I am so proud to be an American. Minus our current reality show of a presidential election, there is so much about The United States of America that brings tears of joy to my eyes and chills to my skin.
There is something so moving and so incredible about The Olympics every year. Maybe because the Americans dominate in almost every category, or maybe it is because we get to see ourselves on the podium more times than not. Maybe it is because our colors mean so much more than just stars and stripes with an Under Armor logo next to them.
But there is one thing about The Olympics and its' media coverage that I cannot wrap my head around...
The Sexualization of Female Athletes.
Coming from an athlete who's sport has never been taken seriously, this hurts me to my "sparkly and spirited" core. Cheerleaders are stereotyped for being dumb, blonde, and mean. Only one of those things accurately describe me, and that is my hair color. I am an athlete with a college degree. I have been a cheerleader for 15 years. I cheered for a D1 team in college with other athletes. Those athletes MAY have worn skirts, BUT that did not discount the blood, sweat, tears, muscle, dedication, motivation, and pride that each of us felt every day we stepped on that mat.
The difference between the cheerleading squad, the football team, or the ultimate frisbee team is that in contrast to other college students who were out partying with their friends, WE were dedicating ourselves to our craft, and to each other. I promise that my dislocated shoulders, countless cuts and bruises, and stories of where I caught a variety of body parts has nothing to do with the fact that I was just a dumb blonde in a skirt.
You may have noticed in the reports of this summer's Olympic games, or the last one, or the one before that, or really any female sport probably ever: female athletes are judged based on appearance, not skill. Media reports about these athletes seem to forget that whether it's a man or a woman, they are all OLYMPIANS, which is more than literally everyone in the media, let alone anyone at all, can say. Can we talk about their dedication to their sport? Or maybe their skill as they represent their country? Do we have to mention who their husbands are and what their bodies look like? Various outlets sharing videos of the women's volleyball team in their bikinis or strictly the backside of volleyball teams......
Whether it is a man or a woman, winning or losing, silver or gold, they all have worked their entire lives to get to where they are today.
The male gymnastics team for USA has asked MULTIPLE media outlets to please objectify them so they can have more coverage and recognition as our female team does. Even if that includes only posting photos of themselves shirtless. Whether in leotards or full sweats, the girls are winning golds, maybe try that first?
I don't have control over the media, but we have control over how we view human beings, including Olympians.
