Stay Out of Caster Semenya’s Pants

Didja hear that after a tremendous win in the 800m at the World Championships last week, 18-y.o. Caster Semenya is being forced to prove her gender? Whenever a woman kicks ass athletically without the help of a ponytail, diamond studs and an engagement ring, she is vulnerable to being challenged as “mannish,” a man, or somehow not a “real” woman. This hurts all women athletes by creating a climate that often demands femininity and heterosexuality in exchange for a chance to reach the highest levels of both achievement and compensation. Basing demands for proof of gender on looks is particularly punitive. Requiring that someone with a butch look undergo gender testing that other athletes are not required to do is unfair. If testing is done, it should be for all or for none.

Another problem here is that gender is not the strict either/or that this whole “gender test” posits. Just like gender, sex is a spectrum and people have varying combos of male and female characteristics. Those two categories are not big enough to hold all of us. Intersex people are here and always have been. Please read this article by Cary Costello, a tenured (thank god, or would she dare be out about it?) intersex professor at the University of Wisconsin on the topic for more insights into the current brouhaha.

For the vast majority of us, seeing a world-class athlete perform gives us a glimpse into human possibility. We should be able to glory in the abilities of intersex athletes just as we would that of any athlete. How awesome to be able to run so fast!

Another great piece on the topic By Dave Zirin and Sherri Wolf is in the Nation this week.