An open letter to Caster Semenya
Nomboniso Gasa
Mokgadi Caster Semenya is a South African runner who won the women’s 800-meter gold medal at the 2009 World Championships. She was subsequently challenged by competitors to prove her gender and subjected to sex tests by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Below is a commentary by South African gender and political analyst Nomboniso Gasa that first appeared in the Cape Times Daily Star News, Aug. 27. Gasa edited “Women in South African History” (2007).
First, congratulations on your success; it is no mean achievement. This is your finest hour. And this must not be lost. Like so many others who have been following the developments, I have been at a loss for words, have felt rage and above all an incredible sadness at what you have been forced to experience.
Looking at your photograph in the front page of The Saturday Star, with the South African flag draped over your shoulders, I was drawn to your grace, dignity and composure with which you seemed to handle yourself in these times. I looked closely, at the smile playing at the corners of your mouth and it seemed to me, on some level you were wondering—what is the fuss all about? You won. You worked hard. You deserve the accolades, recognition that honor and affirm your discipline and hard work. For many of us, as a young Black woman, there is much we are learning from you, even though you have said a few words and generally been silent.............
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4 comments:
Wow indeed.
I read they said she was a hermaphrodite after testing (which I felt was humiliating and intrusive.)
Said that her ovaries were not ovaries but testicles that did not drop. Ummmmmm...helloooooooo...that is what ovaries are. Only difference is what kind of hormones you got pumping in you determines if they drop or not while in utero. (short explanation as you know, don't need to have a biology lesson here.)
Anyway, biology aside, even if she is a hermaphrodite, I strongly believe that such individuals should have the right to determine their sexuality, as only they know themselves how they feel and what they are. It is obvious this athlete was raised, recognized and has accepted by her village and herself as female her entire life. Therefore that is her identity and gender.
What she has is a Goddess given gift. It is not like she was cheating and shooting up steroids, this is what she was born with and is using it wisely and is healthy and strong.
I am just angry that they put someone so young through such humiliation on a world stage. It was none of their or OUR business.
she was a grrrl from the time she was born. she IS a grrrl. i don't care if she has ovaries or not. she's a grrrl AND NOT trying to pull one over on anyone. how would she know she was going to be a runner when she was a baby? when she was an adolescent? when she was a tween? she was raised a grrrl. she IS a grrrl
Infuriating, I know. Just minding her business, doing what kids do. They need to leave her alone!
there was a link to a magazine article about her (i found today). she was on the cover all glammed up. there was an additional glam photo. she looked beautiful but she looked beautiful in her running pictures. i chose not to post the glam stuff. she's a grrrl period.
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