How Fascism Shaped Modern Sex Testing Policies

How Fascism Shaped Modern Sex Testing PoliciesIn this episode, Johanna and Anna chat with Michael Waters about the complex history of gender, sexuality, and politics in sports, focusing on the 1936 Berlin Olympics, sex testing policies, and the broader implications for contemporary debates on trans inclusion.Michael Waters is an esteemed author and historian whose work has been featured in The Atlantic, the New York Times, and Slate, among numerous other outlets. He recently published the essential trade history, The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports. For those engaged in a critical analysis of athletics and the gendered systems utilized by authoritarian regimes to regulate bodies, this book is a mandatory read.Chapters02:04 The story of Zdenek Kovac and its significance04:07 The origins of the book and its research process06:48 Kovac's memoir and its historical importance10:05 The medical and social context of Kovac's transition13:00 Perceptions of gender and sexuality in the 1930s15:58 Nuances in medical and societal responses to gender transition19:54 The role of Alice Milliat and women's sports activism22:57 The politics of the Women's World Games28:10 The co-optation and suppression of women's sports movements32:57 The controversy around Kubek and gender rumors37:51 The influence of fascism and Nazi ideology on sports policies44:09 The rise of sex testing policies and their political motivations51:53 The international context and resistance to gender policing01:00:01 The impact of the 1936 Berlin Olympics and its legacy01:05:48 Contemporary parallels and the ongoing backlash against trans athletes01:13:54 The future of gender and sports policies01:16:51 Michael Waters' current project on credit systemsKeywords: sports history, gender politics, 1936 Berlin Olympics, sex testing, trans rights, fascism, queer history, international sports, Alice Milliat, Michael WatersHosts in this episode: Anna & Johanna________________________________________Support & Follow The End of SportPatreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/Theendofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Support the show!)Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@endofsportpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@EndofSportPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The End of Sport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen, share, and support The End of Sport, a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network, a community of over sixty leftist podcasts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠harbingermedianetwork.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.