I feel for Caster.
I mean, dang, she didn’t even know they were testing her gender. She found out the results of the test the same time the rest of the world did. And now she is in trauma counseling. I almost can’t believe it.
For a minute, think about how you would feel if you found out that you weren’t (exactly) what you thought you were.
Gender is confusing. For most of my life I was taught you were either a woman or a man. Then I went to Smith and learned of this vast gray area between. I learned about people born with too many x’s or y’s and what happens when a child is born with ambiguous sex organs (it’s not pretty, doctors and parents pick the gender…yikes). I was fortunate to learn this from people who were changing from one gender to the other or from people who did not feel they were either, from professors and advisers who had patience with my ignorance and in complete privacy. I was able to grapple with what it on my own time and in my own way. Caster did not have that luxury.
The whole situation was a circus. Look what this woman went through before the tests. Undid the braids, put on some makeup, jewelery and a dress to “show” us that she’s a woman. She literally had to say the words “I am not a man.” Who has to go through this? Who has to go through this because they are talents? At this point it was crazy enough.
This whole situation reeks of ageism, sexism, classism and racism. If Caster Semenyawas some rich, White middle aged man, the world would know the results on his terms. It blows my mind how IAAF could conduct a gender test and not explain what they were doing to Caster or her parents. And what in the world did the IAAF think was going to happen when her results were released? It was devastating and degrading enough to have to go through more gender tests and then for the results to be leaked?! Are we really surprised Caster had a meltdown and is now on suicide watch? She’s just a kid. Jeez.
I’m happy South Africa is really ride or die for her. I’m glad she’s getting support. And I’m even glad that we’re all getting a lesson about gender. But it’s all not worth the cost to Ms. Caster Semenya.
peace,
e.
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I also feel bad for her. That’s a pretty fucked up hand she was dealt.
I totally feel you Eva. There has been a complete disregard for her dignity. An absolute failure to recognise that this is a person with feelings, a background, a context and hopes of a meaningful life. The callousness with which this matter has been dealt with seems malicious. She has been totally sacrificed at the altar of…I dont even know anymore.
I feel you on this one. I was in total disbelief when I first heard the story. I couldn’t even imagine how I would feel if I was approached with such a situation. Then when I heard that she wasn’t even aware of what the tests were for, it was even worse. Her appearance on the cover of the magazine broke my heart. No one should have to go through that. Even if there was a question based on the rules of the game, the situation could have and should have been handled more delicately.
I too and so glad that I had the opportunity to have my ignorance corrected when it comes to sex and its many possibilities. And I too was very saddened by Caster’s appearance on that magazine cover. It broke my heart that she felt like she had to take an ‘Ain’t I a Woman” standpoint. I hope that she learns that there is nothing out of the ordinary about her sex; that she is actually very much a part of an already existing community. Most of all, I hope that she continues to outshine those who are trying to break her.