When thinking of women like Michelle Obama and Serena Williams, what first comes to mind? For many, it is the countless successes that both women have achieved. Maybe their empowering quotes are echoing through your mind? You may even be thinking about how these strong, eloquent, ceaseless women have that veil of intimidation being illuminating off of them because they are just so… wow. Both women have admirable qualities and determination, but their similarities do not stop there. When thinking of these women, others directly associate them with their body types. Though, clearly, they have put in time and effort to better themselves and their bodies, they have both received negative backlash over their physiques… as though anyone should even have a say about that.
Where’s Naomi Campbell with her phone when you need her?! The sad thing about it is that there are so many people, from all directions, who choose to highlight and critique these women’s bodies.
For someone tackling the childhood obesity epidemic in the US, Mrs. Obama should be a representation of the lifestyle she promotes. If an individual is encouraging children to get up and get active, I would hope the person is active him or herself. Even so, for those very muscles that she’s worked for, she’s been likened to a man and her gender questioned. These comments cannot be dismissed as an ignorant person spewing unnecessary comments because the First Lady’s “haters” are not ignorant to her lifestyle or about her gender—they are just hateful, disgusting individuals who wish to attack someone in a higher position than themselves. News alert: those mentally living in yesteryear, along with yourself, will not catapult you to any sort of relevance or higher class. Unfortunately, these people cannot simply be termed as haters, but likely just plain racist. Case in point, below.
~racism, sexism, transphobia… it’s all too much~
I’ve had people look down on me. I’ve had people put me down because I didn’t look like them, I look stronger. I’ve had people look past me because of the color of my skin. I’ve had people overlook me because I was a woman. I had critics say I will never win another Grand Slam when I was only at number seven and now here I stand today with 21 Grand Slam titles and I’m still going. – Serena Williams, 2015
Women do not need to conform to the beauty standards set by men. Women do not live for men. Unfortunately, some women do not realize this themselves and have decided to fuel attacks on women like Michelle Obama and Serena Williams. Come onnnn, don’t be a Rush Limbaugh or Donald Trump! My challenge for people in this category is to ask themselves, “When was the last time I trained to have a push-up challenge with Ellen DeGeneres? When was the last time I made an effort in whipping the country into shape? When was the last time I trained for championships, won a Grand Slam, or won anything related to physical fitness and talent?”
Just because another woman lifts and your man doesn’t does not indicate that she is any less of a woman than you. It may simply mean that she is more physically capable than you and your significant other, and possibly both of you combined. Instead of insinuating a fit woman was born a man, looks like a gorilla, etc., ask yourself, “What can I do to ben more like her?” Fit women (and men) make time in their schedules to invest within themselves and their bodies… why should that spur criticism?
If ever faced with any ounce of criticism for who you are, what you look like, or what you do, consider Mrs. Obama’s sparkling words: When they go low, we go high.