Analysis Of Caster Semenya

Introduction

In this analysis, it depicts Caster Semenya where there are two illustrations shown where she came first in the 2009 Olympic and in the YOU magazine cover where she looks more feminine. In this paper it analyses the controversial issue regarding her background and how there have been many debates on the issue of her sex and whether she should compete or not as some think she has an unfair advantage. In this analysis, it argues that Caster Semenya should not conform to the norm of society but like everyone else, has the right to express her in whichever way she feels most comfortable. “According to Lorber (1994:54) Gender is such a familiar part of daily life that it usually takes a deliberate disruption of our expectations of
Semenya’s victory was shortly celebrated as her gender/sex became the main topic and that the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) began an investigation which required Semenya to undergo a sex-verification test. Semenya was subjected to defend herself as a women and the right to participate in the athletics. “After that victory, by more than four seconds, the 18-year-old’s world changed and largely for the worse. She was subject to gender tests which were never made public but were alleged, according to the Australian Daily Telegraph, to show she had no womb or ovaries but had internal testes”(Ingle, 2016). Her human rights and her dignity were at stake when she was humiliated. When looking at Caster Semenya, she may appear very masculine but the way one look should not determine their sex or gender. “Sex is not always clear-cut, the term intersexual people refer to people whose bodies, including gentials, have both female and male characteristics, another term used is hermaphrodites” (Macionis & Gerber,
Human rights also comes into place when women are subjected to undergo these tests, and being question if they ‘women enough’ to compete. Oppression and sexism comes in when these situations are addressed. The controversy behind Semenya’s sex has sparked debates whether she is allowed to race against other females whereas some may feel the opposite and the other women contenders may feel that it is a challenge competing against Samenya, a bit of competition is good and makes them work