Hyperandrogenism Regulation Disagreement
Five weeks before the 2012 London Olympics, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a web post that stated “women with levels of testosterone that reach a man’s normal level will be barred from competing with other women” (Macur, 2012). Women who have a surplus of testosterone are viewed as having an unfair competitive advantage. However, a high amount of testosterone can be a biological outcome that most people do not have control over. The 2012 regulations do not make room for intersex individuals to participate. People should not be punished or excluded from competing in the Olympics due to their bodies taking an unexpected sexual differentiation path.
“No matter what they call it, it is still a sex test that’s all about judgments and so much more about social values than science,” said Wamsley, the former director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies (Macur 2012). Rebecca Jordan-Young and Katrina Karkazis stated, “This is not science. It is a gender witchhunt, and it is foul play. This is why experts in sports, gender, and bioethics – and those battling discrimination against female and LGBT athletes – have been mobilizing against this policy ever since its basic shape was announced last year” (Jordan/Karkazis 2012). The past and present regulations invade the privacy of women athletes while unjustly disqualify them if they do not fit into the socially constructed barriers of what society considers a woman. If an intersex individual is biologically a man but was raised to be a women, has no idea they are genetically a man, has no issue with being a woman, and can successfully perform the gender role of a women; then that person is a woman and society should be able to except that. The 2012 regulations simply confirm that society is still not ready to take that step.
Dr. Vilain expresses that “Testosterone does not explain sex differences in athletic performance and that testosterone is only relevant to sport performance if the body and
“No matter what they call it, it is still a sex test that’s all about judgments and so much more about social values than science,” said Wamsley, the former director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies (Macur 2012). Rebecca Jordan-Young and Katrina Karkazis stated, “This is not science. It is a gender witchhunt, and it is foul play. This is why experts in sports, gender, and bioethics – and those battling discrimination against female and LGBT athletes – have been mobilizing against this policy ever since its basic shape was announced last year” (Jordan/Karkazis 2012). The past and present regulations invade the privacy of women athletes while unjustly disqualify them if they do not fit into the socially constructed barriers of what society considers a woman. If an intersex individual is biologically a man but was raised to be a women, has no idea they are genetically a man, has no issue with being a woman, and can successfully perform the gender role of a women; then that person is a woman and society should be able to except that. The 2012 regulations simply confirm that society is still not ready to take that step.
Dr. Vilain expresses that “Testosterone does not explain sex differences in athletic performance and that testosterone is only relevant to sport performance if the body and
Cited: Haselton, Martie. “Evolution and Psychology Concepts.” 01 Nov 2012. Lecture 11 “IOC Regulations on Female Hyperandrogenism.” UCLA GE72A Handout Jordan-Young, Rebecca, and Katrina Karkazis. "You say you 're a woman?" NYT (2012) Jordan-Young, Rebecca, and Katrina Karkazis. "The IOC’s superwoman complex: how flawed sex-testing discriminates." The Guardian. 02 Jul 2012. Handout Macur, Juliet. "Sex-Verification Policy Is Criticized as a Failure." New York Times. 25 Jun 2012. Handout Vilain Eric. “Athletes’ Bodies, Sexed Bodies.” 29 January 2013. Lecture 7 Vilain Eric. "Gender Testing for Athletes Remains a Tough Call" NYT (2012)