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Runner Caster Semenya and Family Should Understand Gender Questions

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hotels in kleinarl of 7:27PM April 23, 2010

First of all, it shouldn't even be called "gender test" it ought to be referred to as "sex" because there is a major difference between the two terms for they signify different things that are definitely related, however unfortunately, used interchangeably.
Your confusion about father's response needs to take in consideration cultural gender beliefs - ones that you may not understand or know about - that exist in her small home town.
As reported by France 24 news, in the traditional ways of her home town, when a child is born, the sex of the infant is determined by way of simple visual examination. They are then announced by the family to the entire village/community as to what the name of the child is and his or her's sex - boy or girl. The issue with this method of determination - which the rest of the world was wrapped up with when this controversy erupted as well - is insufficient to determine an individual's sex! For there are plenty of abnormalities (and I use that word questioningly for what is normal female or male sex and what is abnormal?) that are required to determine so called "true" sex (if such a thing exists).
The father is so offended because the requirement to test further is insulting to their cultural norm - there is no space for gray areas in her culture's view, there is only female or male. Yet this perpetuates, quite unfortunately, the gender binaries that exist.
Ah, this is all such a muddled controversy, despite responding to this in hindsight! You say her build is "obviously" male - no it is "masculine". But what is wrong with having a woman who is strong and muscular? The same thing that is wrong with a man that is scrawny, weak and timid. Here lies, in this controversy, an issue of our acceptance of certain gender binaries. We associate certain masculine attributes with males (that being the sex) only and there is no room, within the accepted norm, for a masculine woman. The same goes vice versa.
Is it such a problem that Semenya played soccer as a young girl, or wore pants? Is it such a problem that some men wear skirts and love fashion instead of sports? Again, it is an issue of "abnormalities" in terms of culturally constructed gender binaries.
After all, what is it to be a woman? What is it to be man? We must review not only our methods of classifying what is male and female, because there is a huge range between those two extremes and within the range lies an abundance of different arrangements; and also, what is accepted in terms of gender constructions.
Caster Semenya is not the only case where this arose. What about the Indian track star that ran in Qatar in 2006? The speculations that have been laid are unfortunate and disgusting, not to mention eternally damaging!
Indeed, officials were careless in her situation, and the controversy was only sped up by the jealous and upset mouths of competitors, as well as the issue of race by often ignorant people. But the issue at the end is not really her sex or gender. The true issue is perception of gender binaries and the limits they impose on humanity.

Jenny of NY 6:31PM January 24, 2010

The web is inundated with indignation over this whole situation. My question would be,"Do all these angry people have access to information that the rest of us don't?" For without comprehensive testing, no one can validate the sex (not gender) of another person. So who is the shame on? Is it on all the female competitors that have reached the International level of competition through hard work with no assistance of additional testosterone? Is it on the IAAF for trying to maintain a level playing field for ALL athletes? Is it on the ASA for lying about test results that were done months ago? Or is it on people so ready to defend someone at all costs that they have a blatant disregard for the obvious. The obvious being, facial hair, male body shape, male voice and lack of female body cycles. On a more factual note, if the leaked results of Casters tests are true, she is not a hermaphrodite. Hermaphrodites possess complete male and female genetalia. By the way, I agree that everyone has a right to their own opinion, however, I have more respect for those that are backed up by a proper name and residence.

Marla Hewitt of OK 4:13PM September 21, 2009

Shame on you and to everyone writting nonsense about Caster!! Do you have children or you are just a Mule (combination of donkey and horse). Just look at your picture, u are a hermophrodite urself

latoya 3:13AM September 17, 2009

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A definite great read...
- Bill Bartmann

Bill Bartmann of AL 5:09PM September 12, 2009

if they are running gender test on Semenya then they have a problem with her as a preson they sould not have to do that i see it as racime .

none of FL 7:39PM September 08, 2009

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Bill Bartmann Scam of AL 4:18PM September 06, 2009

I'm so glad I found this site...Keep up the good work

Bill Bartmann of AL 4:59PM September 01, 2009

This is not about race. It is about fairness. Men and women have separate sports for a reason. In sports where strength and speed are paramount, men natuarally have an advantage. Men and Women are equal but we are not the same. A controversy similar to this surrounded Stella Walsh. After her death, the autopsy confirmed that she had male organs. If we want to level the playing field and be fair to the majority of athletes, athletes of questionable gender that causes an unfair advantage against women should compete against men. This is not about what is fair to a few people with congenital issues, it is about keeping a fair race for the majority of athletes that train and work without the help of highly elevated levels of hormones.

Marla Hewitt of OK 2:41PM September 01, 2009