Trans-forming gym spaces

: researching the barriers faced by transgender adults accessing UK gym facilities

Abstract

Transgender people navigate a world that is heteronormative and cis- normative. Subsequently they are more likely to experience psychological health and wellbeing issues compared to their cisgender peers due to their differences. Despite queer research indicating sport and exercise as a cite for discrimination and segregation, there is also huge potential for participation to improve individuals’ physical and mental health, foster inclusion and support individuals’ construction of a physical body synonymous with their self/gender-identity. Despite this, there is limited research on how gym spaces are accessed and used by the trans community. Therefore, this study aimed to establish if and what barriers transgender adults face when accessing gym facilities in the UK and establish solutions to these barriers.

A survey was conducted with 287 members of the adult transgender community who used gyms in the UK. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to identify patterns of opinion on barriers and potential solutions to accessing gym facilities and qualitative data were used to understand these patterns in context and depth. Analyses were shaped by the broad principles of queer theory.

Results indicated that while transgender people experience many of the same barriers their cisgender counterparts do (e.g., a lack of time or money), these are often exacerbated by transition (e.g., having to buy additional or different clothing to participate), and more importantly they also experience gender-specific barriers associated with their transition. The top five barriers to gym use for transgender people were identified as binary or cisgendered changing rooms, fear or history of discrimination, fear of being ‘clocked’ or ‘outed’, gender dysphoria and social anxiety specific to gender. The key solutions to these barriers were having gender-neutral changing and bathroom facilities, equipped with private stalls to ensure privacy; clear policies from the gym on inclusion, discrimination and reporting of incidents and gyms and governing bodies ensuring staff have received LGBT+ awareness training. Moreover, analysis revealed different groups within the transgender community have different needs and priorities. As such future research needs to acknowledge transgender people are not a single, homogenous group and therefore more specific and intersectional analysis is needed on their experiences and needs.

Date of Award	15 Nov 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Abertay University
Supervisor	Rhiannon Lord (Supervisor) & Ross Lorimer (Supervisor)