Genetic Freaks: Semenya & Yao. One Gets Humiliation, the Other Gets an NBA Contract. Why?
By now, many have heard of Caster Semenya. The 18 year-old South African runner first made the news for her stellar run in the African Junior Championships, but had her victory tainted by competitors who insisted that the IAFF, (the International Association of Athletics Federations), should test Semenya's gender to see if she is 100% female, not just physically, but biologically.
A recent article in Time explained:
. . . that female athletes who in the past have been suspected of being men may have suffered from Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), a condition in which a person who is genetically male -- that is, their 23rd chromosome pair is XY -- is resistant to androgens, the male sex hormones that include testosterone. As a result, the testes present in that person's abdomen never descend, and neither they nor their parents ever realize they are actually boys. Those with complete AIS will have a totally female body on the outside, but will lack ovaries and a uterus. Others may demonstrate partial AIS. . .It's those characteristics that Semenya's competitors see in the world champ, leading them to predict -- and hope -- that her forthcoming gender results will leave her ineligible to compete with women.
Rather than a mere physical exam, where genitalia is the determining factor, the IAFF is calling for an months-long process of gender testing, involving several specialists and exhaustive testing.
I find it disturbing that anyone, least of all an 18 year-old, would be subjected to forced gender testing in order to appease their competitors. It might be another matter if Semenya was a boy disguised as a girl in order to compete, but that's not the accusation. Semenya was born and raised as a girl, and those in the position to know -- her midwife, parents, and a former roommate -- attest that she does not have, and has never had, a penis.
Lacking proof of actual male genitalia, Semenya's competitors hope that the IAFF testing will reveal some other anomaly that will effectively kick Semenya out of the women's category. Among the specialists that will participate in Semenya's anticipated de-womanizing is a psychologist. I wonder what the outcome might be if Semenya's DNA comes back as XX, but her thought processes are considered more male. Would the IAFF consider this an unfair "advantage" in women's sports?
And what happens if Semenya isn't an XX or an XY, but an oddly tall and vigorous XO? Genetically, she would be a female, but one with a missing chromosome. Should anomalous genetic makeup disqualify Semenya from women's sports? If so, then shouldn't other genetic freaks like, say, NBA basketball star Ming Yao, also be disqualified since his 7'6" frame clearly gives him an advantage over his competitors? Should he and other overly tall basketball players be checked for mutations of the NSD-1 gene, which can cause gigantism? Is it fair to others to allow Yao to professionally compete?
If the IFAA determination is that DNA is more important than genitalia in separating men from women in sports, then why not test all effeminate males? That's a rhetorical question, because male athletes have not been subjected to gender testing as females regularly were up until 1999, when the International Olympic Committee passed a resolution to stop the practice.
Gender testing began when it was believed that males might disguise themselves as females in order to enter, and conceivably win, a women's event. However, this was not the accusation against Semenya. The IAFF has repeatedly stated that they do not believe Semenya was being deceptive about her gender. "It's a medical issue. It's not an issue of cheating," IAFF spokesperson Nick Davies said.
So at 18 years-old, Caster Semenya -- born a girl, raised as a girl -- will find out whether science agrees with the midwife who delivered her, the parents that raised her, and the children who taunted her for not being girl enough; for being a tomboy. This is probably not what she thought her victory would bring. Instead of being greeted with cheers and hailed as a hero, she has been met with questions, derision, and public humiliation. Instead of having the difference she was born with accepted, sought-after, and nurtured, like Ming Yao's was, Semenya's fellow athletes have sought to have her thrown out of the sport.
Clearly, I think the IFAA decision is wrong. If they do not believe Semenya "cheated" -- in other words, if they know, as they appear to, that she was born with and has female genitalia -- than they should not embark on a genetic fishing expedition simply to appease those who find Semenya's talent and ambiguous appearance unsettling.
This article was cross-posted at janedevin.com
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(continued from last post)
When she was interviewed, her voice was deep - on the radio she sounded like a man. Her teachers said she wore the male school uniform. Her headmaster thought she was a boy for years. There is definitely some ambiguity here. So perhaps there is a need for testing - if she has a genetic abnormality then she should know for the good of her health if nothing else. BUT she should NOT have been subjected to it in the glare of public view. That was entirely wrong.
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The fact is she does not have a penis and has never had a penis, which in society classifies her as female.
To subject a masculine woman to gender testing -- to go on what amounts to a genetic fishing expedition, for no higher reason than to appease her competitors -- is to say to Semenya and others like her that being born a girl is no longer enough to qualify for participation in women's sports.
The IAFF and Semenya's competitors are looking for genetic abnormalities in order to disqualify a person who is athletically gifted. They're doing this, they say, in the name of "fairness".
Please note that genetic "fairness" has never been a consideration in male sports. Giants like Yao are not eliminated from competition, even when they are a foot or two taller, with the genetic advantage of longer legs and arms -- thus a distinct advantage.
I am surprised that so many people seem to think it is proper that Semenya be forced to undergo genetic gender tests. Would the same people want kd lang to give back her Female Artist of the Year award, since she too has a deep voice and unfeminine features?
To say that the presence or absence of external genitalia defines your gender is to say to transexuals that their sexuality is laid down and deny them their feelings of being in the wrong body. As many learned doctors have written, there are many intersex 'genders' - perhaps affecting more people than we can guess. If she'd been a jockey or showjumper - no problem. If she'd been a sailor, a motor racer, maybe even a cyclist, no problem. The fact is that athletics depends on a body being trained to its fittest and strongest - and if there is a genetic abnormality that means the musculature or skeletal structures are not female then that is problematic. There have been precedents for gender testing of female athletes in the recent past - some with tragic consequences - and all with heartbreak. Many women are not particularly feminine, and I include myself in that category. Some women, like KD, actively reject their femininity as their view of themselves identifies more with her masculine side. I don't know if Caster is intersex, female or an undeveloped male child. All I do know is that she looked significantly different from the other (top) athletes in her races. Perhaps it's not fair that women are subject to these tests whereas men are not. Trouble is, a male athlete who was genetically female would not be able to compete against the more traditionally male athletes, and would never get into championships. Sad, but a fact
continued....
Yes, it's not fair that genetic freaks like someone of 7 feet + has the opportunity to make buckets of cash because of their abnormality when Caster is being denigrated for what is potentially hers. The world has never been fair when it comes to sports. I think most basketball players are genetically freakish. Giantism is not a nice condition. We should sympathise with Yao - and Caster. But there's a reason boys and girls compete at different sports, and Caster may be the latest poster child for that difference.
Just for the record k.d. lang has neither a deep voice or unfeminine features. She wears male attire but does not in my opinion reject her femininity because of this.
Do we really want all our sports people to become genetically flawed? I say flawed because many of the chromosome abnormalities you refer to do carry health problems which will impact on the person throughout their life. Giants rarely make old bones and often live lives of pain. Women who have AIS sometimes can't have children.
There is no doubt at all that the male physique is stronger and faster than the female one. Skeletal structure is different as is the musculature. If a person is genetically male, with masculine structure, strength and speed, then yes, they will have an enormous advantage over women they're competing against. I am unsure about Caster - I don't think her facial features are particularly masculine, but her body gives pause for thought - especially when compared to all the women she was competing against. I know little about distance running, but I have to assume (this being the world championships final) that their bodies are at the optimum fitness and shape that a runner of that distance can aspire and work towards. Caster was radically different in shape to them. She was not the only woman with a six pack. She was not the only one with no waist or hips. But she was the only one in that particular race, and it is that difference that makes me pause. (continued next post)
I don't think the testing itself is wrong considering she looks exactly like a male and only her parents and one roommate know her gender-Its taking politically correctness too far to not question her biologically...they may discover she is male for gods sake..
however it is reprehensible to expose her to this media/public humiliation.She should sue for the public humiliation alone.It isn't her fault and she isn't a "cheater".But what if she would compete better with men?Would she if she was allowed??? If they discover she is all female with no biological maleness then it is just a testament to the fact women are indeed equal to men physically.
I posted a comment on the intial news item regarding this young athlete. My comments matched this commentary, but due to my language used to express my anger I assume it wasn't posted.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels sorry for the girl. She must have been harrased at an younger age for not being girly enough, and now it starts all over again.
But worst of all is that this athlete is being abused mentally and physically by a group of peers and mentors where she must have sought a save haven to finally show that being her DID have something to contribute to the world.
VERY SAD.
Actually, I don't think she would be an XY and be insensitive to androgens - it is more likely that she is would be a "sex reversed" individual who is XX but with possibly some sex determining genes crossed over onto one of her X chromosomes. Yes, this is socially and mentally destructive to subject a person this publically to this kind of scrutiny - which shakes the foundation of one's whole identity. It is undoubtedly traumatizing - and there should be rules in place that would enable such routine exams be carried out for all competitiors prior to enrolment in the race so that these kind of situations can be avoided. I do disagree that not knowing one's biological sex is better - as this knowledge does have health considerations. In sports, it is likely going to be more women competitors that would be affected by such ambiguities since men are unlikely to be given a biological advantage in either speed or muscle mass by either having female genes or excess estrogen.
Yes, but males can have other chromosomal advantages, which is why I brought up Yao Ming. If the complaint behind this call for genetic testing is that Semenya has a genetic advantage, then the same could be said for Ming, whose extraordinary tallness might be a result of unusual genetics, including a mutation of the gene that causes gigantism.
If the IFAA and other athletic bodies believe that competition can only considered "fair" when players share a certain chromosomal makeup, then players like Ming might also be disqualified. So would gymnasts who have the "advantage" of a condition like Ehlers-Danos syndrome, which allows for hyperflexible joints.
competition can only considered "fair" when players share a certain chromosomal makeup,
Its called Women's sports. Women compete against other women. Goodbye goddesses, I hate to see you go, you were so much fun to watch.
Good luck against in the all chromosome competition. But its a long shot making the cut.
Michael Granville US high school all chromosome open record at 800 meters 1:46.45
(18years old)
Wilson Kipketer worlds all chromosome open record 1:41.11
I understand the conundrum - as these rare anomolies could be considered part of one's "natural ability" - and these characteristics undeniably give people an edge by providing them with characteristics that others in their category simply don't have. Unless you propose to make sports entirely egalitarian and do away with sex and gender classification, we can't ignore deviations in people who have attributes that make them physically not a part of their category. Maybe they can stratify sports competition by an androgen index - or masculinity (like they have weight classes) - and do away with sex and gender classifications all together.
Basketball is also played as a team; athletics tend to be played on an individual level. If Yao was a solo performer in his chosen sport, then no doubt questions might have been raised about him too.
This is the last, greatest frontier of tolerance...It reminds me of so many things - people not understanding the claims of sexism in Hillary's presidential campaign, the odium expressed by HP READERS, of all, for the transgendered man who had a baby for his wife - that is so rigidly intolerant of anyone who crosses over the gender line.
Good grief, why do we spend so much bloody time reinforcing gender distinctions? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? It's like the whole world is Family Circus, men doing/being ONLY what society/religion dictates, women too...
And in the age of burkas, the Pope is now going to be forcing AMERICAN NUNS back into habits.
I guess most people have given up, but the Greymen will fight to our graves to tear down the supposed "differences" (most MADE UP) between women and men.
I totally agree with you.
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