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Locker-Room Experiences Among LGBTQ+ Adults
Shannon S C Herrick1, Lindsay R Duncan1
1McGill University.
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
|May 31, 2020
Summary
Locker rooms can alienate LGBTQ+ individuals due to cis-heterosexual assumptions. Redesigning these spaces is crucial to foster inclusivity and challenge binary norms for better physical activity access.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Sport
- Gender Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Locker rooms are essential for physical activity participation but often reinforce cis-heterosexual norms.
- These normative assumptions can create isolating and unwelcoming environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ adults within locker room environments.
- To identify how cis-heteronormativity in locker rooms impacts LGBTQ+ individuals' sense of embodiment and participation in physical activity.
Main Methods:
- An online cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,067 LGBTQ+ adults.
- Open-response questions captured participants' past and present locker room experiences.
- Thematic analysis, involving independent coding and peer review, was used to analyze qualitative data.
Main Results:
- Participants reported experiences related to self-consciousness ('I hate(d) being seen'), sexual transgression, and gender transgression.
- Findings highlight the influence of harmful LGBTQ+ stereotypes on locker room encounters.
- Embodiment emerged as a critical factor shaping these experiences.
Conclusions:
- Locker rooms, as currently designed, often perpetuate harm and exclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Redesigning locker rooms to be more inclusive is necessary to support equitable access to physical activity.
- Challenging the binary organization of these spaces can create safer and more affirming environments for all users.
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