Review by Choice Review
Harper's readable monograph attempts to weave several separate narratives into one book, with mixed results. The author's own story as a trans woman athlete is compelling in itself, and the autobiographical account of her personal and athletic lives both before and after her transition is the most interesting part of the book. Rather than make her experiences the stand-alone topic, though, Harper adopts a method of intertwining her memoir with a history of transgender and intersex athletes and an account of the science of drug and sex testing at the International Olympic Committee level. The resulting text provides an interesting but superficial look at a variety of critically important issues in sport and gender studies that deserve more detail and interrogation. Harper provides a brief, introductory overview of both historical and contemporary athletes who might have had, in Harper's words, "differences of sexual development," but she provides little grounded analysis to support her portrayal of these figures, particularly the historical ones. Harper supplies a detailed description of the science being used to determine who is "woman" enough to compete in women's sports, but without ever asking if gender is really the best divide for sport. Summing Up: Optional. Lower-division undergraduates. Two-year technical program students. General readers. --Sarah K. Fields, University of Colorado-Denver
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
What distinguishes a female athlete from a male athlete? How does hormone therapy impact athletic performance? It's complicated. Harper, a transgender athlete and medical physicist, does a masterful job of providing a wide lens through which to view this sensitive topic, weaving together a historical account of athletic participation by transgender individuals, along with scientific studies that can be understood by both lay and professional readers. Featured throughout are biographical profiles of intersex and transgender athletes in a variety of sports, including golf, cycling, and tennis, with an emphasis on track-and-field, most notably South African middle-distance runner (and Olympic gold-medal winner) Caster Semenya and Indian sprinter Dutee Chand. Harper's research comparing pre- and post-transition athletic performance provides valuable insight into the physiology of transition, which led to her role as an advisor for various international sports federations. Several chapters focus on her perspective on rulings and legal suits involving the International Association of Athletics Federations and the International Olympic Committee. As society grapples with ensuring fair competition, this volume makes a significant contribution on a topic that has seen limited research. A valuable resource for athletes navigating their gender-identification journey.--Brenda Barrera Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
