Poor Caster Semenya, magically transformed into a political football nearly a year ahead of the World Cup. Suddenly she finds herself a symbol of the injured womanhood of the nation, under attack by cynical and racist white people, both South African and Australian.
What’s interesting is the repeated reference to Caster as “our little girl”. That’s what Julius Malema called her, when he wasn’t saying she was a “well-relaxed” woman. (What is a “well-relaxed” woman anyway? One who has breakfast and asks for taxi fare the next morning?)
Several thoughts occurred to me at this juncture.
1. Caster is 18 years old. Legally, she’s entitled to drink, vote and drive. So, not so little in the metaphorical sense.
2. Technically, she isn’t little at all. She’s quite a well-built woman. Quite tall, too.
3. Can you imagine referring to an 18-year-old male athlete as “our little boy”?
It’s that last point that really got me thinking, because, in itself, referring to male athletes as “boys” is very common (common, too, as a term of endearment for soldiers. The link to war is obvious). Nobody minds, for instance, when we refer to the Springboks or even Bafana Bafana as “the boys”, even if there’s a possibility it might bring up awkward apartheid-era associations. No, when it comes to sport there’s something back-slappingly, thigh-squeezingly chummy about “our boys”. This brings to mind the work of the American anthropologist Michael Herzfeld who in his work on what he defines as “cultural intimacy” notes that the state
“lays claim to intimacy and familiarity in a series of rather obvious metaphors: the body politic, ‘our boys and girls’, mother country and Vaterland… and the tourist as a family guest.”
Using references to “girls” and “boys” is a way for the state to disguise itself, sanctimoniously, as the idealised nation, and to personalise perceived threats against itself as threats against ourselves in our personal capacity. Nobody insults a member of our family. We’ll moer you if you check us skeef.
There’s a possessiveness, a protectiveness in the reference to “our little girl”. But also a distinct element of the patronising. Girls are little. They need protecting. They can’t stand up for themselves, which means you’re not supposed to pick on them. Which is fair enough, but how does this accord with the ideals supposedly promoted by women’s month?
Overall, the rhetoric surrounding Semenya is a repulsive admixture of sexism and nationalism of the sort which Hitler and his cohorts would have approved of. (True, Hitler was more concerned about strictly Aryan physical beauty, but the Nazis were not above having men compete while posing as women in order to advance their cause.)
Naturally, those who have picked on Caster are not South African — either literally (as in the case of the Australians) or figuratively (in the case of the whites who failed to show up at the airport to cheer her on). It’s yet another instance of the worryingly regular display of the scapegoating of a minority — in this case the so-called “white media” — that seems to characterise politics these days. In their usual sardonic fashion, Hayibo.com offered a solution to the need for someone to blame for any and all future evils.
In this family, the one that is so defensive about insults to “our little girl”, it’s clear that only some of us get to belong to it.
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38 Responses to “Why is Caster ‘our little girl’ anyway?”
Yup. Bang on the button. By these rules millions of little boys died in action in this century’s two World Wars. If any of them were promised millions of rands on condition that they have their sex verified they’d have thought they’d died and gone to heaven.
“but the Nazis were not above having men compete while posing as women in order to advance their cause”
I wonder why you chose to share this with us? What on earth are you implying?
You over-reaction to the term of endearment “our little girl” seems like a desperate attempt to find fault with those that have leaped to Caster’s defense. Caster IS in reality just an EIGHTEEN year old little girl from an impoverished background who has done us proud.
This article has me a bit worried. I am 20 years old and, yes, black, female. Every time I meet a black person; male or female, they refer to me as ‘a little girl.’ I have never taken offense. Were I to ever take part in an international competition and be refered to as a little girl, I still would not take offense.
I am worried about what that implies about the way that (according to this article) I view myself as a woman.
I do not call every man I meet who is older than me ‘tata’ because I feel that I need their protection. I have been raised that way. A certain age gap between me and a man who is older than me has always meant that I am ‘their little girl’
I take offense when they refer to me as sweety or baby or beautiful one. I take offense when older men see me as anything but their little girl. When they see me as a woman, because that implies so many things.
I am worried because this article has me thinking in so many directions now.
I do not know how Mr Malema meant it, but I am pretty convinced that Ms Semenya took it the same way that I would have, without offense.
Thank you for offering me a different poit of view. It is always good for one, seing a different perspective. I shall think deeply about this.
@thabo:”Not another white self-pity party article. I am so tired of them”
Please remember, the “whites” did not start this line of thinking. Malema and our dear Winny asked for it and they got it going.
The Press, to my knowledge, is largely controlled by black owned companies.
Friend Malema, Lady Winny and the other ANC politicians have given “the whites” a field day. They might as well enjoy the opportunity.
Just one more comment. Although a keen follower of sports, I was never made aware of the fact that three potential world champs were on their way to Berlin. Were you? Cannot remember a crowd wishing them well on their departure, did you?
Oh dear, do get over yourself. There is nothing wrong with being protective over our national pride and the people who represent us. Caster is one of ours, she belongs to us and embodies our hopes and ambitions in her very special way. And if you don’t see yourself as one of “us”, stop blaming everyone else and move back to Oz. Nobody can force you to be South African, and quite frankly, it doesn’t look like anybody wants to.
@ Thabo
At least we don’t have white self-pity shoved down our throats on a daily basis, think how tired we are of people crying wolf (racism) around every corner only to advance themselves
Semenya’s as big a cheat as Kratochvilova or Hansie Cronje. Those who know that don’t want to celebrate these “successes”. Hanging heads in shame is more apt.
I see a questionable “female” who shaves , has a mans voice and way of talking …and has been “coached” by someone who has been proven to use huge injections of drugs to improve performance.
I see the South African athletics authorities who were TOLD to do something about this months ago and NOT to push Caster into the spotlight of the world stage at Berlin.
Then I see a gaggle of South Africans who want to point fingers at “Australians” (were there ANY Ozzies in the 800M finals?) for their self inflicted wounds.
And what now ……….I see a whole bunch of SA politicians …people that the SA public should be crucifying ….who are telling the world that this “little” girl will never be tested for gender.
Well hello South Africa ……..get with the program third-worlders ….testing is MANDATORY once a complaint has been received.
If she refuses the tests she will be banned from competition………is that what SAffers want?
Caster is our ‘big woman’, and none the less for it - viva Caster - you must have had a tough time. I also chuckled at this description from some of our politicians. My take on their choice of phrase is either that it is simply avuncular, warm and nurturing towards her, which is the positive interpretation, but more likely that our politicians have become so used to saying things that are simply and obviously untrue that this has become an unconscious habit.
Caster is our ‘big woman’, not our ‘little girl’, and none the less for it - viva Caster, you must have had a tough time. I also chuckled at this phrase used by our politicians. My take is the positive alternative is the diminutive is to show warmth and kindness. The other likelihood is that our politicians have become so used to saying things that are deliberately and obviously untrue that this has become an unconscious habit, even when there is nothing to be gained by dishonesty.
So now you have that racist Malema and that convicted person Winnie - along with others say that they will not allow her to be gender tested - so one must wonder why? - Do they have an ulterior motive or hidden agenda?
As Vic said :-
Well hello South Africa ……..get with the program third-worlders ….testing is MANDATORY once a complaint has been received…
If she refuses the tests she will be banned from competition………is that what SAffers want?
I would hope that she would not be used as an unwilling pawn - but having seen the honour and integrity of any of the politicians - I can see no other outcome
Why don’t you take a short course in hormone biochemistry? WEhether or not someone is female or male is often decided not be sexual organs but an excess of a male ofr female hormone. If this is Semenya’s case, it would be in her best interest to medically investigate the physiological reasons for this condition which may often be caused by a small tumour impinging upon the gland that produces it.
Re ‘whites not being there’. They actually were. Even the Afrikaner workers organisation Afriforum was there. They left once Malema and co highjacked the event…
It is sad that this matter could not have been handled more sensitively by all considered. Caster is a Person, irrespective of the allegations. Why pre-judge and speculate when a process has been put in place. I sometime wonder why it seems many people make up their minds before seriously considering the issue. Why can’t we be human. at the risk of being impolite, there may be reasonable cause for a check (but it did not need to be done this way) but at the same time we should show respect for a family that went begging to get Castor to athletics events. Lets just be human about all this please!
@ Naledi, please do not waste your time as the sense you have is what makes you who you are, hell it completes your identity today and to me you are sharp enough, enough not see the ‘other sense’ extracted from the expression ‘little girl’ (because there isn’t (at least not naturally in this direction))by this article, its right to exist is artificial, just so it makes a some point for the auther, some point that will always protect them from the issues surrounding race and the developments thereof today in South Africa, therefore from my side i declare it a rhetoric by virtue of its purpose hence the hyperlink to that hayibo.com that is made a reference by most these days, the contrast to the meaning in there reminds me of the famous poem that talks about ’somebody’s’ burden.
@ Author, I doubt that a person who holds the view like yours about today’s SA would identify with the joy in the atmosphere that naturally has a link to patriotism in times such as these, leaving the ANC and its consorts out of this as i’m not about its defence but that of the times of today, at least you love its Mrs Balls though, i know that much as a positive..
Interesting that in a ‘phone call to her Aunt from Berlin , Caster whinged that “one of the white people” had questioned her sex.
“one of the white people” !!!
Also interesting was that apparently the one person who is SURE she is female (her Aunt) once challenged her as to WHY she had no breasts.
Seems like even the Aunt had an inkling that something was not right.
Another interesting thing is that when millions of dollars are at stake (pro sport)….for South Africans it is seemingly a dastardly, demeaning crime to ask an athlete that appears Male …to subject themselves to testing.
However……”testing” the virginity of thousands of little girls is “cultural” and happens regularly.
As is coercing teenage boys to allow old men circumcise them in bush camps.
The problem in our country is that everything is politicised. Here we have a South African Athlete whose integrity is in question, instead of us waiting until the results are announced officially, we jump into a political and racial brawl. Can we please for once try to be civil with each other as citizens, the politicians are doing enough damage by playing the race-card. Race Politics is what Political parties in this country use to win votes and spineless people like the author of this article fall prey to this phenomenon and make it a part of our daily lives. Grow a BACKBONE please…your racist remarks sicken me to my stomach!!! I will never defend a fraudster simply beacuse s/he is black nor will I ever judge an individual prematurely or pin their human-errors to their skin colour. I often wonder what school I am going to send my kids to one day because people like you are turning our school grounds into war zones by influencing your children negatively…I am very worried…what are we going to do with people like you who poison society when we are trying to move forward?
Whats wrong with your society?Can’t you have something else to think or debate about other than this white/black race issues?For how long shall we be tormented by empty talk in the name of freedom of expression…Give us a break Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!
I think this has less to do with being black and more with being a woman. I have long thought it odd that university students were referred to as boys and girls. Color doesn’t have anything to do with it to me. Being an adult and not being recognized as an adult is what bothers me and that is what boys and girls mean. Futher, I will always be uncomfortable with motherland, homeland, fatherland, Vaterland, Vaderland, and any other compounded land word as they all connote Nazism to me.
As usual, a great piece Sarah - right, bright and tight. Which, of course, is as far removed from Planet Bizarro where the bipedal cabbages like Thobekani, Thabo Monare and the ill-starred Dave Harris reside in vegetative splendour, as Betelgeuse is from Babanango.
Why is race introduced into this matter? Sarah Britten writes: “Naturally, those who have picked on Caster ….or figuratively (in the case of the whites who failed to show up at the airport to cheer her on)”.
TV footage showed whites at OR Tambo to welcome Caster home. Not in great numbers true but then whites are more individualistic and less prone to organised mass demonstration. Many of the blacks were bussed to the airport.
It’s a matter of different cultures. Let’s stop being divisive and abandon the race card except when truly justified. Racism is too often in the mind the offended.
Thank-you for such a brilliant, clear-sighted analysis. When Winny pointed to “our little girl” who was seated behind her during her indignant speech, I couldn’t but laugh out loud. But it all makes sense now…
Perhaps one should consider what Bafana Bafana is directly translated into. Then perhaps consider how zulu speakers refer to young women in everyday conversation. Perhaps what translates into english can be misintepreted.
Vic has put this into perspective.
Testing is mandatory if a complaint is laid and if she does not have the test she will be banned from all competition.
ASA know this but seem to be rather mute on this point. So what now guys? Does Caster have the tests or does she abandon her running career?
Well Mr Chuene tell us what happens now? The ball so to speak is now in your court.
in Sarah defence. Let me point out something. In english CULTURE it is extremely offensive to call and adult a little girl. in face to call a woman over the age of say 15, a little girl is quite rude. Bare in mind, a persons back ground before you jump to conclusions.
@puleng
I so agree with you and, looking through the streams of reactive racism on some of these pages, I realise that it’s often just a flimsy veneer layered over the thick stupidity and fear of those who propound it. The marority of people I know are not racist (ignorant perhaps, but not racist); so why are there so many here on M&G, I wonder.
This is when you have a eurocentric view parading itself as South African. If you took the time to get to know how we behave culturally, you would note our traditions and practises within our differenct cultures. The fact that the majority of SOUTH AFRICANS are first and foremost traditionalists it cannot be the conclusion that when you express yourself in an English language that you have mastered that language. If you had expressed yourself in one of my languages, I wonder how many times we would take you to task for using a word that was out of place with our traditions. Why is it that you misunderstand us so COMPLETELY!
“SAffers” and third Worlders huh?….my goodness this country and its sad inhabitants….
For the record, Naledi i agree with you as a 22 yrs old pedi girl. Will there ever be line of generation that does not analyse issues racially or politically?….
And i hope that Caster is keeping strong wherever she is. She is only 18,where i come from,she is a little girl who should be protected. A little girl who is as affected by the things people say or do to her as any other little girl or person for that matter.
When reading all of these emotional comments, you realise that Julius Malema has achieved exactly what he wanted:
1. Promote racism and division and
2. Get more personal publicity.
Unfortunately the media laps it up and he wins every time.
Everyone puffing and pontificating while the juries still out. What if the IAAF find that Caster is full of synthetic testosterone, thanks to Herr Arbeit; or worse still, that Caster has ambivalent sexual characteristics. Then the fur will fly as Kenya will be given gold and Caster will have to pay back the R60k dud cheque to the ANCYL. Jules will have to call Caster his little boy instead of girl.
Some comfort is that, regarding the Greek mythical twins Castor and Pollux, (who form the Gemini constelation) Castor’s name meant “beaver” in Greek. Maybe there is some good omen after all
I’ll be studying my Nando’s entrails tonight with extra interest
The Women’s month goes with the celebration of women. It does not take away the feeling and need that women do need protection, love and care all the time and at all costs. What I have just said does not mean women are weak and can not take care of themselves.The women’s month actually emphasises both truths.
My view is that when Julius called Caster a little girl was a loving and affectionate confirmation of how the majority of South African both young and old feel about both the achievements of Caster on the field and the painful attack on her gender off the field and the need for all of us to protect her at all costs.
The real point here though should not be the picking of the so-called negatives in what Julius is saying but the facts and the debates he is bringing up as the agenda for positive dialogue as South Africans going forward.
@brigs — when last I looked, it was extremely rude and disrespectful to call a full-grown African gardening man of voting age a “garden-boy”. And if a matronly African woman was employed to make staff teas at a workplace, you’d surely be reprimanded for referring to her as the “tea-girl”. So I’m just not going to buy any of this cheery justification of Malema’s “girl” phraseology. Of course it’s rude. No doubt about it.
The point of this article was less about the merits of gender testing (and - quickly checking the colour of the sky - I tend to agree with vic), and more about the way in which individuals are used by the state as a means to construct an us-vs-them nationalist identity. Hence, Caster is “our little girl”. This has absolutely nothing to do with misunderstanding people for whom English is not a first language and everything to do with how politicians cynically exploit the feelings of the populace in order to further their own agendas. It’s a technique that has been used by chauvinist nationalists the world over, and South Africa is no different.
i’m 22 yrs old and my mom still calls me that. there is nothing wrong with Caster being called a little gal, its not literal its in a form of support to say Caster we love you. whites do call their over 18s little gals more than blacks you would know that. as for an 18yr old boy being called little no we wouldnt bacause boys and gals are not the same.
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Sarah Britten has written three books on South African insults. During the day she is a communication strategist in the ad industry; by night she writes books and blog entries. It helps to have insomnia.
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Yup. Bang on the button. By these rules millions of little boys died in action in this century’s two World Wars. If any of them were promised millions of rands on condition that they have their sex verified they’d have thought they’d died and gone to heaven.
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