Semenya soldiers on
Star athlete up against institutionalised patriarchy, homophobia and racism
THE CHALLENGES that Caster Semenya faces today remind me of the story about the women warriors in Benin during the pre-colonial epoch.
The women were known as the Amazons of Dahomey. The Dahomey Kingdom existed in Benin, and unlike other kingdoms at the time, the warriors were women.
They fought many battles against men, and defeated them. They possessed great skills, talent and tactics, and in most cases they protected their civilisation and kingdom.
Before participating in a war they would chant in unity and then fight in unity. One of their chants stated: “Lionesses are more fearsome than lions. Because they have their cubs to defend. And we, the Amazons, have you to defend. The king, our king and our God, ki-ni.”
It is sad that very few history books have been written about these warrior women, and that their story does not get told.
A lot has been said about Caster Semenya – like the Amazons of Dahomey, she faces struggles; but not against men with spears and weapons. Rather, against fellow women, institutionalised patriarchy, homophobia and racism.
For more than a decade now, these challenges have hindered Semenya.
While other athletes worry about finishing quicker, Semenya worries about how her victory will be viewed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Semenya herself best described the struggle she faced when she said: “I know that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) will not hold me back. I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”
While many of us were still shocked by CAS’s ruling, Semenya cruised to victory over in the 800m race in Doha. Her words and victory prove the authenticity of the poem by Maya Angelou, Still I Rise.
The great poet writes: Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?
While the racist, patriarchal and homophobic agenda against Semenya continues, she keeps doing well on the race track!
This is the best sportsmanship ever. Athletes are not concerned about what happens off the field. They use the field as a platform to heal broken souls, bring smiles to sad faces, and unite a divided nation.
Sport is about pure meritocracy. Sportsmen do not need to use drugs, as they make sport monotonous. It is confusing that the IAAF wants Semenya to use medication to reduce the level of natural testosterone in her body and become someone she is not. Isn’t sport based on using your body to the best of your ability?
In soccer, for instance, the players are not the same; some have great pace, weight and height, which they individually use to the best of their ability.
Just imagine Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo being told by Fifa to reduce their pace and skills, because other soccer players could not match them. This is not only absurd, it is impossible and would undermine the authenticity of football.
Meritocracy, talent and skills are not only observed in sports; even in other professions, the capacity of different professionals is measured by their performance.
It seems like the absurd rules are not only targeting Semenya, but women’s sports as a whole.
The rules indicate the level of stereotypes attached to the capacity of women – that only men are allowed to run faster, because they are perceived to be “stronger”.
Such stereotypes neglect the fact that a person’s mental state plays a huge role in sports. Running an 800m race requires more than just testosterone. Even the Amazons of Dahomey were able to defeat men during wars, because wars are not just about physical strength. They involve training, tactics, ideology and skills.
It is also important to question the fact that testosterone is used to measure the ability of a woman. It is clear that the natural features of a man in a patriarchal society become dominant indicators of what a woman can and cannot do.
Some have argued that the challenges faced by Semenya underscore the primary question – who is eligible to play women’s sports?
But the question assumes that sports are for men, and that women’s sports is a sub-category of sports.
The challenges faced by Semenya are not isolated from systematic racism, institutionalised patriarchy and homophobia. The challenges have nothing to do with the definition of women’s sports. Ultimately, sports remain sports!
While the racist, patriarchal agenda against Semenya continues, she keeps doing well on the track