Sports
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Tila Tequila Speaks Out Against Domestic Violence
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Domestic Violence Is Not A Publicity Stunt, Not A Joke
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The Gender Investigation of Caster Semenya
Update: Caster Semenya Gets Strip Searched Inside & Out
Published September 11, 2009 @ 10:33PM PT
You may remember Christina Carr's recent piece about The Gender Investigation of Caster Semenya.
Well, given that everyone was so curious about if she was really, a she - it looks like critics can be satisfied now. Megan Carpentier, shares the news from The Sydney Morning Herald, which published the supposed results of the South African runner's International Association of Athletics Federations-ordered gender tests, which apparently show she has the Intersex condition Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome.
Interesting how it works like that. If a girl is deemed "too good" at sports, she must be a boy? And goddammit, no one will believe her until science intervenes!
But wait - maybe she isn't just a girl, or a boy, maybe she's a little bit of both? It seems that the desperate attempt to reveal Semenya's true identity, the IAAF got more than they bargained for:
THE world champion 800m runner Caster Semenya has been revealed to have male and female sexual organs, posing an ethical and political quandary for the sport's ruling body, the International Association of Athletics Federations, and her home nation, South Africa.
Extensive physical examinations of Semenya, who is just 18 and from a remote village in the country's far north, has shown the athlete is technically a hermaphrodite. Medical reports indicate she has no ovaries, but rather has internal male testes, which are producing large amounts of testosterone.
The presence of both male and female characteristics will come as a devastating blow to Semenya, who has fought off snide remarks about her masculine appearance for much of her life.
My question is - why are we so eager to find this out? Clearly if a man was competing in women's events, that might make things unfair because when it comes to physiology men and women are not equal species. But at this point, the poor girl has been strip searched inside and out - and for what reason? So that she can be told: no boys allowed?
Olympics Add Women's Boxing, But Restricts Weight Classes
Published August 18, 2009 @ 12:19PM PT
Last Thursday, the International Olympic Committee voted unanimously to add women's boxing to the 2012 Olympics. While this is a great step in the direction of equal recognition of women's sports, the New York Times did recognize one major problem with the way women's boxing will be structured, at least in 2012: only three weight classes will be included. This means that each of the female boxers will be required to fit into one of only three nonconsecutive weight ranges: flyweight (48 to 51 kilograms, or about 106-112 pounds), lightweight (56 to 60 kilograms, or about 123-132 pounds), or middleweight (69-75 kilograms, or about 152-165 pounds). This structure is unique to women's boxing; female participants in judo, wrestling and tae kwon do, who are also divided into weight classes, don't have to worry about these gaps.
The problem with this structure lies not just in the number of women that will be excluded from participation because their weight ranges fall above or below the limitations, but also in the large gaps between each class. A woman weighing 140 pounds, for example, would be required to either gain 12 pounds or lose 8 in order to be able to participate in any of the designated weight classes. This presents a situation that could promote unhealthy eating or exercise habits among women who desire to participate in Olympic boxing, but whose natural body structures render them ineligible. This is especially true because most boxers in this situation would probably chose to lose weight in order to compete as a heavier athlete in a lower weight range rather than gain weight in order to be a lighter competitor in a higher weight range.
Though the weight class structure was probably created out of budgetary concerns or some other similar issue, it is still a disappointing concession. Though there will be some protective concerns in place- namely pre- and post-fight physicals and monitoring of weight loss and gain over the years, placing such a strong emphasis on weight restrictions will likely have consequences that reach beyond the obvious health concerns of the individual athlete. Undeniably, there is a large emphasis throughout our culture on weight and body image, especially for females, but its especially disheartening when this creeps into the world of women's sports, where of all places, varying body structures should be celebrated, at least in terms of the strengths that women of all shapes and sizes can bring to the arena or playing field. Let's hope that by 2016, the International Olympic Committee will consider adding a few weight classes to women's boxing to remedy these issues.
Female Athletes On Twitter
Published July 12, 2009 @ 10:18AM PT
Want to expand your women's sports fandom to the world of Twitter? Give some of these professional female athletes a follow- who knows, maybe some will even add you back!
- Tanith Belbin (Figure skating) @TanithJLB
- Erica Blasberg (Golf) @EricaBlasberg
- Essence Carson (Basketball) @Pr3pE
- Irene Cho (Golf) @TheIreneCho
- Sasha Cohen (Figure skating) @SashaCohenUncut
- Marissa Coleman (Basketball) @MarissaC_25
- Natalie Coughlin (Swimming) @NatalieCoughlin
- Tara Dakides (Snowboard) @TaraDakides
- Lashinda Demus (Track and Field) @LashindaDemus
- Allyson Felix (Track and Field) @allysonfelix
- Jenny Finch (Softball) @jfinch27
- Meaghan Francella (Golf) @mfrancella
- Brianna Glenn (Track and Field) @briannaglenn
- Biba Golic (Table tennis) @Bgolic
- Natalie Gulbis (Golf) @natalie_gulbis
- Natasha Hastings (Track and Field) @natashahastings
- Charde Houston (Basketball) @Charhouston
- Janell Howland (Golf) @janellaxo
- Tameka Johnson (Basketball) @Quickdeuce
- Christina Kim (Golf) @TheChristinaKim
- Mindy Kim (Golf) @MindyKim89
- Anna Kournikova (Tennis) @Kournikova
- Kristi Leskinen (Freeskiing) @KristiLeskinen
- Stacy Lewis (Golf) @Stacy_Lewis
- Akiba McKinney (Track and Field) @MsAkiba
- Kristy McPherson (Golf) @Kristy2208
- Dominique Moceanu (Gymnastics) @Dmoceanu
- Danica Patrick (Indy Racing) @DanicaPatrick
- Lauren Perkins (Skateboarding) @LaurenPerkins88
- Sanya Richards (Track and Field) @AaronandSanya
- Olympia Scott (Basketball) @olympiahoops
- Tangela Smith (Basketball) @tgotnext
- Kellie Wells (Track and Field) @KellieWellz
- Tamera Young (Basketball) @tyoung11
Have any other favorite female athlete Tweeps? Share them in the comments!
Saudi Girls Make Traction Toward Equality On the Athletic Field
Published July 06, 2009 @ 12:17PM PT
Exciting news for aspiring female athletes in Saudi Arabia: an eight-year-old girl recently asked Prince Khaled al-Faisal, a powerful Saudi prince and the governor of Mecca, why she was not allowed to play sports in school like the boys can. The response? The prince stated that he hoped that state-run schools would soon allow playing fields for girls.
Prince Khaled al-Faisal's statement is arguably the strongest-yet government endorsement for such equality in a place where even physical education classes are banned for females in government-run schools and where female athletes are not permitted to participate in the Olympics. In addition, Princess Adelah, the daughter of King Abdullah, has also recently made a public statement advocating for the introduction of sports in girls' schools as a way to address the "rise in diseases linked to obesity and lack of movement."
The Saudi Arabian ban on many sports-related activities for females is becoming a controversial issue in the country. Some attempt to reason that sports activity can damage a woman's hymen, and therefore ruin her chances of getting married, and argue that limiting women's physical activities can help to prevent this. However, there has been some recent progress, and some women are beginning to come together to form sports teams and leagues that remain largely underground.
With growing government support in addition to these quiet underground movements, that eight-year-old girl may soon have the chance to "play sports like the boys.
Happy Birthday, Title IX
Published June 23, 2009 @ 07:05AM PT
Today is the 47th Anniversary of Title IX, arguably one of the most important pieces of legislature regarding women's rights. Though for many, mention of the act conjures images of female athletes, Title IX banned gender discrimination from all education programs and extracurricular activities in federally funded schools and school programs. In honor of this anniversary, I encourage you to learn more about the Act, and the legislation arising from it.
For starters, some quick facts:
Full Name: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, or The Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act
Date Enacted: June 23, 1972
The Gist: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be
- excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be
- subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Areas covered: All educational and school programs and activities that receive federal funds. This can include academics, access to school-related healthcare services, dormitory facilities, school-related athletics, school-related activities and clubs, assignment to classrooms, employment policies, treatment of teen parents, and standardized testing.
Areas not covered: Social fraternities and sororities, sex-specific youth clubs (such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts)
The Results: Before Title IX, women made up only 2% of college athletes. In 2001, 43% of college athletes were women. Likewise, before Title IX, women made up only 7% of high school athletes. In 2001, 41.5% of high school athletes were women.
Before Title IX, 42% of college students were women. During the 2003-2004 school year, 57% of college students were women.
Title IX in Court: Title IX has frequently been challenged in court, but the Supreme Court has upheld the act and even expanded its reach. In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled in Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools that students who are victims of sexual harassment and discrimination could be rewarded monetary damages. In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled in Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education that Title IX prevents schools from retaliating against individuals who protest gender discrimination.
For those who are legal-minded, the full text of the statute can be found here.
For some interesting statistics, check out the Feminist Majority Foundation's Title IX Fact Page.
To keep up to date with the latest cases arising from Title IX and for some interesting and timely discussion regarding the act, be sure to visit the Title IX Blog.
Danica Patrick & The Female Athlete Dilemma
Published June 11, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT
Danica Patrick is back in the spotlight, this time after issuing an apology for comments she made to Sports Illustrated before the Indy 500. In a radio interview with Sports Illustrated columnist Dan Patrick, the following exchange took place:
Dan: If you could take a performance-enhancing drug and not get caught, would you do it if it allowed you to win Indy?
Danica: Well, then, it's not cheating, is it? If nobody finds out?
Dan: So you would do it?
Danica: Yeah, it would be like finding a grey area. In motorsports we work in grey areas a lot. You're trying to find where the holes are in the rule book.
Danica apologized for her statement in an interview with USA Today columnist Christine Brennan, stating:
"The whole interview with Dan Patrick, and every other interview I've ever done with Dan, the questioning comes from left field. It was just a joke and I really apologize if it came across any other way...It was a bad joke. There is a lot of sensitivity in our culture about [performance-enhancing drugs]. With all the baseball stuff, I've followed it and this is a real [roblem. It's a shame kids think they have to do this to get ahead. It's very dangerous...It's absolutely not what I'm about. I've learned my lesson on what I should be joking about."
This isn't the first time that Danica Patrick has surrounded herself with a bit of controversy. Her racy commercials for GoDaddy.com (see here, and here) and her Sports Illustrated swimsuit appearances both caused a stir, and caused many to question whether her behavior was appropriate for someone who is in a position to be a role model to so many young girls.
The debate goes like this: on one side, people are praising Danica for "putting herself out there," for embracing her femininity while "proving herself" a more-than competent female athlete in a male-dominated sport, and for "being herself," and having the guts to joke around about a sensitive topic. On the other side, people are criticizing her for "plac[ing] barriers for women...by normalizing objectification," and for lacking the personal accountability that should be expected of someone in the spotlight.
On one hand, we all know that sex sells, and Danica's actions do draw attention to a highly successful female athlete in a traditionally-male sport. And we all know that at the end of the day, she's nothing more than human, and she makes mistakes and oversteps boundaries like the rest of us. But on the other hand, is Danica furthering stereotypes by allowing the media to objectify her? Is she doing more damage than good when the attention she draws as a woman driver serves more to highlight her "otherness" as a female athlete, and the vast differences between herself and her male counterparts? And when she gives interviews such as the one above, whether she claims to be joking or not, does that undermine fans' ability to take her seriously?
So, here's my question to you: How is it best for female athletes to garner attention for themselves and their sports? How far is too far when the goal is to increase visibility of female athletes, whether they participate in traditionally male- or female- dominated sports? What types of behavior should be off-limits, and what is acceptable? And where should personal accountability enter the conversation?
Women Jump Ahead In Winter Olympics
Published May 25, 2009 @ 06:00AM PT
A few weeks ago, I posted about the possibility of women's baseball being added to the growing repertoire of Olympic sports. Now, there's one more potential sport to be added to that list: women's ski jumping.
Currently, women can't compete in ski jumping- it, along with Nordic combined are the only Winter Olympic sports in which only men can compete. But, according to a post by Ron Judd of the Seattle Times, a group of women's ski jumpers have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to gain themselves a place in the Games in time for the next Winter Olympics, to be held in Vancouver.
Judd brings up a great point- the exclusion of women from the sport seems counterintuitive, given that the Games have already spent the excessive amounts of money to build the ski jump for the men's competition. Opening the sport to women would cost little extra, which strikes down the cost-control argument that could be fronted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
At a time when the IOC is under fire for its lack of support of women's sports, it seems to make little sense for the Committee to fight the inclusion of what is sure to be an exciting sport with the potential to garner much attention for the Games and the athletes involved. And over 10,000 people who signed this petition in favor of adding the sport seem to agree. It's time for the IOC to step up and take one more step towards equality.
