Gender Verification Performed on a Jane Doe - Coursework Example

Running Head: Case Study on Gender Discrimination Case Study on Gender Discrimination A Presentation of Gender Verification Performed on a Jane Doe Name Course Title Name of Professor Date of Submission Introduction With greater and improved training and preparation opportunities, the performances of female athletes got better considerably over those of their male counterparts. Female athletes trained vigorously and developed more beefy or muscular built and, even though brawny females had constantly participated in the Olympics, the gender of these females was questioned by the 1960s (Woolum, 1998, 52). In order to deal with the issue, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1968 launched a sex-testing initiative “to protect women against unfair competition” (Woolum, 1998, 52). The sex-testing program was initiated due to the belief on the superiority of males in sports: female athletes would be at a disadvantaged position over their male counterparts in men’s events, and male athletes taking part in women’s competitions would have an undeniable advantage; hence, female athletes must be safeguarded against male athletes participating in their competitions. Hence, all athletes participating in women’s competitions should be subjected to various tests to identify and make sure of the athlete’s sex. This essay presents a case study of a fictional female athlete undergoing sex test prior to participation in the Olympic games. This female athlete is currently the fastest woman in the world. She achieved world fame due to her feats in track and field. However, suspicions about her true sex arose because of her masculine physical appearance, movements, and voice. Physical Description of the Athlete and Brief Notes about her Performance Jane Doe is 27 years old with a height of 5ft and 7 in and weight of 80 lbs. Her event is 100m sprint. She is single and professes to be a virgin. She says she has not dated any man and did not experience having any boyfriend. She is muscular but noticeably thin. She has short hair. She has very small breasts and no underarm and facial hair. She has a flat abdomen but large muscle formation around the thighs and legs, which is expected of a track and field athlete. She won 35 gold in track and field. She ran the 100 meters in 13 seconds in Madison Square Garden; won a gold medal for Sydney in the Olympics in the 50-yard dash with a first-time record of 12 seconds; and completed 100 yards in 9 seconds. Because of these remarkable performances, Jane Doe became a household name. For 6 years, she won more than 200 medals in important track-and-field competitions. Tests Performed on Jane Doe and Results of the Tests In Jane Doe’s sex test, the examiners obtained cell samples from her cheek’s mucous membrane, or also called ‘buccal smear’, then stain them and check them up for Barr bodies. If the subject is a female, with XX chromosomes, the bodies will appear, resulting in a positive result (Schaffer & Smith, 2000, 135). If uncertainties exist, examiners will scan cells not for Barr bodies, but for the lack of Y chromatin. In the case of Jane Doe, the examiners stain the cells and study them thoroughly. The elongated section of the Y-chromosome comes into view as a clear stain. If this stain did not appear, Jane Doe will be allowed to take part in the competitions. The result for these two tests is both positive, which confirms Jane Doe’s femininity. But the application of these tests became very controversial. Some scholars claim that sex chromatin testing does not identify females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic disorder (Evelyn, 2011). Jane Doe was hence examined for the said disorder. It was found out that she has it. She has 22 pairs of autosomes and a pair of X-chromosomes, the normal chromosomal balance in females, yet has an unusual muscle power and masculine physique (Sullivan, 2011). This disorder is caused by a genetic biochemical deficiency that affects the adrenal glands abnormally, making it incapable of transforming progesterone into cortisol; the progesterone in such a case is processed somewhere else into androgens, the male hormones (Turnbull, 1988, 63). As stated by Albert de la Chapelle, “There is little double that congenital adrenal hyperplasia accounts for many, if not most, congenitally hypermuscular women” (Turnbull, 1988, 63). These women, just like Jane Doe, would have an advantage over other female athletes, but still meet the criteria of the sex test. The core weakness of sex chromatin testing is that it identifies the smallest level of significant criteria of sex in this area, specifically, chromosomal sex, according to Chapelle. He further stated that “What determines whether an individual should be allowed to compete in the women’s events is mainly psychosocial (appearance and behavior) and secondary sexual characteristics (muscles and body)” (Turnbull, 1988, 63). Thus, instead of sex chromatin test, he endorsed a mixture of hormone examinations, uncomplicated assessment of physical appearance and physique, and a psychological appraisal of gender identity. And so, in order to confirm the results of the sex chromatin test performed on Jane Doe, the examiners conducted a thorough physical evaluation and psychological assessment. The physical examination that looks at anatomical differences between males and females is quite simple (Cavanagh & Sykes, 2006). The gynecologist searched in Jane Doe the primary and secondary sex features related to femininity, such as chest and facial hair, menstrual condition, and female genitalia. The results show that Jane Doe has no facial hair but has thin chest hair; her menstrual cycle is irregular, occurring only twice a year; and her female sex organ is fully developed and has thin hair. However, even though the examination is simple, the interpretation of the results is very difficult. As stated earlier, females may be born with genetic disorders or anatomical defects; the menstrual cycle of female athletes may also be abnormal due to insufficient body fat; and facial, underarm, and chest hair are not a definite difference between females and males, merely a common indicator. Hence, the examiners afterward performed a blood test. The blood test is primarily trying to verify particular physiological distinctions between females and males. The laboratory test on Jane Doe will look at relevant or certain sex hormone levels. Females normally have more estrogen, whereas males normally have more testosterone (Cavanagh & Sykes, 2006). Apparently, both females and males have both estrogen and testosterone, and there are no definite principles for the extent estrogen and testosterone identifies a female. According to the blood test, Jane Doe has more estrogen than testosterone, which qualifies her as ‘female’. It is inconclusive what function the psychological assessment serves in verifying femininity, even though its addition means that individual gender identity, or the way a person views her/himself as regards to his/her sexuality, is considered in a sex test (Sullivan, 2011). Symptom-based structured interview has become more and more widespread over the recent decade. The psychological examination of Jane Doe gives detailed account of a gender identity structured interview that could be applicable to individuals recommended clinically for gender identity problems. Individuals who satisfy the diagnostic standards for gender identity disorder (GID) normally exhibit a range of noticeable cross-gender role attitudes and actions and frequently express the longing to be part of the opposite sex (Zucker et al., 1993). Furthermore, there is a dislike of or recoiling from gender role attitudes pertinent to their own sex. According to the results, there was an observed cross-gender role behavior in Jane Doe. She exhibits masculine facial gestures and body movements. In order to confirm these initial psychological findings, the examiners conducted the structured interview with Jane Doe. All questions were ranked on a 3-point scale. A 0 was given if Jane Doe responded to a concrete question rightly or exhibited a supposedly normal response. A 1 was given if Jane Doe gave a vague answer. A 2 was given if Jane Doe gave answers that were supposedly unexpected or abnormal. Some of the questions asked are (as adapted from the study of Zucker et al (1993, 447-448): (1) Are you a female or a male? (2) Are there any things that you dislike about being a female? (3) Do you think it is better to be a female or a male? (4) In your mind, do you ever think that you would like to be a male? (5) Do you ever feel more like a male than a female? (6) Do you ever think that you really are a male? According to the results, most of Jane Doe’s answers to the above questions scored a 2. For the first question, she answered female, with certainty (scored 0). For the second question, she answered that she has numerous aversions to being a female. She said that being a female athlete puts her at a disadvantage in competitions. Although she is a female she is viewed as a ‘male’ because of her physical appearance. She feels maligned, degraded, and discriminated every time her true sex is put into question. She admitted that being a female is a weakness in her field. She wishes to be a male (scored 2). For the third question, her answer is definite: it is better to be a male than a female (scored 2). For the fourth question, her answer is definite: she would like to be male (scored 2). For the fifth question, she said that even though she looks like and acts like a male she still feels more like a female than a male (scored 0). For the sixth question, she said that at times she feels she is really a male but there are times she wants to express her femininity (scored 1). Final Decision The panel concludes that Jane Doe should be allowed to join the competition as a female athlete. She passed the three tests, namely, sex chromatin test, physical examination, and blood tests. The results for these three tests unquestionably show that Jane Doe is biologically female. However, the result of the psychological examination was quite questionable. Jane Doe apparently exhibits masculine behavior and attitude, and it was revealed in her responses to the structured interview that she is quite resolved to become a male. However, there is some irony in her answers. Even though she certainly wants to be a male she also professes her longing to express her femininity. Nevertheless, the panel ruled that since Jane Doe passed most of the tests she will be allowed to compete as a female athlete. References Cavanagh, S. & Sykes, H. (2006). Transsexual Bodies at the Olympics: The International Olympic Committee’s Policy on Transsexual Athletes at the 2004 Athens Summer Games. Body & Society, 12(3), 75-102. Evelyn, C. (2011). Gender Verification in Sports. New York: International Book Marketing Service Limited. Schaffer, K. & Smith, S. (2000). The Olympics at the Millennium: Power, Politics, and the Games. Sydney: Rutgers University Press. Sullivan, C. (2011). Gender Verification and Gender Policies in Elite Sport: Eligibility and Fair Play. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 35(4), 400-419. Turnbull, A. (1988). Woman Enough for the Games. New Scientists, no. 1630, pp. 61-64. Woolum, J. (1998). Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports in America. Phoenix, Arizona: Greenwood Publishing Group. Zucker, K. et al. (1993). A Gender Identity Interview for Children. Journal of Personality Assessment, 61(3), 443-456. Read More