Caster Semenya and Gender Discrimination:
the Elephant in the Room
As seen on sangpulse.net
“Caster should not be having to deal with a world controversy over her win. She should be unreservedly basking in the glory of her and our incredible victory. No doubt she has experienced this humiliation and discrimination at other levels before and has become somewhat hardened to its effect, but we wish her, her friends and her family strength in dealing with this blatant gender discrimination. As Caster Semenya and our other gold medal winner, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, return congratulations on your amazing wins and Caster, you have our full support. For the rest, to Caster’s detractors or apologists, hang your heads in shame for not naming the issue for what it is and for perpetuating gender stereotypes and discrimination in her individual case and in society as a whole.”
August 26, 2009: We write in response to the controversy surrounding the 800m women’s world running champion, Caster Semenya and the flurry of articles surrounding this sad saga.
Some of those championing Casters cause accuse those wanting to sex-test Caster of imperialism and racism (as well as sexism). Others plead for the us to wait before reaching a verdict’ arguing that the realities of sex testing are enormously complex.
Firstly to address the issue of terminology, over which there seems to be confusion. Gender is the dominant societys views on how women and men should look, behave, what roles they should play in society, how they should perform and frequently what rewards they receive hence gender inequity. This has usually led to lower status and discrimination against girls/women but has increasingly been seen as limiting the options and potentially harming boys/men too. Gender is not a politically correct term for sex. Sex testing would be just that–establishing whether a person is biologically female or male. So gender testing is not the term that should be used this case, but sex testing.
Secondly, to tackle the science issue, as this tends to obscure the real issue of gender stereotyping and discrimination so evident in this case. Professor Tim Noakes, an international sports science expert says the issue of unfair advantage which is the only thing that should be at play here as it is in the case of drug use,is simple to establish. He states that the issue that needs to be clarified here is whether the person concerned is a man masquerading as a woman or not. This could be established by a simple physical examination handled within the usual constraints of the doctor/patient domain–not in the public domain (Cape Argus, Why the world should leave Caster alone Fri Aug 21, 2009:21), as has happened in the harmful manner in which the IAAF has handled this.
As for the rest, he says there is great variation. All other possible tests including chromosome testing are indeterminate and should be left well alone. The calls for more to be done in dealing with this issue and await judgment are therefore erroneous and cloud the issue in a shroud of inappropriate so-called scientific enquiry.
The third issue relates to what lies at the heart of the matter, social norms. While issues of racism and imperialism have and will continue to apply in various circumstances and have a sensitive history in terms of women’s bodies particular in Africa, focusing on these issues in the current context obscures the much neglected ‘elephant in the room’ – gender discrimination. Comments within the press and on talk shows are unwittingly guilty of this same problem in placing ‘blame’ at Athletics South Africa or her coach’s door. (article in sportsscientists.com and editorial in Mail and Guardian ‘Racing to conclusions’, August 21-27 2009:20). They argue that the authorities should have pre-empted this situation, given her prior experiences (at the hands of the teachers, members of the public and previous authorities). ‘Pre-empting the situation’ would fall prey to the exactly these same prejudices – pandering to what people perceive to be ‘normal’ for girls or women. This is akin to what might have happened during the apartheid era where actions may have tried to stave off racism by negotiating black people’s entry into racially reserved sporting or cultural events before the time. Many white girls who do not ‘look’ as society expects will tell similar humiliating stories of being stopped from entering female public toilets or being questioned as to whether they are male or female. At the core of this issue are ideas about gender – how girls/women and boys/men ‘look’ and ‘behave’ and perform (in this case perhaps a young woman winning by 2 seconds ahead of the field is not seen as ‘normal’).
This is what has been so hard to address locally in South Africa, despite our progressive constitution, due to deeply held dominant ideas about what is ‘female’ and ‘male’. It is these ideas and actions that promote gender discrimination. This leads to men, who in societies’ terms do not look ‘masculine enough’, being called ‘sissies’ and women who look not ‘feminine enough’ being labelled ‘butch’. In our own society, this has led to violent attacks on some women and in our own and other countries to violent attacks on some boys/men. This is what we need to clearly point to as underlying this case and name it for what it is. Framing the discrimination as racism or imperialism, without reference to gender discrimination as the main issue risks reinforcing gender stereotypes.
Societies have a long way to go in terms of changing the dominant ideas on how women and men should ‘look’ and behave and perform and in some cases, dress – and allow for variations in ‘looks’ and roles to be underpinned by what people would like to be and do, rather than societies’ current dominant expectations. There are many excellent organisations in our own country and abroad that have worked with women and men on this issues, but as it is all to obvious from this and other cases, much work is still needed for these choices and this freedom to take root in the broader society as a whole.
Caster should not be having to deal with a world controversy over her win. She should be unreservedly basking in the glory of her and our incredible victory. No doubt she has experienced this humiliation and discrimination at other levels before and has become somewhat hardened to its effect, but we wish her, her friends and her family strength in dealing with this blatant gender discrimination. As Caster Semenya and our other gold medal winner, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, return – congratulations on your amazing wins and Caster, you have our full support. For the rest, to Caster’s detractors or apologists, hang your heads in shame for not ‘naming’ the issue for what it is and for perpetuating gender stereotypes and discrimination in her individual case and in society as a whole.
As we once again approach the 16 days of activism against violence against women, let us bear these issues in mind and not mouth platitudes in our struggle against gender inequity and discrimination.
Yours Sincerely,
Diane Cooper – Director, Women’s Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Leslie London, Director, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Elinor Sisulu, South Africa
Prudence Mabele, Positive Women’s Network, South Africa
Nomfundo Eland , Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Women’s Rights Campaign
Glenn de Swardt, Health4Men
Lisa Vetten, Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre to End Violence Against Women
Gertrude Fester, Feminist Forum/ Women’s and Gender Studies,University of Western Cape
Naeemah Abrahams, Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa
Pamela Scully, Women’s Studies and African Studies, Emory University & Deputy Editor, Women’s History Review
Sipho Mthathi, Human Rights Watch South Africa
Carrie Shelver, People Opposing Women Abuse, South Africa
Deborah Byrne, Foundation for Human Rights (FHR)
Akosua Adomako Ampofo, University of Ghana
Lebohang Letsie, University of Botswana
Amina Mama, Barbara Lee Distinguished Chair, Mills College, USA Jane Harries, Associate Director, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Jennifer Moodley, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Lillian Artz, Director, Gender, Health and Justice Unit, University of Cape Town
Liesl Theron, Gender Dynamix
Dipika Nath, Human Rights Watch
Sheila Meintjes, Political Studies Department, Wits University
Ilse Ahrends, the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children
Phumi Mtetwa,the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Marion Stevens, Health Systems Trust
Angelica Pino, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Shireen Hassim, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
Phyllis Orner, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Sumaya Mall, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Ntobeko Nywagi, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Sheila Cishe, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Chelsea Morroni, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Regina Mlobeli, Women’s Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town
Jane Bennett, African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town
Mary Jansen (KIWIA) Khoe San Indigenous Women in Action
Shirley Walters, University of Western Cape, South Africa
Linda Cooper, Centre for Higher Education and Development, University of Cape Town
Cathy Mathews, Medical Research Council
Fareeda Jadwat,African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town
Ilse Ahrends, Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children, South Africa
Di McIntyre, NRF chair, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town
Andrea Rother, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, UCT
Nomfundo Mlisa: President – Gender Forum: University of Fort Hare, Alice
Masiphile Community Project: Tsengiwe Village, Cala
Johanna Kehler, Director, AIDS Legal Network, South Africa
Ayanda Rapita, the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Melissa Steyn, Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Gabi Jiyane,the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Marion Heap, Health and Human Rights, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, UCT
Balise Mahlanguthe, Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Bernadette Bredekamp, Division of Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Larissa Klazinga and Rhodes Gender Action Project
Laura Pollecutt, South Africa
Sokari Ekine,London
Natasha Primo
Alex Kent
Annemarie Hendrikz
Jon Weinberg, Cape Town
Eva Hunt, South Africa
Shirley Gunn, Cape Town
Susan Holland-Muter, South Africa
Tara Weinberg, Cape Town
Lavona George, South Africa
Gille de Vlieg, South Africa
Michael Weinberg, Cape Town
Anne Schuster, South Africa
Jenny Radloff, South Africa
Kathy Watters, Cape Town
Sakina Mohamed, South Africa
Nicolene McLean, Gender Action Project
Carla Tsampiras, Rhodes History Dept
Corinne Knowles, GENACT
Alan Kirkaldy, NTESU
Carol Thomas, thewomanspace
Thava Govender, Human Development Consulting Agency,KZN, South Africa
Richard Matzopoulos, Medical Research Council and UCT Public Health
Bernedette Muthien, Engender
Sally Gross,Intersex South Africa
Surplus People Project, South Africa
Sharon Stanton, S.L Stanton Attorneys
Tessa Lewin, Institute of Development Studies, UK
Marjorie Jobson, Khulumani Support Group
Charlotte Young, South Africa
Melanie Judge, South Africa
Lin Helme, Adult Learning Forum, South Africa
Thembi Luckett, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town
Mohamed Jeebhay, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town
Elaine Salo, Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies. Univ of Pretoria
Marinda Maree – Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies – Univ of Pretoria
Rory DuPlessis – Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies – Univ of Pretoria
Owen Sichone – Department of Anthropology & Archaeology – Univ of Pretoria
Kammila Naidoo – Department of Sociology- Univ of Pretoria
Sven Ouzman – Department of Anthropology & Archaeology – Univ. of Pretoria
Rehana Ebrahim-Vally – Department of Anthropology & Archaeology – Univ of Pretoria
Feminist Alternatives
Ingrid Meintjes, African Gender Institute & Perinatal Mental Health Project
Mary Hames – Gender Equity Unity, South Africa
Desiree Lewis
Vasu Reddy, Gender and Development Unit – HSRC
Sophie Oldfield
Lubna Nadvi, UKZN, Durban
Josette Cole, Mandlovu Development Trust, South Africa
Thava Govender, Human Development Consulting Agency,South Africa
Charlotte Young, South Africa
Ashnie Padarath, Health Systems Trust
Simone Honikman, Head, Perinatal Mental Health Project, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town
Cherryl Walker, Department Chair Sociology and Social Anthropology, Stellenbosch University
This work’s Creative Commons license
Sunil Babu Pant is a schoolteacher’s son who grew up in the rough green mountains of central Nepal. The youngest of six children, indulged by his family, Pant remembers feeling attracted to other boys. But he wore that knowledge lightly, with the innocence of a sheltered child. Boys and girls played separately; Pant thought that his friends must feel just as he did. “It didn’t appear as a problem to me growing up in the countryside,” he says. “Even though I knew about myself, I couldn’t define it.”
