Over the past two weeks, the eyes of many Bermudians have been set on the 2024 Olympics in Paris and the eight athletes representing the island. Some spectators might have been distracted by something else, though. On Thursday, August 1, in a preliminary women’s under-145.5lb boxing match between Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Italian Angela Carini, Khelif’s powerful punch to Carini’s face sent the Italian boxer to her knees and resulted in her withdrawing in tears after only 46 seconds.

In the aftermath, Khelif, who ended up winning the gold medal for Algeria a week later, was viciously targeted and harassed by journalists and commentators — even some politicians and other prominent individuals, who were making many false assertions about her sex and gender identity.

According to them, Khelif was a man posing as a woman. Some claimed she was trans — she is not — while others proclaimed she had XY chromosomes, rather than XX. Similar accusations were levelled at the Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting. The International Olympic Committee defended both athletes.

The allegations were quickly debunked and Khelif has filed a lawsuit. Khelif is a woman who has identified as female since birth, lived all her life as a woman, and competed as such in international boxing for years. Khelif is not transgender: she did not go through puberty as a male and did not transition later. In fact, she is from a country where being transgender is illegal. But even if she were trans and had passed the tests, this kind of abuse and media lynching would have been unacceptable.

Misconceptions about athletes and their gender is nothing new: in the 1980s, when the Czech-born Martina Navratilova was dominating women’s tennis, she was constantly mocked for looking like a man. More recently, throughout her career, Serena Williams faced accusations that she “had been born a man”; and Brittney Griner still faces those accusations today. Black and brown female athletes are very often the targets of these gender witch-hunts owing to intersections of gender and race — and, by extension, misogyny and racism — but not exclusively.

So, what is gender and how is this “gender furore” relevant to Bermuda?

Gender is socially constructed, historically and culturally contextual, and dynamic. It is a set of expectations, demands, compulsions, opportunities and responsibilities that societies ascribe to women and men on the basis of their sex and the resulting biological difference across the complex social, political, cultural and economic systems. These expectations — or assumed gender roles — make women and men “act out” and take on different roles in line with what is expected of a woman (eg, a housewife) and a man (eg, the breadwinner). As societies evolve, gender roles evolve as well (eg, women becoming breadwinners).

As the “gender scandal” has demonstrated, misunderstandings, bias, even hate displayed towards individuals because of their gender, sexuality and gender identity hurt mainly those who are seen as nonconforming. In the end, though, they hurt each and every one of us, including cisgender women and men who do not conform to a narrow, Eurocentric vision of womanhood and manhood.

Clearly, much more work needs to be done when it comes to tackling misconceptions about sex and gender globally. It is needed in Bermuda as well, although awareness of sex and gender has improved here thanks to organisations such as the Centre Against Abuse, the Women’s Resource Centre, Family Centre and OutBermuda, to name a few.

Here are some key lessons we can learn from the “gender furore”:

Personal narratives, representation and visibility

Athletes such as Khelif can serve as role models for all athletes, including gender nonconforming, transgender and non-binary individuals, thus providing visibility and representation in arenas where they have been historically marginalised; raising awareness about the existence and experiences of individuals who do not conform to conventional notions of sex and gender; and highlighting and humanising the personal narratives of the athletes involved.

Understanding the personal struggles, aspirations and achievements of athletes such as Khelif can foster empathy and a deeper appreciation of the complexities and nuances of gender. Their participation can inspire others and affirm the importance of inclusion in all areas of life.

It is also an opportunity to bring the challenges and biases these individuals encounter into the public eye, prompting discussions that might not happen otherwise; examining and influencing public attitudes towards gender diversity; bringing up issues regarding human rights and discrimination; and resulting in the public having to confront and reassess traditional views on sex and gender.

Cultural, educational and societal impact

While very upsetting to athletes like Imane Khelif, who was targeted viciously by the controversy, the ensuing debate extends beyond sport and reflects broader societal attitudes towards sex, gender, sexual and gender identity, gender diversity and inclusion.

It can either reinforce stereotypes and discrimination or promote greater acceptance and understanding of gender diversity. How society responds to such controversies can signal the progress or lack thereof in achieving gender equality and inclusivity, and encourage dialogue about these topics, which in turn leads to more informed and nuanced perspectives.

• Lucie Fremlova PhD is chair of the Gender Affairs Council, which was established in January 2023 by Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, to advance gender equality in Bermuda