Define a woman
The recent incident at Doha Games where S. Santhi, the Indian silver medallist in the 800 M category was asked to give back her medal because she was not found to be a female on medical examination, has raised a hornet's nest.
How did the Medical Committee at Doha come to the conclusion that she is not a SHE? Why did the Athltics Federation of India sponsor her? And why was she not debarred in the earlier Busan games? It is rumoured that one of her teammates made the complaint to the Games Committee, may be out of jealousy. We are like that only.
There seems to be no legal definition of a male and a female laid down anywhere. The secondary sexual characteristics are vague and not decisive by themselves. A female can be hirsute and a male can be without a perceptible beard or moustache and may even have a prominent bust. The genitalia could be more decisive but then cryptoorchidism is also common. The hormone measurements can be deceptive as they can fluctuate or if the person is taking hormone injections or steroids male hormone levels can be high. Aside from this medical examination to determine the sex could be demeaning and an assault on the sensibilities of the person.
And what about the persons who have all the male characteristics but have a female mind and psyche? And vice versa? I think there is quite a bit of overlapping in such cases. So it leads us to the question Who is a male and who a a female?
Even the Lord Siva himself is half woman half man "Ardha nareeswara" So who are we mere mortals to determine in absolute terms who is a male and who a female.
But there must be a difference.
Vive la difference!
How did the Medical Committee at Doha come to the conclusion that she is not a SHE? Why did the Athltics Federation of India sponsor her? And why was she not debarred in the earlier Busan games? It is rumoured that one of her teammates made the complaint to the Games Committee, may be out of jealousy. We are like that only.
There seems to be no legal definition of a male and a female laid down anywhere. The secondary sexual characteristics are vague and not decisive by themselves. A female can be hirsute and a male can be without a perceptible beard or moustache and may even have a prominent bust. The genitalia could be more decisive but then cryptoorchidism is also common. The hormone measurements can be deceptive as they can fluctuate or if the person is taking hormone injections or steroids male hormone levels can be high. Aside from this medical examination to determine the sex could be demeaning and an assault on the sensibilities of the person.
And what about the persons who have all the male characteristics but have a female mind and psyche? And vice versa? I think there is quite a bit of overlapping in such cases. So it leads us to the question Who is a male and who a a female?
Even the Lord Siva himself is half woman half man "Ardha nareeswara" So who are we mere mortals to determine in absolute terms who is a male and who a female.
But there must be a difference.
Vive la difference!
posted by vichchoobhai at 6:21 AM
4 Comments:
your best yet bhai. me like and agree.
Thanks Therapy, i value your appreciation very much.
Loved this one. Ardhanaareshwara, i think, is one of the most intelligent notions Indians came up with. There are the elements of the 'male' and 'female' in everyone. Oh, i wish you could see this piece my dance company did called Ardhanaareshwara. It's a beautiful concept. And unique to the Indian mind.
Thanksd, Sylvan Goddess. I would have loved to see your dance company's depiction of Ardhanareeswara. A great concept our ancient philosophers present about the merger of Prakriti with Purusha and the flow of creation thence. Foreign audiences may find it difficult to understand its nuances.
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