Transgender Athletes in Women’s College Sports
By Gianna Aguglia
91 percent of college individuals say that they do not believe that transgender women should compete in women’s sports.
Transgender women refer to people assigned male at birth who identify and live as women. The survey given to 78 college individuals considered opinions, inclusion, and policy relating to transgender women in women’s sports.
In February 2025, 78 college individuals from four different institutions completed the survey. The individuals attend one of these universities: La Roche University, Clarion University, The Ohio State University, and Duquesne University.91 percent of respondents say that transgender women shouldn’t be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Four percent of respondents say that they believe that transgender women should participate in women’s sports. 5.13 percent of respondents say that they are unsure about this question.
The survey asked respondents if they have been personally affected by transgender women competing in women’s sports.
Eight percent of respondents say that they have been personally affected. 92.3 percent of respondents say that they have not been affected.
Sports organizations, such as the NCAA, have specific policies to include transgender women. I surveyed 78 college students about whether sports organizations should create specific policies for including transgender women in women’s sports.
52.6 percent of respondents say that sports organizations should have specific policies for the inclusion. 38.5 percent of respondents say that there should be no specific policies. Ten percent of respondents say that they are unsure if sports organizations should have specific policies to include transgender women in women’s sports.
The NCAA requires transgender women to meet certain physical or hormone level requirements to compete in women’s sports.
73.1 percent of respondents say that it is very important for transgender women to meet certain physical or hormone level requirements to compete in women’s sports. Five percent of respondents say that it is not important, and 14.1 percent of respondents say that it is moderately important.
When transgender women compete in women’s sports, does it promote inclusivity to the competition?
Eight percent of respondents say that transgender women competing in women’s sports promotes inclusivity. 70.5 percent of respondents say that it does not promote inclusivity. 21.8 percent of respondents say that they are unsure.
The survey wanted to know if respondents view women’s sports differently when transgender women are competing.
84.6 percent of respondents say that transgender women competing in women’s sports have a negative influence. Zero respondents say that it has a positive influence, and three percent of respondents say that it has no influence on the view of women’s sports.
The question of whether transgender women who have transitioned after puberty should compete in women’s sports is being debated. The survey asked respondents to answer yes, no, or unsure on this topic.
Five percent of respondents support allowing transgender women who transitioned after puberty to compete in women’s sports. 80.8 percent of respondents say that transgender women who transitioned after puberty should not compete in women’s sports. 15.4 percent of respondents say that they are unsure.
Cisgender describes a person who has not changed their gender identity since birth. The survey asked people how they think the inclusion of transgender women affects opportunities for cisgender women in sports.
73.1 percent of respondents say that transgender women competing restricts opportunities for cisgender women in sports. One percent of respondents say that transgender women competing enhances opportunities for cisgender women.
Recently, officials and athletes are having a conversation about the idea of having separate categories for transgender women and cisgender women in sports.
51.3 percent of respondents say that they support the idea. 23.1 percent of respondents say that they do not support the idea. 25.6 percent of respondents say that they are unsure if they support the idea.
Sports focus on fairness, but does the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports effect the overall integrity and fairness of the competition? The survey asked respondents if it has a positive effect, a negative effect, or if it has no effect.
Zero respondents say that the inclusion has a positive effect on the competition. 78.2 percent of respondents say that the inclusion has a negative effect on the overall integrity and fairness of the competition. Three percent of respondents say that it has no effect on the competition.
The Redhawk Post 