News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on September 06, 2009, 09:57:41 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Caster Semenya's gender identity and the illusion of a male/ female binary.
Post by: Shana A on September 06, 2009, 09:57:41 AM
Post by: Shana A on September 06, 2009, 09:57:41 AM
Caster Semenya's gender identity and the illusion of a male/ female binary.
September 5, 4:55 PM
Spring Houghton
http://www.examiner.com/x-11969-Oklahoma-City-Womens-Issues-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Caster-Semenyas-gender-identity-and-the-illusion-of-a-male-female-binary (http://www.examiner.com/x-11969-Oklahoma-City-Womens-Issues-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Caster-Semenyas-gender-identity-and-the-illusion-of-a-male-female-binary)
Maybe you all have heard the story of Caster Semenya, the South African runner who won the 800m gold medal at the world championships recently; she is amazing, and fast, and muscular, and doesn't wear her hair down when she runs. And, lo and behold, concerns were raised that she wasn't really a female. So, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAFF), put her through several tests- including hormonal, gynecological!, and psychological- to prove she was a female.
All this, and Semenya is just 18 years old.
The hormone tests are now back, and the results show that she has unusually high levels of testosterone "expected in a female sample".
September 5, 4:55 PM
Spring Houghton
http://www.examiner.com/x-11969-Oklahoma-City-Womens-Issues-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Caster-Semenyas-gender-identity-and-the-illusion-of-a-male-female-binary (http://www.examiner.com/x-11969-Oklahoma-City-Womens-Issues-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Caster-Semenyas-gender-identity-and-the-illusion-of-a-male-female-binary)
Maybe you all have heard the story of Caster Semenya, the South African runner who won the 800m gold medal at the world championships recently; she is amazing, and fast, and muscular, and doesn't wear her hair down when she runs. And, lo and behold, concerns were raised that she wasn't really a female. So, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAFF), put her through several tests- including hormonal, gynecological!, and psychological- to prove she was a female.
All this, and Semenya is just 18 years old.
The hormone tests are now back, and the results show that she has unusually high levels of testosterone "expected in a female sample".