Slashdot Mirror


How To Prove Someone Is Female?

krou writes "Caster Semenya won the 800m at the World Athletics Championship in blistering style, leaving her competitors in the dust, but she has been thrown into the midst of a scandal amidst claims that she's not really a woman. According to the many press reports, she's believed to shave, is flat chested, has a very masculine physique, previously preferred playing physical games with boys, and shunned traditional female activities and clothing. Questions about her gender have dogged her entire career. Previously, acceptance that she is a women relied on simple inspection of female genitals. But now the IAAF claim that they want to conduct further tests to see if 'she may have a rare medical condition that gives her an unfair advantage.' An IAAF spokesmen noted that 'The [testing] process was started after Semenya made her startling breakthroughs — a 25-second improvement at 1500m and eight seconds at 800m, just some weeks ago.' I'm curious what the Slashdot community thinks: what can be considered proof of someone being male or female? Is it simply a case of having the right genitals, or are there other criteria that should be used? Is the IAAF right in claiming that someone should be prevented from competing because they have a rare medical or genetic advantage?"

31 of 1,091 comments (clear)

  1. Make them write some code by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... and see how it pans out.

    1. Re:Make them write some code by triffid_98 · · Score: 3, Funny

      ( http://www.gotfuturama.com/Multimedia/EpisodeSounds/1ACV05/ )
      He's good, all right, but he's no Clem Johnson. And Johnson played back in the days before steroid injections were mandatory!

  2. Easy by Wamoc · · Score: 3, Funny

    To test if someone is female or not, just ask them to go out with a geek. If she says yes, then she can't be a female.

    1. Re:Easy by Joe+Jay+Bee · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's quite easy, actually - I'd imagine it's the slapping and the police involvement afterwards that's the hard part.

    2. Re:Easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      In the event that there is a deviation you take it on a case basis, its better than arguing that she has as many manly features as your mother.

    3. Re:Easy by Onymous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, we must stop the mutants.

      Test for presence of the X-gene and detain them if they test positive.

      At least disqualify them from athletic competition for starters.

    4. Re:Easy by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      The first clue was when she kept leaving the toilet seat up.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:Easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Kudos, excellent comment. I suspect that only a small percentage of the population understands that important and profound point: that your average Slashdot user is a worthless fatbody.

    6. Re:Easy by Alex+Belits · · Score: 3, Funny

      he seems kind of like a dick.

      I have to point out that in the context of this discussion (and by virtue of being Anonymous Coward) GP may be male or female, and independently of that be or not be a dick.

      --
      Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
    7. Re:Easy by Bluesman · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nobody wants to watch a game where they already know who will win. Likewise, the athletes don't want to compete in a contest they're sure to lose.

      The continued existence of the Baltimore Orioles disproves your assertion.

      --
      If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.
    8. Re:Easy by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Jars? Son, she can open cans.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  3. This is /. by desertfool · · Score: 3, Funny

    I doubt most people here would have experience with that.

    (sorry, just a bad joke.)

    --
    Just a dude. Stuck in IT.
  4. Re:Obvious solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    As a general rule, if you can't tell what she is, then run.

  5. Re:Obvious solution by ultrabot · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you can make love to her, then she is a woman (provided that you know where you put your willy in)...

    ... or, if she uses the term "make love" for the act, she is a woman.

    --
    Save your wrists today - switch to Dvorak
  6. I can do the opposite by oldhack · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you ever posted here, you know you are not a REAL female. You may even look like one, but you know, deep inside, you have big question mark lingering. Don't you!

    --
    Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
    1. Re:I can do the opposite by girlintraining · · Score: 4, Funny

      If you ever posted here, you know you are not a REAL female. You may even look like one, but you know, deep inside, you have big question mark lingering. Don't you!

      Nope. Still got tits. I think the problem is on your end.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  7. Simple Test: by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Kick them in the nuts really hard. If they don't fold over in pain and whimper an octave higher, they're female.

  8. easy by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Funny

    just ask "asl?"

  9. Turing Test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Question:
    Have you gained weight?

    Answers:
    Yeah, I should hit the gym. - Male
    Whaaa... you don't love me anymore! - Female

  10. Two words: by olsmeister · · Score: 5, Funny

    Driving test.

  11. Re:Gender isn't sex. by TeknoHog · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nature has its own laws, which are not the laws of men.

    Exactly, they are the laws of women.

    --
    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  12. Probably not that difficult by mdmkolbe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Considering that there are plenty of creatures which can be hermaphrodites

    We aren't talking about clown fish here. That would be a red herring. (Sorry couldn't resist the pun.)

    there are rare genetic variations ... this is a difficult point. Where do you draw the line?

    An interesting question, but probably not relevant to this particular case. We know we want to draw the line between XX and XY. Test her. If she is XX, then female. If XY, then male. It only needs to be an issue if she turns up as XXY or XYY something else.

  13. Re:Simple... if "Y" chromosome found = male by gparent · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well man, if she's a chimera too we're fucked.

  14. Asks for directions? by Katchu · · Score: 5, Funny

    If Caster stops and asks for directions to the track arena, Caster is a female. If Caster continues to drive around, crossing bridges, running into cul-de-sacs, on and off the freeway, then Caster is a male.

    --
    Keep Doing Good.
  15. FUTURAMA Episode by smcevilly · · Score: 3, Funny

    Reminds me of a futurama episode. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bend_Her Bender a robot sex change is a complex and dangerous procedure. Replacing your testosteroil with Fembot lubricants can cause wild mood swings. And the effects may be irreversible. Well let's get started!

  16. Pretty simple test by atli_04 · · Score: 4, Funny
    What does her car look like after backing in to a parking slot?

    Does she go to the bathroom alone or with two friends?

    How much time does she spend in the shoe store?

    Does the battery of her mobile phone last more than a day?

  17. Re:Bloody difficult. by eldepeche · · Score: 3, Funny

    Right? Look at any NBA center. Shaq, for example, has a rare genetic condition causing him to be a fucking giant and giving him an unfair advantage over me, a 6'1" 190 lb. dude. Should he be allowed to play professional basketball? Of course.

  18. Re:Same happend in 1950 with Foekje Dillema by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Her name was Dilemma?

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  19. Re:Bloody difficult. by swillden · · Score: 5, Funny

    Right? Look at any NBA center. Shaq, for example, has a rare genetic condition causing him to be a fucking giant and giving him an unfair advantage over me, a 6'1" 190 lb. dude. Should he be allowed to play professional basketball? Of course.

    The NBA considered denying him permission to play, but the decision fell apart when it was realized that no one had the balls to tell Shaq about it.

    --
    Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  20. Re:"Unfair" Advantages by wagnerrp · · Score: 2, Funny

    I also think it's inappropriate to ban athletes that have subjected themselves to chemical augmentation.

    On that note, we have the All Drug Olympics

  21. Surest way to tell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just tell her the outfit makes her look fat. If she shrugs, dude. If she bites your head off she's a woman. You could also try blindfolding her and wave a credit card under her nose. You're risking a nasty bite or worse yet a maxed out credit card but it is a way to confirm gender.