Caster Semenya and the World

Two months ago, Caster Semenya shocked the world when she won the gold medal at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. In addition to winning the gold, the 18 year old track star achieved the fastest time of the year with her performance.

Instead of celebrating however, Caster Semenya immediately faced doubts and questions about her gender. Such critics looked at her astonishing performance with intense skepticism, largely due to their belief that her appearance was too manly. Due to her previous athletic accomplishments, the International Association of Athletics Federations, or IAAF, ordered Caster Semenya to undergo a gender test to verify that she is actually a woman. Instead of being kept discreet, the IAAF's decision leaked to the public, and Caster Semenya was immediately swept up in a global interest about her gender, rather than her athletic accomplishments.

With overwhelming scrutiny surrounding her gender, Caster Semenya caved in to appease her critics. Typically spotted wearing athletic attire and having her hair in cornrows, Caster Semenya posed on the cover of YOU magazine wearing a dress, jewelry, and with a different hair style. By agreeing to such an extreme makeover, Caster Semenya made the decision in hopes of somehow proving that she is in fact a woman. Unfortunately, she has only reinforced the stereotype that women must somehow prove their womanhood by appearing in dresses and jewelry, sending the wrong message to anyone following her situation. Despite this misstep, Caster's actions are entirely understandable. She is still a very young woman, and she wants to be viewed in a positive light, which is something that I believe almost anyone would want. The magazine cover is her attempt to show that she is a woman with good character, not this man-like freak that the media has attempted to portray her as.

While the official results have yet to be released, Caster Semenya's life has been turned upside down. Instead of being a highly motivated elite athlete, she is instead being traumatized by her new fame about whether she is actually a woman, instead of her many athletic achievements. Considering the publicity that her story has received, she must have an immense amount of distress and anxiety about what the world and other athletes think of her. Reportedly, she was unable to take her university exams because she is still too traumatized by the entire experience, which is still ongoing. She has also withdrawn from athletic events, due to these widespread concerns and issues involving her gender.

Being an athlete of color, Caster Semenya's trials and tribulations has resulted in many individuals contending that the IAAF's actions were racist, or improper and morally wrong at the very least. In response, the IAAF has contended that their actions were only to verify that Caster Semenya did not possess an unfair advantage over other athletes.

Caster Semenya's situation provides a good example of a reckless media, insensitive organizations, and ignorance at its finest. Caught up in the middle of it all, Caster Semenya struggles to cope in life and compete in the field of athletics, which she no doubt loves. While everyone focuses on the gender test, people fail to realize that she is a person and that such negative attention will only harm her.

Even if the tests reveal that she is intersex or has an abnormal level of testosterone, Caster Semenya is a woman. This whole ordeal only brings up the pertinent fact that society needs to reflect on how it treats individuals when they do not look like the stereotypical man or woman, or when individuals may contain both anatomical sex parts. These individuals are not somehow below the rest of us because of how they look or how they were born.

As a female athlete of color, Caster Semenya has the potential to be a great role model for many individuals. I hope that she can overcome this ordeal and participate in track competitions once more, triumphing over her competitors. Considering her strong will and personality, Caster has accomplished so much just by reaching her level of athleticism and ability, and I hope her strong mental profile will allow her to regain her standing in sport, overcoming the criticism and skepticism surrounding her.

Eric Harnden
Kin 339i
M 7 PM

Successful Women in Sports

Throughout history men have been the main focus in sports. For a period of time women were not even allowed to participate in rigorous physical activity because doctors said it would inhibit a woman’s responsibility to have children and take care of them. Obviously this is no longer an issue today. Women in sports are extremely competitive and are some of the most successful people in society. Kerri Walsh for example is a huge success story for women in sports. She, along with Misty May- Treanor, has one twenty- two gold medals in the 2008 Olympics games for her performances in Beach Volleyball and has the longest winning streak in Beach Volleyball history. Although the men’s U.S. Olympic indoor volleyball team also won the gold this past year, Misty May and Kerri Walsh seemed to have attracted the most attention. Another famous story is that of Venus and Serena Williams, arguably the two most famous female tennis players. Aside from their raw talent, part of their popularity comes from the fact that they are sisters. These two competed in the 2002 Grand Slam finals in Wibmbledon at the height of their popularity. It seemed for the next couple years they each took their turn winning the cup as they both have roughly eleven major titles throughout their careers. Generally you only here about the NFL, the MLB or men’s basketball but this volleyball and tennis duo has opened a lot of people’s eyes into the world of women in sports.

R. Burbage
KIN 339i

Physically Challenged Athletes - No Limits

I cannot imagine there being a worse feeling in the world than being an outgoing athlete who loses the use of any of their limbs. Football players losing the use of their legs, or swimmers losing the use of their arms. What goes through the mind of an athlete who has this occurrence happened to them? I can only think back to high school and spraining my ankle during basketball season, not having the ability to walk on one of my legs was gruesome. I cannot imagine not being able to have the use of that leg for the rest of my life, the mental toughness to go through a situation as such must be tremendous. Yet, there are still those physically challenged athletes that have the motivation and drive to go out and remain as physically active as possible. Whether it be an individual who has lost the use of their legs, so they work out their arms, or vice-versa. It is truly inspirational for me to witness such a feat. There is no obstacle too large for these physically challenged athletes to overcome.

A famous case of an athlete losing a limb to a tragic event is female surfer Bethany Hamilton. Her parents were both very pristine surfers and had Bethany on a surfboard since she was a toddler. Since age 7, she was surfing on her own and truly fell in love with the sport. However, on October 31, 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark who severed her left arm all the way up to the top of the humerus. Even after losing 60% of her blood, Bethany survived the attack and was very hopeful for the possibility of getting back in the water. That possibility became a reality shortly after the incident, and by a month, Bethany was able to paddle a long board with the use of only her one arm.

Bethany continued to progress at her ability to paddle with only one arm and by January 2004, she was back on her short board, paddling out to the incredible waves of Hawaii. For those who surf, and know of the challenge of paddling a surfboard with two arms, imagine having only the use of one. She re-entered competition, and in the first one back she was able to place 5th. She refused any special treatment that was being given to her by the NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) during competition. She didn't want to be treated differently then any of the other surfers in the competition. The courage, mental toughness, and motivation of this young woman is truly inspirational to me and I do not believe I would be able to make the same transitions she was forced to make after that shark attack in 2003. Just one story of a physically challenged athlete who continues to make it all work despite her physical impairment.

Tony P Nuñez

Supporting WNBA

The WNBA team, Detroit Shock made its move to Tulsa, Oklahoma this week because of issues with today's economy. A Shock veteran stated, “We understand it’s a business venture to take on a WNBA team. … The reason why we’re moving to Tulsa is that we didn’t obtain the necessary fans and revenue that we needed. This is a job. People are being hit by the recession and losing their jobs. We’re just thankful that there’s another city willing to take us.” She explains it's all a business and they have to move to where it's a better fit from a finacial standpoint. The Detroit Shock have won 3 championships in the past 12 seasons; 2003, 2006, 2008. The move is causing them to lose their "Shock faithful" or Shock fans. Most are angry and upset and still, i guess it fits to say 'shocked'. Even though this is a good move for the organization, how is it going to affect the players? They are going to have to start all over again in a new town with new people and fans trying to win their hearts and convince them that women can play basketball too and that they should come support them. Hopefully what will happen is the Oklahoma City Thunder fans will cross the gender line so to speak, and support the women's as well as the men's professional team.


M.L. KIN 339

Psychological issues of Physically Challenged Athletes

Physically challenged people alone have many different barriers throughout their lives. The two main types of people who fall into this category are mentally disabled and physically crippled i.e. wheelchair, missing limb. Physically challenged people like everyone else want to feel good at something and achieve goals that will help them with their self esteem. Just like people without a physical disability they can also suffer from the same types of injuries. For example wheelchair athletes can have many shoulder problems because it becomes a weight-bearing joint and also develop soars where in the sport they have to have their knees above their buttocks (wheelchair). Mentally disabled athletes face the challenges of not being taking seriously or expectations are not very high. People don’t realize how important these sports are to them and should be taken seriously, a lot of them train outside the actually event, which you would think would make others take it more seriously. Over all we can’t be blinded by ignorance when it comes to the physically challenged. They like the rest of us want to be accepted into society and do whatever any other able body can do.

T Cook
KIN 339i

Issues Regarding Physically Challenged Athletes

When we see someone who is physically challenged, you can't but feel bad for the person. Often times we don't think that physically challenged people can play sports. However, physically challenged people can play sports and for anyone who doesn't believe they can is just ignorant. Physically challenged athletes have to deal with more disadvantages; not only physically but mentally as well.

Physically challenged athletes deal with many external factors regarding ability in sports. Many questions such as what is this person capable of accomplishing or can you actually handle the challenge? Many people do not realize that physically challenged athletes are mentally tougher than some average able bodied athletes. If you think about it, the disadvantages that these athletes had gone through has made them stronger mentally than able bodied athletes. For some physically challenged athletes, the easiest thing to do is just give up. But with events like the Special Olympics and wheelchair basketball, there is no reason why physicall challenged athletes can't compete at a high level. Physically challenged athletes can accomplish things that able athletes can do.

Though physically there is a difference between able bodied and physically challenged athletes, mentally it is the same. All athletes face anxiety, stress, and other factors that can hinder their ability to perform. There is no reason to look down upon physically challenged athletes based on their appearance. They can accomplish and excel at their sport regardless of their disabilities. They are mental tougher in certain areas because of their experience and coping with their disabilities but all in all, they are athletes and they go through the same things that able bodied athletes go through.

- Brian Chan
KIN 339I
Mon 7PM

women in sports

Mi ae Yun

Kin 339I

In these days, the feminist cultural movement is brisk. The purpose of the protest is opposed to sexually discriminatory education, custom, and so on. Also, the movement is a greatly contribution to strong patriarchy as a symbol of virility, and the changes has occurred in the world of sports. According to the UNESCO which is a committee of Physical Education and Sports, no matter what gender is, every person has right to participate in any kinds of sports.

Although many people are trying hard to guard the equality between genders in the field of sport and political interest, sexual harassment and violence within intramural girls’ sports club or professional sports teams has been happening. Also, sexism in the process of leader selection became common social problems. The legal and systemically supporting to women’ sports is still lacked. So it is an urgent need for removing sexual discrimination within the sport environment that people come up with a social unity. Also, founding systemically steps can be one of the necessaries and it will also become a part of resuscitating the women’ cultural policies.