Monday, September 21, 2009
Is Gender Testing Necesarry?
This has been a topic of discussion in class a few times and I figured I would blog my opinion. Caster Semenya was a big topic of discussion and rightfully so as she was in the news because there were questions about her gender. In my opinion gender testing, like all kind of testing (steroids and such) should be conducted, but privately like the NFL does there tests. There is no need to publicly, (the world being the public in this case) shame an 18 year old person guy or girl. Also I think tests should be conducted before the events take place. If Caster Semenya had not won the race in the fashion she did, would they have gender tested her? I personally do not think so. If women in question are privately tested before the events then this can save a lot of humiliation (at least public humiliation) to the person involved and the people involved such as the committees (not sure if it is the IOC) because the situation just makes everyone look bad.
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My look on the subject is different. I look at the parents of Caster and place full blame on them and her South Africa track coach. They all had to know she had both sex organs and knew that it would be a major problem if she won, especially with her manly looks. She is only 18 and of course she needs guidance.
ReplyDelete- J.Smith
I agree test should be taken place. What do you mean by before the event? Like right before? Or like 2 weeeks ahead of time? I would like to see them tested 2 weeks ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that i had in my blog, was to just simply make every single athlete within the sport be tested just to be completely sure and so that there is no controversy.
ReplyDeleteGranted this will not be cost effective by any means, but is the controversy or the mental effects on a girl that is being accused of being a male worth saving that money. The integrity of the sport may also be able to be saved if everyone is tested so that all fans know what is going on in the sport and making sure there is not controversy in the sport that they are interested in.
In this case, I do not believe it was the IOC, because the race in which she participated was under the sponsorship of an international track and field federation.
ReplyDeleteI agree that gender testing should be done, because the playing field has to be equal.I believe that it should be done privately though, because this may be emberassing to some athletes,as in the case of Caster Semenya. Gender testing will be needed because more and more people are getting sex change operations.
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