In this episode, Erica Rand discusses her book Skating Away from the Binary 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.
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.
Check out Figure Skating For All!
Chapters
02:23 Positionality and research background of Erica Rand
04:55 Gender roles and physical realities in figure skating
10:24 Coloniality of gender and racial hierarchies in sports
13:39 Sports labor, capitalism, and economic disparities
18:30 Aesthetics, injury, and racialized ideals in skating
22:25 Gender binary enforcement and anti-trans rhetoric
33:55 Institutional policies and athlete activism
44:21 Impact of policy changes and inclusion efforts in skating
49:20 The role of capitalism and commercialization in sports
54:52 Broader implications for systemic inequality in sports
Hosts in this episode: Anna, Derek,
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