‘Machinery of femininity control’: The IOC, gendered medical policy, and patriarchal oppression of female athletes during the Cold War (1968-1992)

Thesis

This dissertation meticulously explores the origins, historical trajectory, and implications of gender verification testing in the Olympic Games from 1968 to 1992. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that blends queer history with sports and medical narratives, it provides a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay of political, cultural, and scientific dynamics, with a primary focus on the policies of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The research extensively utilises primary sources, mainly letters from the IOC Historical Archives, revealing the institutional biases and entrenched patriarchal structures that shaped these policies.

The dissertation begins by examining the initial exclusion of women from the modern Olympics and their gradual, albeit limited, inclusion. It sets the stage for understanding the resistance to gender equality within sports institutions. It delves into the establishment and perpetuation of structural patriarchy within sports administration bodies such as the IOC and the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), shedding light on the barriers hindering women’s access to sports and recognition.

The narrative unfolds further by exploring the discourse surrounding gender verification testing. It explores the socio-political dimensions, highlighting the Cold War-era fears of Eastern Bloc nations potentially fielding male athletes disguised as females, thus turning sports into a battleground for ideological assertion. Simultaneously, it scrutinises the introduction of mandatory testing, notably through the Barr Body test at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as a manifestation of shifting paradigms towards a policy intrinsically gendered, reinforcing rigid binary definitions of gender based on chromosomes.

The study also examines the discourse surrounding testing, including critiques from influential women within sports administration, ultimately concluding that these policies inadvertently perpetuated gender discrimination, with ethical considerations often overshadowed by concerns for medical accuracy. Finally, the dissertation highlights the influence of societal pressures in shaping the critique, leading to the IOC’s eventual reassessment of gender verification policies at the meeting of the 1988 working group.

In conclusion, this dissertation transcends the Cold War narrative of gender verification testing, presenting it as a manifestation of entrenched patriarchal values. By advocating for the recognition and addressing of these biases, it calls for transformative reforms towards genuine gender equality in sports.

Authors: Stadler, ET

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-j2bdyb6gb
• Type of award: MPhil
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: testing; transgender; gender; sport; Olympic
• Subjects: History; Gender; History, Modern; Women Olympic athletes