Women Athletes say “ENOUGH!”
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Grand Slam Games.
German Women's Gymnastics Team wore unitards at the Tokyo Olympics.
Norwegian Women's Beach Handball Team refused to wear bikini bottoms in the Euro 2021 Tournament.
Aliphine Tuliamuk forced organizers to reverse the policy that forbade athletes from bringing their nursing infants to Tokyo.
Simone Biles withdrew from several gymnastic events at the Tokyo Olympics.
These powerful, strong, amazing athletes have moved and inspired me. The sexism, objectification, sexualization, misogyny and oppressive policies that they have endured has infuriated me.
The Norwegian women's beach handball team received a fine during the 2021 European Beach Handball Championships for refusing to play in bikini bottoms, opting for shorts, precisely what the men are allowed to wear. The EHF stated that this violated "athlete uniform regulations" dictated by the sport's international federation.
How about a fine for the EHF for this outrageous sexism? How is it ok to dictate how these athletes should dress? I can't imagine how challenging it would be to wear a revealing and uncomfortable uniform while performing extraordinary physical feats. Kudos to the German Women's Gymnastics Team for putting comfort before image by switching to unitards and to all female athletes who call out sexist uniforms. Why are sexualized images of female athletes more important than their athletic ability?
Naomi Osaka and Simon Biles are trailblazers by prioritizing their mental health over the pressure of their coaches, teammates, media, sponsors and fans.
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open because of her mental health concerns. Her bravery has encouraged others, and Simone Biles stated that Osaka's decision gave her the strength to make a similar one. Biles has received unwarranted backlash for being weak because she said she had "to do what's right for and focus on my mental health.".
In all sports, women are competing in record numbers and are rejecting a culture of silence, sexism, and oppression, clearly stating that this will no longer be the price of competing.
Elizabeth Daniels, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs who studies women's sexualization in sports, stated:
"I think they are clear examples of female athletes taking agency and telling the sport, telling the public, telling business interests that their well-being is the most important thing, and that is transformative," I think there is something unique about this current moment that is lending itself to athletes organizing … to saying, 'Hey, this is not what we want.'"
Though there are a record number of women athletes competing, the governing bodies for their sports are dominated by men who set the standards and rules for competition and female athletes have very little representation. They decide what female athletes wear, make decisions about their obligations around competition and about who is accountable when there are reports of abuse.
"In The Tokyo Olympics, 49% of the 11,000 athletes competing are women, yet only 29% of the 100 International Olympic Committee (IOC) members are women, and just four women sit on the 15-person executive committee, according to an analysis in 2018 from the non-profit Women's Sports Foundation, which advocates for equity in women's sports. There has never been a female IOC president." - USA Today
Historically, athletes were trained to suppress their own needs even if it meant risking their health and safety. For example, the Russian gymnast, Elena Mukhina, performed a dangerous floor event while recovering from an injury after repeatedly informing her coach that she wasn't strong enough and felt it too risky. She was ignored and unfortunately snapped her spine during her performance and ended up a person with paraplegia and died at 46. And Kerri Strug, an American gymnast who continuously stated that she was in too much pain to continue, was forced to compete. She won the gold medal for her vault and could never compete again because of the damage done to her ankle. She was only 18 years old.
Sport is entrenched in gender stereotypes promoting a women’s appearance over her ability. However, I’m feeling hopeful because the last few months are a strong indication that the status quo is no longer acceptable, and hopefully, this is a pivotal moment where an athlete's well-being is more important than a gold medal. Let's give our athletes, especially female athletes, empathetic support so they no longer feel that they have to sacrifice their emotional and physical well-being to satisfy coaches, sponsors, and pride.
These astounding women are true role models, and their actions align with the first two Yama's of Patanjali's yoga ethical guidelines:
1. Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence, which includes physical, mental, and emotional violence towards others and the self.
2. Satya (truthfulness) urges us to live and speak our truth at all times.
A gold medal, fame, fortune, sponsorships, and adoration are not worth sacrificing physical and emotional well-being. These phenomenal women deserve a standing ovation.
Be well.
Anita
