So this class is proving to be a very controversial class full of debates about what is morally right and wrong about issues concerning sport and gender. One issue that is bringing forth major publicity and controversy in the media as well as our class is sex testing on athletes. Sex testing is an issue that was introduced back in the 60's at the Mexico City Olympics, when E. Germany athletes were accused of doping practices. In an article that we were to read titled "The Gender Trap" the author stated that "Adolf Hitler wanted to show the world the supremacy of the Aryan race..." which resulted in the forced entry of Dora Ratjen ( a woman), who was born as Hermann Ratjen (a man) with doping practices. I found this to be an extreme form of the effect that gender has on sports, but not completely unusual seeing how important sports are globally.
However, a new issue with sport and gender goes furthur now than human influence on sex/gender such as doping, to make a women more masculine. The focus now is recognizing the fact that there is a such thing as being born with both male and female chromosomes which is termed intersex or more specific - mosaicism. Intersex individuals are rising alot of controversy in the sports world concerning fairness within the competitions.
I believe that fairness is very important in the sports world especially when it is a major sport that involves fame and fortune. I also believe that there are certain cases where sex testing may be necessary, but only when it is done is discretion to the athlete. For instance in the case with Caster Semenya. She has been getting alot of criticism and publicity because her traits are more masculine than women in track has been in the past. The media is in my opinion embaracing her and avoiding the fact that she is simply a great athlete who may have more determination and purpose to race than other athletes which is why she may train harder which results in her winning.
Caster Semenya is a threat to her competition and they have to find an excuse to her athleticism. This question arised in class; "why wasn't this issue brought up before now when she was competing is smaller events?" My answer would be that she is now a threat. You could also say that racism, discrimination, and some more unfair practices may be to blame as well, but had she not risen to her full potential I don't believe that this issue would have been an issue at all.
A solution to this issue that we discussed in class was to just sex test all athletes that way no one is singled out and publicized, which I totally agree with. Although this would be a very expensive procedure, it's not unecessary. I couldn't imagine being in Caster's situation. The global humilation that she has to put up with is alot to bear for anyone and especially for her since she is only 18 years old.
Another solution that I agreed with is to make a co-ed division for most if not all sports. I love this idea, because although it would be complex in ruling/judging, but if fairness is a value in the sports world this is a fair solution so that everyone could participate without the humiliation and invasiveness of sex testing procedures.
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I agree with a number of your points in this entry. First of all, I believe that the most tragic part of this case is the human price that Caster Semenya has paid, because of the global coverage her story received. Even if all athletes were sex-tested (most thought this should only be done in women's events, since a female competing as a male was not perceived to be a threat), the fact of someone being intersex disrupts the purpose of sex-testing, since it reveals that some individuals do not fit into either category--i.e., male or female. For that reason, I have to agree with your final suggestion--i.e., to have co-ed divisions.
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