After her crushing win in the 800-meter world championships in Berlin a few weeks ago, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is conducting chromosomal tests on South African runner Caster Semenya to determine whether she is biologically female and therefore technically the race's winner.
President of Athletics South Africa, Leonard Chuene, resigned from his seat on the IAAF board to protest the organization's treatment of Semenya. "We are not going to allow Europeans to describe and define our children," he said.
Female athletes in patriarchal societies have long struggled against heterosexist social pressures to be either feminine or athletic, as if femininity and athleticism are mutually exclusive. Female athletes often attempt to look pretty and display athletic prowess.
If they fail to perform this obescience, they are labeled "lesbian" or, in Semenya's case, not a woman.Semenya's story provides one example of the ways in which heterosexism is linked with racism. The initial story is here.
How does this story connect with our class discussions on how gender is (and has been) differently understood in different communities and across different historical periods?
As seen in many of the pieces discussed in class, males seem to be more dominant than women. I also remember discussing the glass ceiling issue. I believe this story is a description of a glass ceiling in athletics. As more and more women are becoming athletes of the same ability as men, the men who are already in charge are trying to hault the women's progress.
ReplyDeleteSteven Lippman
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ReplyDeleteI think this story is interesting because I think our society easily forgets the issues of the past in hope that others will forgive and forget as well. But here is a prime example of how prejudice and quick accusations are still prominent in the world today. Gender has and will have different roles depending on the time period and diverse cultures around the world. I would agree with Steven that most of the literature we have read has been focused on the male dominance over females.
ReplyDeleteI thought part of the article was interesting when it brought up the concept that most women who are athletes also try to be pretty and feminine, so it is strange when athletic women don't strive for that accepted and praised appearance. This idea emphasizes the fact that societies today value beauty more than depth or talents in a person. I think Semenya should continue standing her ground with boldness and not change to please others.
This story connects with our class discussion of the differences on gender across different communities and past historical periods because it shows how the issues that were prevalent back then are still occurring in today's time. Males are dominant over women, but more importantly, women are held to a certain standard where they have to be "beautiful", "feminine", and "weak", and if they do not meet this criteria then there is a problem. It is sad that Semenya is being questioned because of her athletic abilities and physical features, but it is a good thing that she is holding her ground and that she has other people, including men, that are supporting her. There probably was not a good support system very often in past historical periods, especially not men supporting other women.
ReplyDeleteThe previous post was by me, Nicole Carter. I forgot to write my name before, sorry!
ReplyDeleteTalk about a complete devolution! One would think that in 2009 men and women could be accepted for who and what they are. It is shocking to admit that today's society is still predominantly phallocentric, continuing to restrict women (and also men) to rigid, unforgiving gender roles. This particular issue pertains to this class in that the article reinforces the very issues discussed in texts and in class: the world still belongs to men. Certainly roles and expectations are less harsh than at the time periods from class readings, but the implications are still visible. A woman must tread a very thin line between being a perfect example of femininity and being a strong leader in her field (or, depending on the time period, being of strong opinion at all). Unfortunately, Semenya is another victim of such rigid gender roles enforced by a narrow-minded society.
ReplyDeleteLike the moon in Kipury's translation of The Sun and the Moon, Semenya acts outside of her community's assigned gender roles. While both female figures face ridicule for asserting themselves (the sun is ashamed to be injured by the moon; Semenya's gender is questioned because she fails to conform to the presumed role of female athletes), they also display a pride that can inspire others to defy society's conventions. Just as the moon wears her scars proudly, Semenya refuses interviews (as Saran stated) and garners the support of Leonard Cheune. Though certainly hurtful for Semenya, this case can serve as a catalyst for reconsideration of the way we should define gender.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mary Figgatt and I am in Geng239-003
ReplyDeleteI think that this article shows how extreme sexism is in other places in the world. It's sad that people consider someone that is really good at something "not a woman" just because of how great she performs. This connects to some things that were said in the short passage from "Account of Things in Yucantan" because that too showed extreme sexism in the way that de Landa spoke of woman like they were not even human.
In this article, it is like the people calling her "not a woman" are considering that the only people that can be successful at something is a man.
Madeline, 10:10-11 am
ReplyDeleteI think that this story is extremely interesting. If Semenya had the appearance of a typical woman and preformed really well at her race her sex would have never been called into question. Plenty of female athletes have outshined men in their respective sport but none have been called out on whether or not they are women. I think it really connects to what we have been learning by how different cultures value different characteristics about women. In many third world countries women had to be strong and fit to be valued because they were expected to work. However in many European countries in older historical periods women who were frail and weak dominated higher society.
However, this is the 21st century and I think that what the sport officials have done to Semenya is awful. She must feel so embarrassed when all she should be feeling is great pride in her. Compliments should be paid when due, and Semenya definitely deserves one, as well as an apology.
This is definitely a distressing modern-life example of gender issue. It is very sad that such issues that were present hundreds of years ago still exist in our society that we live in today. I heard that Semenya refused to get interviewed, which I think was the right thing to do. I applaud for her braveness after all of the unfair judgments of our society. I think she should be able to claim her victory and appreciate what the nature has given her, because this is her advantage, not something to be ashamed of.
ReplyDeleteWe have discussed several stories concerning gender and how males had dominant power throughout history. This particular story is about gender and unfairness because men who have low testosterone level are not treated like Semenya, who is just a woman with a high testosterone level than other women. Femininity and athleticism should not be mutually exclusive. Women should not be repulsed for being strong. Just like the Moon with a masculine form, Semenya should not be embarrassed.
Steve Van Atta GENG 239 10:10 MWF
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect example of how sexism, especially against women, still exists in our culture today. Throughout our history women have been prone to sexism in the world. Many people think that the sexism is a thing of the past, but this example shows that it is still part of our culture today. Caster has worked very hard and has done something great, only to be questioned by the IAAF. In my opinion the reason that this has happened is that Caster has stepped out of the realm for most women and done something that some people in the International Association of Athletics Federations consider to be impossible for women to do. But in reality Caster has just strived for greatness in her field, and accomplished that. People have a preconception that only men can accomplish such feats, but women are training just as hard and are accomplishing great feats.
The link to the original article wasn't working, and I am left to wonder whether the athlete is being scrutinized because of her appearance, or because of her astoundingly fast race time. I know it is common for successful athletes to be suspected of taking steroids; especially those who are female. While this is still insulting, it is more understandable, as steroid use is a common problem (though the idea that women cannot perform beyond a certain level without the aid of drugs is infuriating). Questioning her remarkable athletic abilities simply because of gender stereotypes, however, strongly suggests the presence of sexism. Further more, if the skepticism is due to her appearance alone, then sexism is absolutely the driving force behind the investigation. This story is a perfect demonstration of society's inability to embrace womanhood as something that cannot be defined the same way for every woman. There will always be women who do not fit inside the unforgiving box of femininity society puts around us, but they still possess the very same chromosomes the IAAF is so desperately seeking in Semenya.
ReplyDeleteOlivia Lawson