read it

[stateofwonder]

For those of you who have been following the Caster Semenya gong show... here is a fantastic article about the whole horrible mess with some truly beautiful analysis of gender transgression: The Unforgivable Transgression of Being Caster Semenya.

Comments

[lightcastle]

I just read a considerably-less enlightened discussion at a Japanese animation fan site. :(

[lightcastle]

That was a really good post.

I wish I could remember where I read (it may have been the NYTimes of all places) a scientist listing exactly how ridiculous the basic gender binary is as a "scientific principle" to sort people.

[stateofwonder]

Yeah, I was reading an article today (I think in the Globe?) that touched on that. So many arbitrary factors at play.

[lightcastle]

I think 'twas Rowan who directed me to it, so it may have been the Globe.

Found it

[lightcastle]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/sports/22runner.html?_r=1

Times after all.

[chordoflife]

Essentially, she's being punished for something she has no control over. She also has to face the fact that in Africa, gender has LOTS of unspoken rules and lines you do not cross, and those rules are unyielding to those who don't stay in their "roles".

[stateofwonder]

Not just in Africa, though. This is true everywhere. I would say she's getting way more flack and facing much more disrespect internationally.

[kimberkwick]

that's exactly what it sounds like. It seems like everyone in SA is so positive, calling her their national heroine, meanwhile some people in Sports circles are denouncing her as a 'cheater' and talking about her as though she knew that she was a 'he' (as the commentary goes online :P) when entering into competition. It's been so awful reading the assholic comments. :(

[lightcastle]

I'm going to agree with stateofwonder. Unspoken gender rules are hardly an African phenomenon and a huge amount of the flack is coming from outside.

[issabellablue]

Great post!

[eclips1st]

Just sharing a BBC article about this. I thought the commentary about people's reaction in South Africa was interesting (even if it's just 6 people.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/8249948.stm

[stateofwonder]

Those were neat reactions!

Seriously, it was handled so badly. I was so shocked to be reading the word "hermaphrodite" in the papers, I thought that was a completely antiquated and offensive term.