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This article may be used to:
- Showcase existing gender stereotypes in our society.
- Provide an example of gender insensitive language in a news article.
- Highlights the challenges women face in sports reporting.
- Reiterate the victimisation of women’s images in news reporting.
- The power of multiple sources, especially women in news reporting.
Trainer’s notes
The headline reaffirms gender stereotypes embedded in our society with regard to women – both in sports and in who they are “supposed” to look and behave in general.
Generally, women are not expected to do as well as men in sport competition, and if they do, they become “suspect,” even by the organisers of competitions. The article says that the World Athletics organisers want Semenya to prove she is not a man. In that way, the article promotes the gender stereotype that women should not excel in sports and if they do their gender status should fall under scrutiny. In this way, notions that women are not good enough to give splendid performances in world sporting events gets perpetuated at a fast pace. This also happened to Mozambican 800m superstar Maria Mutola. Her running capabilities were questioned and she was questioned as being a man rather than a woman, merely due to her high competitive level. Does this mean that excellence in sport is only reserved to men and removed from women’s reach?
The headline “Prove you are not a boy,” does nothing other than expose challenges faced by sportswomen in news reporting. The headline rigidly asks Semenya to prove whether she is not a boy, only because her performances exceeded the society’s expectations from a “normal” woman athlete. Of late women that do well in sport have been reduced to abnormalities rather than heroes in their communities; such headlines are inflammatory. The headline ignores the amazing win, and focuses in on the controversy.
The article itself quickly moves away from reporting on the race, that Caster has Semenya won a Gold Medal. This could have included a detailed report on the race, the time she ran, how she outplayed her fellow runners, her technique and her sensational world record; instead, the story chose to present Semenya as a victim. She becomes a victim of gender scrutiny. Her success has been reduced to sheer mocking by the media and by the organisers of the competition.
The article also shows the importance of multiple sources, including the presence of women’s voices. Despite a very authoritarian voice from the African National Congress (ANC) in Semenya’s defence that she is a woman and the IAAF must just leave her alone, the voice from her grandmother seems to carry more weight. Her voice also represents that of the family, which is important, and could have given some balance to the article. However this voice also centres on “proving” Semenya’s sex. How this has affected the family is not noted. The headline also insinuates atht Semenya literally ahs take her pants down to prove if she is male or female. The complexity of gender testing is not discussed. In this way, this headline pinpoints discrimination of women in sport reporting.
Normally, sports are at the back page of a newspaper, but in Caste Semenya’s case, her story has jumped to the front pages. She is being put on the front page mainly because there is a perception that there is something unusual about her victory. In this case, her sex is expected to be a huge driving force and must be screened to see whether she deserves her medal or not?
Discussion Questions
- <!--[if !supportLists]-->How does the article perpetuate gender stereotypes?
- How are women athletes “supposed” to look? What are examples of women athletes who have been faced with gender questions? Who are others that are celebrated for their “feminitity.” What problems does this show in society?
- How does this story differ from usual sorts reporting?
- Did the media fulfil its responsibilities covering this issue?
Training exercises
Imagine you hear that the World Olympic Committee doubts the sex of one of South African female Athlete during the Olympics 2008 in Beijing. Therefore, it ought to conduct a gender testing on the athlete. How would you continue covering her races without perpetuating any gender stereotypes?
- What angles would you take?
- Who would be your sources? <!--[endif]-->
- How would you ensure that your story does not fall onto gender biased reporting?
- <!--[endif]-->How would you make her a hero rather than a victim?
- What sort of background information would be important for your story?
Study the article and consider the following questions.
- Is the story gender-blind or gender aware? Explain answer.
- Does the writer present Caster as a victim or a hero? Explain your answer.
- What sort of a headline would you have opted for in this story? Or how would you re-write the headline?
10019_prove_you_are_not_a_boy_21aug09_daily_sun.doc - 41 KB
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