Gender Ambiguity in the Olympics

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=4409318

The article “Gender Testing Requested for runner Caster Semenya” discusses South African runner, Caster Semenya, who recently has sparked controversy after winning the 800 meter run at the World Championship. This controversy involves her true gender. Although entering herself into competitions as a female competitor, many wins along with her “masculine physique” and deep voice, has led to questioning by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The IAAF is investigating whether or not Semenya is cheating by using steroids or other illegal substances or by entering herself as a female even though she is male. To investigate, the IAAF is performed a round of complex gender tests.

The results from these gender tests show that Semenya is a Hermaphrodite, meaning she has both male and female reproductive organs. She has female external genitalia but internally, instead of a womb, has two undescended testes which produce three times the amount of testosterone a typical female has. Further meetings of the IAAF will determine how to handle this situation, because in fact Semenya is not cheating.

Imagine living your whole life as a female, but then one day finding out that you are male too. Then imagine finding this out in the public spotlight, with much media attention surrounding you. The news is not only hard to take but also extremely humiliating for Semenya who had to face this controversy basically in front of the entire world. She was raised as a female, someone’s daughter.

The situation that comes into play here is the difference between sex and gender. Sex is biologically based, as to whether you have female, male, or intersexual reproductive organs. As we have discovered, Semenya is intersexual. However, gender is socially constructed as the role in society one follows. Certain aspects are set aside as male and masculine and same for female and feminine. With gender, there is not much in between; it is basically one way or the other to fit into societal norms. Semenya’s gender is female. She has grown up and lived her life thus far as a female. To publicly deny her right to say she is female is outrageous. To enter herself into competition now as a female is even a larger controversy. Although she is not cheating by competing as a female, she may not be allowed to continue as a female, because she has too many masculine characteristics. Furthermore, she may lose her gold metals.

If she is not allowed to compete as a female, she may also not be allowed to compete as a male. Where does she stand in competition? The rules are so specific to sex, yet have no real specific rules as to what to do with intersexual athletes. Sex and gender are not as black and white of concepts as they are made out to be in society. Plus, gender is based on personal construction and to deny someone’s beliefs of who he or she is is wrong. Fortunately, intersexual (ambiguous) cases will be brought up to the Olympic Committee, hopefully recognizing the sex differences, so athletes similar to Caster Semenya can continue to compete.

Video:

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=8542714

Related Articles:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/27/sports/AP-OLY-IOC-Gender-Cases.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=caster%20semenya&st=cse

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/09/11/athletics.semenya.gender.iaaf/index.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/09/10/2009-09-10_caster_semenya_.html