“Barbie is not Barbie-ing any more.” “It’s like watching your favourite pub burn down.” “She used to be hot.
” There’s nothing quite like reading a series of vile remarks about a pregnant person – in this case, Australian actor Margot Robbie – to boil the blood of fellow women – including me and former Australian tennis player, author and speaker Jelena Dokic. “This amazing woman, Margot Robbie of course, is right now being body-shamed and heavily trolled for her appearance while pregnant,” Dokic wrote on Instagram . “If this incredible woman, who is so talented and successful .
.. is getting scrutinised and body-shamed especially while pregnant then nobody has a chance and is exempt from trolling and judgment.
” And she’s right. In 2024, everyone should know and do better. Margot Robbie with husband Tom Ackerley, holidaying on Italy’s Palmarola Island.
Credit: CIAOPIX / COBRA TEAM / BACKGRID Unfortunately, the reality is that very few women have a chance to escape the unrealistic expectations many people – especially those commenting from behind a screen – seem to hold around how pregnant people should look and behave. “Research shows that digital misogyny is on the rise and has become more extreme in the past decade,” says Dr Nicole Highet, founder and executive director of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). This, she says is fuelled by two factors in particular: low self-esteem (of the commenter) and anonymity.
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