Renee Richards Essay

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Sara Bemporad Yearwood Anthropology of Sport 17 June 2012 Critical review # 3 Renee Richards formally known as Dick Raskind was a pioneering force in the world of sport and professional tennis while at the same time breaking stigmas associated with transgender and transsexual people. His brave adherence for people like him who longed to be, “just normal” helped millions come to terms with their identity by simply picking up a tennis racket. Renee Richards having felt different her whole life was an exceptional athlete and student. Although others perceived Raskind’s early life as privileged and “perfect” he greatly feared showing the world his true self. Deep inside Raskind was withholding a secret from his friends: he longed to dress and live as a woman but to friends and family he was the ultimate alpha male. He began to try to mask his feelings and to prove to himself and others that he was a normal man. In college, Richard Raskind was a star tennis player and a great student, he was also known for being a skirt-chaser and appeared to have gotten down pact how to be the ideal man. Behind closed doors Raskind began cross dressing and started to call himself “Renee”, reborn in French, what he wanted more than anything. At age 40, a father of a young boy and divorcee decided to undergo genital reassignment surgery and finally going on to live his life the way he’s always wanted, as a woman. After the surgery, Renee moved to California leaving everything she knew in New York to start a new life as a woman. When she reached California, Renée lived a blissfully anonymous existence but her love for the sport of tennis was still stronger than ever and she wanted to begin playing again. Renee standing 6’1 with a muscular physique and a size 12 shoe was not the average woman tennis player and immediately caused attention after winning at a public tournament. Soon

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