Caster Semenya

First, I have to say that though I've been following this story, I haven't posted anything about it. I couldn't really come up with a good argument about why this was so absurd. And then I found this:

John Green is an author and vlogger. His discussion of sports and gender and ambiguity are spot on. While he doesn't use the words transgender in his discussion he does a fine job of talking about the erroneous idea that sex is an either/or proposition. More importantly, he focuses on Caster Semenya herself and how she has handled the outcry.

There are conflicting reports. Some same her testosterone levels are normal. Others says they're far too high. One rather disgusting report called Semenya a hermaphrodite. Let me just say that the term hermaphrodite is no longer used by the medical community and is generally deemed misleading, insensitive and confusing.

There are also reports that Semenya has retreated into hiding and is undergoing counseling to deal with the trauma associated with having her gender forcibly tested and argued about in the public. Even if the test results confirm what the South African sports ministry, government, her family and her hometown have said all along, it will most likely follow her forever.

Whatever the final outcome. Caster Semenya is a champion in the eyes of many.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Caster Semenya's Father Weighs In On Gender Controversy [Gender Games] (jezebel.com)
• Treatment of intersexed African athlete appalling (boingboing.net)
• Caster Semenya is a woman, now what? (bilerico.com)