Seven elite women athletes who had to justify, explain or defend the way they look Body-shaming against female Olympians and other sportswomen is rife. Water polo player Paula Leitón is the latest to be subjected to intense physical scrutiny Because they’re fat. Because they’re thin.
Because they’re wearing makeup or because they didn’t use a single swipe of mascara. Because they have too many muscles. Because they’re androgynous.
Because they don’t have big breasts, or because they do. Because of distinctive facial characteristics. Because their hair is kinky.
Because they’re Black. Because they’re too short. Because they’re mixed-race.
Because of any reason, and because of every reason. Because all these “because” could be levelled at any woman. “It’s all the same, national champions, world champions, Olympic champions, it doesn’t matter.
If your body isn’t normative, your body will be the target of humiliation and women’s professional authority will go unrecognized” in their fields, says Isabel Tajahuerce, doctor of information sciences and expert on gender-based violence, who is also the rector’s delegate of equality at Madrid’s Universidad Complutense. She’s talking about body shaming. Just two days ago, the practice was set into motion against water polo player Paula Leitón, who won gold in the recent Olympic Games on the Spanish team.
She received fatphobic comments on social media, to which she reacted to with both indiffere.