By Hannah Davidson
Dr. Cara Snyder discussed politics, equality, gender, and futebol, during her open lecture titled “Which Team Do You Play For?: Visibility and Queering in Brazilian Soccer,” on Dec. 5.
Snyder’s speech focused specifically on transgender men in Brazil and the ways in which they seek representation and equality through soccer, which she referred to as futebol. Snyder began her lecture by discussing her reseach project, in which she traveled to Sau Paulo, Brazil to study a newly-formed transgender men soccer team.
Throughout her time there, Snyder aided the team by assisting them in fundraising for the team’s expenses, improved the team’s social media presence through sites such as Facebook and Whatsapp, and assisted with many other logistical measures, while simultaneously performing her research.
“Nationhood and identity are bound by futebol” Snyder said.
According to Snyder, there is limited representation throughout Brazil for the LGBTQ+ community. However, transgender men are discriminated against more than other minorities or LGBTQ identities, due in part to the cultural norms and ideals of “masculinity,” especially in sports, Snyder explained.
It is because of this that the men have formed their own soccer league, to prove not only their soccer skills, but push for equality.
“Athletes articulate demands for equality through activism,” Snyder said.
Originally from Prince George’s County, Snyder attended Agnes Scott, an all-girls school in Georgia. It was here where she first became interested in women’s studies.
“I had always been an athlete, but I never really understood sport as an interesting way to study gender” Snyder, who played soccer throughout college, said.
Snyder then attended this university, where she received her doctorate in women’s studies. At this university, she teaches senior level and graduate courses through the Latin American Studies Center, or LASC.
However, her audience was not just limited to her university students. Graduate student Luisa Torres drove over two hours to hear Snyder lecture.
Torres, who studies political science at the University of Delaware, has been in contact with Snyder for months after one of her professors put them in contact. Having never met in person, Torres decided to make the trip down to meet in-person and hear her lecture.
“She invited me to come meet her in person because we had only talked through email,” Torres said.
For senior anthropology major, Tanesha Mondestin, her access to Snyder and her interest in the topic brought her to the event. Mondestin is currently enrolled in Snyder’s LASC capstone class this semester.
“Her research focuses on how gendered a sport can be,” Mondestin said. “I’m fascinated by fascinated by the angle and lens that Snyder conducts her research through.”