How Figure Skating Shapes Inequality

<p>In this episode, Erica Rand discusses her book <a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517920555/skating-away-from-the-binary/"><em>Skating Away from the Binary</em></a> and explores how figure skating reflects systemic hierarchies, racialized gender norms, and the impact of coloniality on sports. The conversation highlights issues of gender binary enforcement, sports labor exploitation, and the push for inclusive policies.</p><p>Erica Rand is Professor of Art and Visual Culture and of Gender and Sexuality Studies at Bates College. She is the author a number of books, including Barbie’s Queer Accessories, The Ellis Island Snow Globe, Red Nails Black Skates: Gender, Cash, and Pleasure On and Off the Ice, and The Small Book of Hip Checks On Queer Gender, Race, and Writing, and, the focus of today, a new book called Skating Away From the Binary. </p><p>Check out <a href="https://www.figureskatingforall.org/"><u>Figure Skating For All</u></a>! </p><p>Chapters</p><p>02:23 Positionality and research background of Erica Rand</p><p>04:55 Gender roles and physical realities in figure skating</p><p>10:24 Coloniality of gender and racial hierarchies in sports</p><p>13:39 Sports labor, capitalism, and economic disparities</p><p>18:30 Aesthetics, injury, and racialized ideals in skating</p><p>22:25 Gender binary enforcement and anti-trans rhetoric</p><p>33:55 Institutional policies and athlete activism</p><p>44:21 Impact of policy changes and inclusion efforts in skating</p><p>49:20 The role of capitalism and commercialization in sports</p><p>54:52 Broader implications for systemic inequality in sports</p><p>Hosts in this episode: Anna, Derek, </p><p>________________________________________</p><p><strong>Support &amp; Follow The End of Sport</strong></p><p><strong>Patreon:</strong> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/Theendofsport"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Theendofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a> (Support the show!)</p><p><strong>Bluesky:</strong> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/endofsportpod.bsky.social"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theendofsportpod?igsh=OHRtanJiaWJlNmF1"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>Twitter/X:</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/EndofSportPod"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@EndofSportPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><strong>YouTube:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@endofsportpod"><u>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The End of Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</u></a></p><p><em>Listen, share, and support The En