In regard to my previous post, I noticed that a few people completely misread and misunderstood my point. Some people seem to think that I implied that Caster is not a female, clearly something I haven’t stated anywhere in my post. I have mentioned this over the years in various posts that I published on my blog: ATTENTIVE READING is very important. If some of y’all are in university, then you should know.
As one of my law professors once told me, it’s rain that makes flowers grow, not thunder, so raise your argument, not your voice. So, here’s one of my rebuttals to someone who seemed to have completely missed the purpose of my previous post.
Anon: Caster is a woman. I really respect you but implying that she’s not and that her DSD should exclude her from competing without altering her body has really upset me. Her hormone levels are no different than having a different body type or metabolic rate. She’s not cheating by existing. I understand that sex is a complicated mess, but in a binary sex system the policing of black women’s bodies is so harmful.
Me:
You completely misinterpreted or misread my post. In no way, shape, or form did I state that Caster was not a woman. That is something you assumed I implied.
In the last question of my post I clearly indicated that Caster IS a woman (again ATTENTIVE reading)! Re-read the question please! How fair is it to let DSD female athletes compete against non-DSD female athletes? Do you see the word female?
As for hormones, it’s a completely different thing from metabolic rate and body types! You should read a bit more about sport science. P.S. if you didn’t know metabolic rate and body types are all attributes affected by ___; you guessed it: HORMONES! Why do you think steroid hormones are used to regulate gene expression?
You should read this article: 3 hormones that affect body shape and weight loss.
For some of you who are into bodybuilding, or have studied sport science, or whatever related to fitness, sport medicine, etc., you know the answer to this next question: What happens to an athlete’s metabolic rate who doesn’t suffer from hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid), but decide to take thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)?
Because I have many young people following me, I won’t really answer to the above question. I don’t want to influence anyone, but if you know, you know 🙃.
Now as for Caster’s DSD, where did I mention it should exclude her from competing? Did you read the part where I said that: if Caster wants to compete with other non-DSD female athletes, she should demonstrate that her higher testosterone levels do not give her an unfair advantage over others!
As long as Caster can show that her medical condition does not give her an edge, I really do not see any issues with her competing against other non-DSD female athletes. However, until proven otherwise, I will continue to believe in the hundreds of decades-old studies and researches conducted on testosterone and athletic performance. Maria Patino was able to demonstrate that her medical condition doesn’t give her an unfair advantage over others and I’m fine with that – then let her compete.
Caster was given the option to lower her testosterone levels, but she refused to! If Caster does not want to lower her testosterone levels, then why shouldn’t we allow non-DSD female athletes to use anabolic steroids? If DSD female athletes are allowed to compete with non-DSD female athletes, should we allow non-DSD female athlete to use PEDs such as testosterone, so they can be at the same level? Do you see my point now!
When we allow one thing, it also opens the door to other things – other possibilities. The issue here isn’t about preventing Caster from competing but taking into account Caster’s condition. How can we allow Caster to compete, but at the same time make it fair and even for other athletes who don’t have her condition? How can we allow DSD female athletes to compete side by side with non-DSD women athletes without compromising the integrity of women’s athletics?
Where do we draw the line? Where is the just middle?
P.S. a great example of the policing of black women’s bodies in athletics is Serena Williams. Serena Williams having to remove her fantastically fabulous bodysuit because her majestic curves were “causing too much of a distraction” to white tennis folks, THAT is nuanced racism in female athletics.
Anne White also wore a bodysuit and no said anything, but when it was Queen Serena 🐸☕️… But hey who am I to judge tennis officials 🤷🏽♀️
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