The difference at stake: first transsexual player in the Brazilian Volleyball Super League

Abstract

In this essay, we intend to describe and reflect on the representation and prejudice in sport, based on the story of a transsexual volleyball athlete, in high performance. The text intends to bring to the debate the marks of exclusion and violence that leave traces in the transsexual subject. It is a descriptive and qualitative essay. The theorists who support this discussion are from cultural studies. Despite the physiological issues, especially the issue of muscle strength that involve the athlete's problem, suggesting that she could have an advantage over cisgender women, the major discussion and reflection in this essay is not due to this bias, despite being important. It addresses and discusses the representation of a transsexual athlete in sports and what were the tortuous paths she went through to reach high performance. I could infer that the discussion about transsexual representation and gender in sport is not closed and should be on the agenda. That the prejudice and discrimination that transsexuals suffer in the social environment, especially in sports, is still a harsh and recurrent reality. However, this whole abject scenario of prejudice, disrespect and inequality must be thought about, changed and problematized as soon as possible.