If you have been following the Olympics this year (or even if you haven’t), it is likely you have heard of two controversies surrounding the games this year: The first controversy involving gymnast Gabby Douglas, the second controversy involving four U.S. swimmers.
If you do not know the situations I am referring to, I’ll explain a little more in depth: During a medal ceremony this year, Douglas failed to place her hand over her heart while the American National Anthem was playing. Instead, she stood silently at attention, with her hands together, hanging in front of her body. She did not yell during the anthem. She did not shout any racial or homophobic slurs. She simply did not place her hand over her heart- an action which has never been portrayed as “the right way”.
Amid the criticism following her actions, Douglas has been called “un-American,” “disrespectful” and her actions being called “un-Olympic”. Many social media users went so far as to call Douglas a “disgrace to the U.S.,” saying she should not be allowed to represent her country. Douglas took to Twitter afterwards to apologize for her actions, but her apology wasn’t enough for critics. Throughout the games, journalists and social media gurus continued to criticize Douglas on her appearance, her facial expressions and her overall performances. Criticism Douglas’ mom calls “cyber-bullying.” Several articles have claimed witnesses have found Douglas crying in the corner multiple times after competing.
The other controversy involving the U.S. swimmers is more simple. Ryan Lochte, James Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz fabricated a story about being robbed at gun point. Initially, Lochte reported to his mother the swimmers had been pulled over by an unmarked police car and robbed at gunpoint. Lochte then told Matt Lauer the group of swimmers had stopped at a gas station to use the bathroom when they were robbed. After it was realized the story has changed, Conger and Bentz admitted to police that the entire story had been fabricated. Turns out, as video footage has shown, the swimmers did stop at a gas station to use the bathroom. However, they were not robbed. Instead, the drunk swimmers destroyed the bathroom stall and refused to pay for the damage until a security guard made them.
My question is, where is the criticism towards the swimmers looks? Where are the articles saying they are “un-American” and shouldn’t be allowed to compete in future Olympic ceremonies? Where are the slandering words against their looks, the way their hair is done, or the way they dress?
IOC spokesman Mario Andrada released a statement saying on the situation saying “These kids came here to have fun. Let’s give these kids a break. Sometimes you make decisions you later regret. They had fun, they made a mistake, life goes on.”
Life goes on.
For the swimmers who lied about being robbed at gunpoint, life goes on. For the gymnast who didn’t put her hand over her heart during the National Anthem, life may go on, but it will go on after the Olympics are officially over, it will go on after the cyber-bullying takes months to subside and it will go on years after she finally rebuilds her self-confidence from all the harsh comments about her.
This is only one instance of discrimination between men and women that has been shown throughout the Olympics. Another broad example is a newspaper headline: In big, bold 40+ font, the newspaper article announces that Michael Phelps tied for silver in the 100 meter butterfly stroke.
Underneath, in font half that size, it remembers to announce that Katie Ledecky set a world record in the women’s 800 meter freestyle.
And let’s not forget the Chicago Tribune article that reported the “wife of Bear’s lineman Mitch Unrein won a bronze medal in trap shooting”. Apparently the “wife” (her name is Corey Cogdell-Unrein) didn’t earn the right for the Chicago Tribune to use her name when she earned her bronze medal.
These instances are just three that have been shown within the course of the Olympics that make women feel inferior to men. As if the glass ceiling and wage gap weren’t enough, women’s accomplish are constantly being put on the back burners in life, our successes and images being deemed not as important as men’s.
Are people upset with the U.S. swimmers? Yes. They are not completely off the hook. In fact, they face up to six months in jail for lying about the event. However, I think the statement that compares how differently people are reacting to these situations is perfectly summed up by Mario Andrada’s comment regarding the story the swimmers thread together:
“Life goes on”.
