News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on August 23, 2009, 07:08:40 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Caster Semenya - An Intersex Perspective
Post by: Shana A on August 23, 2009, 07:08:40 PM
Post by: Shana A on August 23, 2009, 07:08:40 PM
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Caster Semenya - An Intersex Perspective
Posted by Luminis at 9:59 AM
http://intersexroadshow.blogspot.com/2009/08/caster-semenya-intersex-perspective.html (http://intersexroadshow.blogspot.com/2009/08/caster-semenya-intersex-perspective.html)
Controversy and a lot of prurient interest exploded into the news this week when South African Caster Semenya outran her competition in the 800m world championships by a more than two second lead, only to be accused of cheating by being intersex. As an intersex person following this story, I've felt . . . well, largely appalled by what spews from the mouths of competitors, sport officials, news commentators, bloggers, and eyebrow waggling, head-shaking people on the street. It's hard not to feel depressed encountering innumerable snarky statements such as this one: "South African runner Caster Semenya (hehehe...she has semen in her name...hehehe) won the gold in the women's 800-meter at the World Championships in Berlin last night, but officials may snatch (peen, I mean, pun intended) away her victory if it turns out she's really a dude." (That one can be found here, if you're really inclined to read it.) So I wanted to share my perspective on this story. I do apologize to Caster for joining the pile of people giving her no privacy, but as the media are overflowing with details of her life already, I at least wanted to step in to defend her.
Caster Semenya - An Intersex Perspective
Posted by Luminis at 9:59 AM
http://intersexroadshow.blogspot.com/2009/08/caster-semenya-intersex-perspective.html (http://intersexroadshow.blogspot.com/2009/08/caster-semenya-intersex-perspective.html)
Controversy and a lot of prurient interest exploded into the news this week when South African Caster Semenya outran her competition in the 800m world championships by a more than two second lead, only to be accused of cheating by being intersex. As an intersex person following this story, I've felt . . . well, largely appalled by what spews from the mouths of competitors, sport officials, news commentators, bloggers, and eyebrow waggling, head-shaking people on the street. It's hard not to feel depressed encountering innumerable snarky statements such as this one: "South African runner Caster Semenya (hehehe...she has semen in her name...hehehe) won the gold in the women's 800-meter at the World Championships in Berlin last night, but officials may snatch (peen, I mean, pun intended) away her victory if it turns out she's really a dude." (That one can be found here, if you're really inclined to read it.) So I wanted to share my perspective on this story. I do apologize to Caster for joining the pile of people giving her no privacy, but as the media are overflowing with details of her life already, I at least wanted to step in to defend her.
Title: Re: Caster Semenya - An Intersex Perspective
Post by: Shana on August 23, 2009, 10:03:25 PM
Post by: Shana on August 23, 2009, 10:03:25 PM
All I can say is Wow!
There is nothing to add to the perfection of Luminis' commentary.
I am now going to be reading the TISRS blog regularly.
Thanks for sharing that Zythyra.
There is nothing to add to the perfection of Luminis' commentary.
I am now going to be reading the TISRS blog regularly.
Thanks for sharing that Zythyra.