Consequences ................................................................................................................. 71 III. Fighting and Fairness ......................................................................................................... 72 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 72 Framing devices .................................................................................................................. 73 Metaphor ........................................................................................................................ 73 Depiction .......................................................................................................................