RhyThem Bodywear GENDER-AFFIRMING DANCE APPAREL
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Date
2021-06
Authors
Calabrese, Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The inclusion of trans athletes in the competitive sports arena has been challenged by
committees and organizations for decades. Even today, as representation of the trans
community becomes more accepted by the public, many face discrimination and violence from
those who they would consider to be their peers, teammates, and supporters. Their right to
participate still remains open for contention when it comes to their gender identity, regardless
of their qualifications to perform the sport they chose. This paper hopes to shed light on the
challenges that these athletes face by looking through the lens of dance, a sport with a very
gender role defined history. Contemporary and modern dance were created as divergent
expressions from classical ballet. Many young dancers begin training in ballet where the
environment can be highly competitive and unhealthy. For young women, dance can be
particularly challenging as an ideal body image is placed on them from a young age. For trans
men, assigned female at birth, not only may they face the same scrutiny as women, they are
doing so while facing feelings of gender dysphoria. They look to tools like commercial binders
and other constraining apparel configurations to achieve an appearance of a flat chest to
assuage these feelings of dysphoria. Not only is this uncomfortable, it restricts their breathing,
impedes their posture, and can lead to long term health complications. It is the author’s belief
that if these athletes and dancers are given tools to perform and train comfortably as their
gender identity versus their gender expression they can grow and improve in their respective
disciplines.
Through researching the current market of products that the trans community utilizes in
order to alleviate feelings of gender dysphoria, valuable insight into what works and what does
not will allow a hypothesis to form around the type of product that needs to be created in order
to properly support the dancer’s needs. Further research will be conducted around the
materials and manufacturing methods that exist for state of the art product that will allow
deeper understanding into how this new product might be manufactured. Finally, intellectual
property in the form of patents will be researched as well as current color and graphics in order
to create and develop a collection of styles that will be unique in their design, function, and
appearance. It is the belief of the author that if trans athletes are given more opportunities to
grow and perform, they will gain recognition. With further recognition comes more in depth
conversation of proper inclusion and representation in an effort to reduce stigma at the onset
of participation and garnering a new wave of inclusion where inclusion is necessary.
Description
111 pages
Keywords
dance apparel, body dysmorphia