According to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) updated ‘Portrait Guidelines’, it is ‘problematic’ to use the terms ‘biological male’ or ‘biological female’ when referring to transgender athletes.
The IOC this week updated its guidelines on how Olympic-related media and external media should appropriately address athletes in relation to their diverse identities. This third edition also includes a list of “problematic” terms to avoid when dealing with transgender people competing in the Olympics.
“An individual’s gender classification is not determined by genetic factors alone, and aspects of an individual’s biology may change when seeking gender-affirming medical care,” the IOC guide said, specifying “biological male” and “biological female” in its section. “Problematic language.”
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Ahead of the Paris Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a language guide urging media to avoid referring to transgender athletes as ‘biological males’ or ‘females’. (AP Photo/Aurélien Maurissard, File)
The language guide was published on Thursday, just weeks ahead of this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris. A press release accompanying the document explains its purpose, saying it seeks to “raise awareness of women’s sports and how they are portrayed compared to men’s sports.”
“These guidelines provide practical checklists and advice to help ensure gender equality and fair representation of all athletes across all forms of media and communications,” he added.
The guide gave tips on how to break ‘gender-based preconceptions’ and ‘stereotypes’, for example.
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It includes a brief section on ‘key barriers’ to the way female athletes compete in sports, such as a ‘lack of recognition’ when female athletes are covered by outlets compared to their male counterparts. Provided guidance on how to write about it. Not sexist.
For example, journalists were told that rather than writing “She is the next Michael Phelps,” they should write “She is an outstanding athlete.”
The guide introduced the reality of the gender pay gap, the fact that there are more comments about the appearance of female athletes than male athletes, and even quotes from IOC honchos denouncing gender discrimination.
“Stereotypes, discriminatory social norms and lack of representation remain some of the most prevalent barriers to gender equality around the world,” Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, chair of the IOC Human Rights Advisory Committee, said in the guide. I did.
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Promotional image for the upcoming Paris Olympics. (NBC)
The “Language and Terminology” section provided advice to use words like “humanity” rather than “humanity” or to replace terms like “husband/wife” with “partner/spouse.”
The “Problematic Language” section at the end of the guide categorizes terms related to the biological reality of transgender athletes at tournaments as “harmful language practices to avoid.”
Terms to avoid: ‘born male’, ‘born female’, ‘biological male’, ‘biological female’, ‘genetically male’, ‘genetically female’, ‘male to female (MtF)’, ‘female to male’ ‘(FtM).”
“Using phrases like the above when describing transgender athletes and gender-differing athletes can be dehumanizing and inaccurate,” he added. “It is always preferable to highlight a person’s actual gender rather than potentially calling their identity into question.” By reference to the gender category registered on the original birth certificate.”
The guide includes terms such as “identifying,” “transgender,” and “transgender,” among other “phrases to avoid.”
At the bottom of the page, the guide attributes this section to “GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide and Guide to Covering LGBTQ Athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is one of the major pro-LGBTQ lobbies in the United States.
The IOC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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