Imagine winning a gold medal for a race you have trained for your whole life. You can picture yourself standing on the platform, with your medal hanging around your neck and tears rolling down your face because you have just accomplished one of life's greatest goals.
Now imagine that your ability as an athlete is questioned due to the your physical appearance and your ability to outplay another athlete. Unfortunately, this is a horrible issue for the gold medalist runner Caster Semenya, as her gender is under review because she has greatly out-performed her opponents.
After reviewing her stats and her physical appearance, the International Association of Athletic Federations asked the athlete to undergo a series of gender tests to determine whether or not she is male or female.
I personally think this accusation absolutely ridiculous and no one should have their personal lives invaded in such a way. If the IAAF is going to perform gender test, they should be doing so on every athlete that is to compete at such a high level. It is inappropriate for the Association to selectively chose athletes to be tested based on physical appearance. That would be comparable to someone picking out a man or woman in society and stating that her or she is homosexual based on their hair-style, dress and the way that person carries himself.
I am disgusted that such accusations can be made and my heart reaches out to everyone that has been placed under such stereotypes.
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Ashley, I agree with you. The entire situation with Caster Semenya was out of line and uncalled for. I can not imagine being humilated infront of the entire world after winning something as big as a gold medal.
ReplyDeleteIf the Olymic's want to start doing sex tests on Athletes, I think that they need to test everyone, or do a random test like they do with drug testing.
It is not fair to publically humiliate someone just because they have suspicious feelings.
I also agree with you! I think the situation was uncalled for. Being humilated infront of the world after winning a gold medal is just unbeleivable.
ReplyDeleteI had read in an article that they had made her "dolled up" in the YOU magazine in sequins and makeup, and then after that came out, she entered into seclusion for a while.
I also agree that it is not right to publically humilate someone just because of the way they look. Not everyone is the "normal look" of a woman, but they still deserve to be treated as a woman!
This is a compelling entry based on the circumstances surrounding the Caster Semenya case. When I read that she was under suicide watch, it made me realize how horrible it must have been for her to have to endure such scrutiny on an international stage. I wonder if there can be a happy ending for Semenya?!
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