NERD ALERT!

New obsession: Gender Tests. Yesterday, I read an article about South African runner Caster Semenya, who has been asked by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) to take tests in order to confirm that she is, in fact, a woman. Apparently she got really good, really fast, and that raised some estrogen levels, er, eyebrows. The 18 year old has been slaying the competition during the world championships, which probably did not help her case.

This situation is both infuriating and fascinating to me. I want to make an informed commentary, but I don’t know enough. Though I do not enjoy science, I want and need to know (so much) more about this whole process and its social ramifications. I’ve checked wiki, a homie sent me a pdf of “Dueling Dualims,” and another friend of mine has been kind enough to send me some links. I’ve posted them below, beneath the video.

In the meantime, here’s a question: It seems like we might need to reaccess how we organize competitive sports, especially track and field. If we no longer divided competition along gender (sex) lines, how would we do it?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMUIoO8eArA&feature=player_embedded

Gender Test Timeline
Doses of Watson and Crick:
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/media/meiosis-lg.mov
http://www.dnalc.org
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu