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Semenya's Makeover Downright Cynical

Too bad South African athlete can't just 'wear pants if she feels like it'

By Will McCahill, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2009 8:37 PM CDT

(Newser) – The appearance of Caster Semenya, the runner who was the subject of gender controversy at last month’s world championships, all made over on the cover of a South African magazine has blogger Anna N., on Jezebel, smelling a rat. “It’s hard not to see the shoot as a calculated move by her managers to sell the public on her ‘femininity,’” Anna writes. “This is especially sad because up until now, Semenya and her family have been unapologetic about the way she looks and dresses.”

“From Susan Boyle to Semenya, magazine ‘makeovers’ send the message that there's one way for women to look good, and the closer you get to it the happier you’ll be,” Anna seethes. “I’d rather live in a world where Caster Semenya can wear pants if she feels like it, rather than one where she needs a team of stylists to be considered ‘feminine.’”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Athlete Semenya Caster, whose gender was questioned after a recent event, is seen post-makeover in a South African magazine. (You)

Caster Semenya, at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Aug. 19, 2009. (AP Photo)

Caster Semenya at last month's world championships, left, and on the cover of the current You edition. (AP Photo (left); You magazine (right))

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Her father said that she had always preferred pants, but that she was still a woman—and the idea that she has to put on a dress and lipstick to prove her femaleness to people is pretty depressing. - Anna N., on Caster Semenya

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 18 comments

reasonator

Sep 10, 2009 3:48 AM CDT

@thinker: ... lol

brawne

Sep 9, 2009 5:53 AM CDT

Thank you Reason, you hit the nail on the head: while she is a woman by XX standards she is not a woman by what we have evolved to expect. Breasts which are fat directed by estrogen, slim waist which is a tiny bit of testosterone--enough to get us working out a few minutes a day, and hips which again are fat from estrogen. Ever see a fat 90 year old woman? Not cause she's fat and old but because estrogen stores in fat and is fertilizer to cancer cells, so fat women have just enough stored hormone to wipe them out. And women who take it after menopause are playing Russian Roulette. I have vegan friends who won't wear leather shoes but have no idea that their estrogen comes from a horribly caged pregnant horse. You know, men and women are different--for about fifty years women rule when it comes to fucking and then you just gotta let it go and let the men go to the younger women--it's nature and it is just the way it is. Try to keep up and you are Elizabeth Edwards killing herself with pregnant horse piss. Not so appealing. Uh?

brawne

Sep 9, 2009 5:35 AM CDT

Come on Gibblets, a genetic test for gender takes about as long as a blood test for a DUI. She's a woman. Did you ever see Julia Child, or hear that voice? Wow, testosterone as a gift--probably why she was a spy for the OSS then CIA and then learned to cook. Hormones--God's gravy.

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Semenya's Makeover Downright Cynical