Topic - Caster Semenya

Southern Africa: Give sportswomen an equal chance

05 May 11

Regional relevance: Southern Africa (SADC)

It is humbling and inspiring to imagine what Southern Africa’s outstanding sportswomen had had to do in order to reach the top. [read more]

Heteronormalizing the Black female athlete: the case of South Africa's Caster Semenya

11 November 10

On August 19, 2009, South African sprinter Caster Semenya, crossed the 800 meter finish line in world record time at the Berlin World Track and Field Championships. Rather than focusing on her triumph, however, world media focused on her gender. A As a fellow Black female athlete, however, I unfortunately watched as... [read more]

The Southern African Media Diversity Journal: Issue 7

25 January 10

Regional relevance: South Africa, Southern Africa (SADC)

From 11 June to 11 July 2010, South Africa will host the FIFA World Cup. An estimated 2.7 million spectators will watch the global mega-event's 64 matches played around the country. And when the final is shown, a television audience of up to 28 billion people will have their eyes on South Africa. One of the most... [read more]

Caster Semenya: A girl of two parts

07 December 09 | (1) Comment

Regional relevance: International

In August 2009, the world turned South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya into an international phenomenon, after she won the gold medal in the 800m race in Berlin. However, it was not her athletic prowess that brought her to the forefront of the world media’s attention, but rather the subsequent... [read more]

Gender questions hurt women and girls in sport

25 August 09

Regional relevance: Southern Africa (SADC)

Feel-good stories have always fascinated the world of sport. Media loves the lightweight boxer defying the odds to defeat the heavyweight, the horse and jockey team ranked as outside contenders beating the favorite, or the soccer team bursting from bottom standings to win the tournament. The world often backs the... [read more]