Friday, September 11, 2009

The Mystery of Caster Semenya

I would not want to be in Caster Semenya's shoes, whether they be men's shoes, women's shoes or track shoes. I can't imagine what it would be like to have the entire world watching for the result of tests to determine my actual gender! And I feel for the women I have been reading about who have things like Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and look/think/feel like/are women, but have the male XY chromosome pattern. Gender is a lot more complex than my generation was brought up to think, and even more so than my mother's generation was!

No matter what the outcome as far as the sports judges will determine as a result of the gender testing, I wish Caster had been given some privacy.

Despite her getting a "makeover", btw, the verdict being reported today from allegedly leaked information is that Caster is "both a woman and a man." While the testing might have ended up providing her with important medical information, the inhumanely public ordeal may have affected her psychologically, and she has already pulled out of a race.

She is only 18 years old.

2 comments:

Zuzana said...

It must be a very difficult situation for her, particularly as it is a very sensitive and private issue concerning her identity and it as been made so very public.

Beep said...

I agree...my heart goes out to her.

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