The Logic of Binary Dichotomies

In her article for The New Yorker on 30th November 2009, Ariel Levy question the logic of binary dichotomies which use the operator of ‘Either-Or’ in case of a sex determination for Caster Semenya- a poor, rural, marginalised and black South African female athlete. Caster Semenya became the nation’s pride after winning accolades across the world in athletics albeit her poor and rural background.Caster was questioned after one of her winning performances that was criticised as ‘enhanced performance’ due to drug use and/or  being a male with high level of testosterone giving competitive advantage. The doubts grew with Caster not ‘performing her gender’. Caster would not act like most conventional behaviour attributed to women. She did not excercise her feminine self in her appearance or her actions and therefore the cloud of doubt over her gender darkened. What was shocking was the ordeal that Caster had to undergo to prove herself, in violation of the principle of informed consent.

Levy raises two major questions about the whole ordeal. The first question being the basis on which the I.A.A.F tests a athlete. Was Caster under the scanner because of her poor, rural, black and marginalised background? Was she being objectified for the sake of white man’s pleasure? Levy cites example of NBA players with acromegaly and Michael Phelps who has abnormally large limbs and double jointed elbow, knees and ankles that give them competitive edge but aren't questioned for the former and the example of Hottentot Venus for the latter.

The second one being that of  how equipped is science in sex determination and the procedures involved. Even with evolution in science, we still have no certainty or one stop solution for sex determination. Until 1968, sex determination was done by checking for the genitalia. Beyond which the use of chromosomal testing begin.The IAAF itself has more than once changed its method citing the shortcomings of the earlier ones. This has even led to overturning of some decisions as well. Science seemed to be a way to determine the way we see a fact. But Is it so ? or are we seeing what we want to see ? and confirming to the presupposed notion.

In addition due to the complexity in science, the I.A.A.F does not have a set procedure to be followed for the determination of verdict of such cases. They depend on a set of specialists and deal on such cases on a case by case basis. Such a practise is bound to be influenced by the use of power in the form of money, status, country athletic board and country support and their say in the global spheres.With strides in scientific temper, complexity of sex determination also increased which further paved way for the argument of sexes being a spectrum over those having binary association. For Sports and its organisers, the inability to classify on the basis of gender further poses the challenge of classification of sportsmen (size, skill level or biochemically) to ensure a level playing field and how if we choose to still continues using gender classification, shall we handle cases like Caster.

Caster received support form her country and across the world but people used the issue for their personal interest while still striving for her.Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela decided to accept her as god’s child to utilise this opportunity to unite the nation. Julius Malema, President of African National Congress lobbied for Caster but chose not to recognise her as a hermaphrodite citing it to be a wester concept and a racial attack on the people of SA. The ASA did not let her know the right of an athlete to deny testing and that of informed choice.Caster herself was elevated to become a celebrity and a hero like figure, which she doesn't like that much. Levy empathies with Caster and tries to interview her to understand her hard work to rise out of the humble beginnings and ignore talking about the controversy surrounding her. But the whole ordeal has broken Caster and now she prefers keeping low key and away from the media spotlight

In essence the article brings to light society’s stress on appearances and behaviour to determine gender. Its faith of classifying itself in binary dichotomies for convenience. Its inability to not accept identities, be it race, sex, sexual preference etc which are beyond such rigid boundaries but more fluidic and spectrum like in nature and then marginalising them from continuity of this system of convenience.