In the context of this thesis the topic of the gender construction is taken up. Subject areas of the social and natural sciences try to find the causes of the gender-specific differences with the aid of various theories.
At first, an analysis of the relationship between society, gender and sport should make it clear how the social subsystem Sport was influenced and structured by everyday theory. Using the example of the controversial phenomenon of sex tests in sport, it should be shown that the gender of a person cannot be measured using biological-medical criteria only. This thesis is contrary to the widespread opinion in medicine and biology that sex can be clearly determined based on five criteria. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the procedure and basics of gender testing should be created by summarizing these criteria. In a second step, it is shown that it is possible by a social-scientific point of view to question hypotheses of a purely biological, pre-social nature of man. A basic insight is that the society in which we live is a result of our own actions. The everyday distinction between man and woman is an expression of attribution that does not refer to the individual but to the cultural system.
It raises the question of the social aspect in the gender categorization. This questions the collective assumptions of the binary system of attribution as it considers the process of forming different genders in the social world.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Relationship between society, gender and sport
3. Gender verification in sports
3.1 Socio-historical background
3.2 The genesis of the biological sex
3.3 The genesis of the social sex
3.4 Procedures in sports
4. The challenge of intersexuality
5. Summary
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
The paper explores the social construction of gender within the context of elite athletics, specifically focusing on the controversy surrounding gender verification tests. It examines how sports organizations attempt to categorize athletes into binary gender classes and evaluates the limitations and social implications of using purely biological criteria to define sex in sport.
- Historical evolution of gender perceptions in society and sports
- Biological vs. social definitions of sex and gender
- Development and impact of gender verification procedures in international athletics
- Challenges posed by intersexuality in competitive performance classes
- Critique of gender-based performance classification in sports
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
When Caster Semenya won the gold medal in Berlin in 2009, the sports scene was appalled. Semenya duped her competition in the final of the 800-meter track. With powerful dynamics, she ran away from her rivals in the world's best annual season and won with over two seconds advantage. In the world of elite athletics, this advantage is significant at this distance. Right afterwards, Sports officials and journalists questioned whether she could be able to perform such an amazing performance as a woman. The experts looked skeptically at the then 18-year-old South African (Conradi & Wiesemann, 2009). Her muscular body and facial features were more reminiscent of a man's appearance than a woman's. After her victory, her gender was suddenly in the center of public interest, because the International Association of Athletics Federation – in person of Secretary General Pierre Weiss – invited the international media to a press conference. He announced, ‘There is doubt about the fact that this person is a lady, is a woman’ (Montañola & Olivesi, 2016, p.25). The press quickly took up the case and announced that a gender test would bring clarity.
At first glance, the question of a person’s gender acts as if the answer is obvious. Gender is one of the central structural principles of our society. The population consists of women and men, girls and boys. There is a social system of the two sexes and sex seems to be given by nature. In everyday life it is associated with the idea of a recognizable and invariable distinction between woman and man. This is closely linked to the assumption of gender polarity.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the case of Caster Semenya as a starting point to introduce the broader debate on the social construction of gender in sports.
2. Relationship between society, gender and sport: Analyzes the historical development of sport as a social system and the evolution of gender as a primary structuring principle.
3. Gender verification in sports: Details the socio-historical background, biological and social definitions of sex, and the history of testing procedures used in athletic competitions.
4. The challenge of intersexuality: Discusses the problems intersex athletes face within binary gender classes and the ethical dilemmas regarding medical interventions and competitive fairness.
5. Summary: Concludes that gender is a social construction and suggests that sports should move towards more inclusive classification systems.
6. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources used to substantiate the arguments regarding gender studies, sports sociology, and medicine.
Keywords
Gender construction, elite athletics, sex verification, intersexuality, social system, sports sociology, biology, gender identity, performance class, Caster Semenya, binary system, hormone therapy, IAAF, IOC, discrimination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work examines the social construction of gender, specifically how elite sports institutions attempt to enforce a binary gender system through medical and biological verification processes.
What are the central themes discussed in the publication?
The core themes include the historical transition of gender from a social context to a biological one, the role of sport as a mirror of society, and the ethical issues surrounding the exclusion of non-stereotypical female athletes.
What is the main research question or goal?
The primary goal is to show that gender in sport cannot be solely measured by biological-medical criteria and to demonstrate that the binary categorization of athletes is a social process rather than a natural fact.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The thesis utilizes a qualitative, interdisciplinary approach, drawing on social science theories of gender construction, sports sociology, and a historical review of sports medical and organizational statutes.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The body covers the relationship between society and gender, the evolution of gender testing (from visual inspection to PCR testing), and the specific difficulties faced by intersexual athletes in competitive environments.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as gender construction, intersexuality, elite sports, binary performance systems, and the socio-historical analysis of sports regulations.
How did sports organizations attempt to resolve the issue of "disguised men" in women's sports?
Organizations like the IAAF and IOC initially introduced humiliating visual examinations, followed by genetic tests (like the sex chromatin test), and eventually PCR testing to detect the SRY gene on the Y chromosome.
What does the author conclude about the future of gender classification in sports?
The author argues that current gender-based performance classification is problematic and suggests exploring alternative, functional classification systems, similar to those found in disability sports, to abolish gender-based exclusion.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Christoph Niemann (Autor:in), 2019, Construction of Gender in Sports. Gender Tests in Elite Athletics, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/542747
