Gender & Sports

I found an interesting article on CNN titled "Should a Woman's testosterone level be tested in sports" by Susie East. This article talks about the International Association of Athletics Federation of the Olympics that implemented a regulation where woman with naturally high levels of testosterone were not allowed to race without undergoing medical treatment to lower their levels of testosterone. Having high levels of testosterone is known as hyperandrogenism and therefore the regulation was named the Hyperandrogenism Regulation. The purpose of this was to prove that the female athletes did not have an advantage in their sport because of their higher level of testosterone. Suggesting that men have the advantage in athletics because testosterone is the essentially considered the male hormone.

An example was when Caster Semenya won the gold medal in the 2009 World Athletics Championship for the 800 meter race, following the race the International Association of Athletics Federation launched an investigation. The investigation included having her testosterone levels tested. In which the results showed that she had naturally high testosterone levels and was thus compared to as "running against a man" (East, 2016). Because of this investigation the Association enforced the Hyperandrogenism Regulation in 2011. But come 2015, runner Dutee Chand challenged the association. She argued that she has the right to compete without having to artificially change her body. Now come August 2016, when this article was written, the Association could not prove that having higher testosterone really did give female athletes an advantage over other athletes that had regular levels of testosterone. Currently the Association has two years to figure out if this regulation should be continually suspended or brought back with new evidence proving their theory.

This regulation was depicting that female athletes could not be this good on their own. They were supporting the perception that men are superior. Although most sports commentary involves comments in regards to women athletes being more emotional or attractive, what about the commentary that should be discussed, about how these women are actually excellent and in their own way, superior athletes. Instead these women were investigated and tested on their testosterone levels. Would men be tested on their testosterone levels as well as part of this regulation? Or just females? Because it is okay for men to have high levels of testosterone because men are superior anyways and it is okay for them to have testosterone, since it is in fact already the male hormone. Just because women in sports are depicted in different ways, often as less superior than men, I do not believe it should be broken down to analyze the very genetic/hormonal make up a female has. This puts pressure on women athletes to be more feminine. The way this regulation was communicated to society was very discriminatory to any women who have naturally high levels of testosterone. It is unfair to tell a female athlete, I'm sorry, but you cannot compete because of the way that you were born.

I am glad that this regulation is currently suspended and I do not believe that they will be able to find adequate facts and other valid information to prove that just because you have a higher testosterone level means you are a superior athlete. This perception that men are superior and comparing good female athletes to men is a little outrageous if you ask me. This puts pressure on females to be feminine in hopes that they will not be compared to a man. I do not know about other females, but I do not like being compared to men, whether that comparison is in the commentary of the sport or down to the genetic and hormone make up of the body. I believe that women should be treated the same as men when it comes to performance in sports. Or at least judged the same.