Caster Semenya

[quiregrrl]

My heart goes out to this poor girl... I can't even begin to imagine how stressful and intrusive this current media storm is for her.

I'm also finding myself cringing with every use of the word "hermaphrodite"... while it may be scientifically correct, it's not the accepted term to apply to any human. She is an intersex female.

Kudos to ABC.net whose

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My heart goes out to this poor girl... I can't even begin to imagine how stressful and intrusive this current media storm is for her.

I'm also finding myself cringing with every use of the word "hermaphrodite"... while it may be scientifically correct, it's not the accepted term to apply to any human. She is an intersex female.

Kudos to ABC.net whose <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/11/2683807.htm
>online story</a> utilised all the correct pronouns, except in one instance - ironically when referring to Raelene Boyle, who it seems is loudly proclaiming to any media source pointing a microphone/dictaphone at her that this "girl, or ... <i>person</i>" should be stripped of their medal and record. Referring to Ms Boyle as "he" made me snicker, petty I know, but snicker I did.

It IS a difficult situation, and no doubt there will be a great deal of debate, as there are potential physical differences that can affect performance in athletic endeavours, but it's just abhorrent that the test results were leaked, and that this girl is now dealing with what is presumably quite momentous news in such a public arena. And no doubt it will not take long for Caster to become the punchline of offensive and tasteless "jokes".

The world makes me sad some days.

Comments

[cubboy.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you have said. I will add that I hope she is not subjected to violence in her local community.