While social media certainly has a tendency to bring out the worst in people, the objectification of women hasn’t been limited to Twitter. NBC commentator Dan Hick referred to swimmer Katinka Hosszu’s husband and coach as “the man responsible” for her career. And the Chicago Tribune identified bronze medal winner Corey Cogdell as the “wife of Bears lineman Mitch Unrein” in a social media headline. At one point during the Final Five’s victory celebration, an unidentified male commentator said they were so chatty that they “might as well be standing around at the mall.” No dude, they’re in Rio, slaying your entire existence.
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Women have been competing in the Olympics for well over a century at this point—so why are they still held to different standards than their male peers? Instead of lauding women as strong athletes, we expect them to be beauty queens and cheerleaders. They’re told time and time again that they must look a certain way—with megawatt smiles and bodies that are strong but not “masculine.”
That’s not to say we don’t occasionally objectify male athletes, too. Sure, we ogle them—their bodies are perfection and we acknowledge that. But their appearances are not the main focus of commentary on social media or in the news, nor are their looks construed as making them any better or less than as athletes. Can you imagine a commentator or a national newspaper noting how handsome Michael Phelps looked when he medaled? Or saying that Ryan Lochte’s uniform isn’t very flattering this summer, and did he even brush his hair today?
“Had a baby 16 months ago. But she hasn’t lost her edge.” Y’all, I didn’t realize having a baby made you an invalid. #sexism #Olympics
— Karen M Valenzuela (@VictoriaNoir89) August 7, 2016
Women are required to perform not only on the mat/court/field/etc., but off it as well. Demanding that female athletes look or act a certain way is the Olympic-sized version of telling a woman on the street she’d be so much prettier if she just smiled more. We don’t have time to smile or fulfill the rest of your patriarchal dreams—we’re too busy accomplishing things.
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Furthermore, implying that Gabby is salty and envious of her teammates is an offensive reduction of one of the world’s best gymnasts into nothing more than an outdated stereotype—a catty, jealous woman. This kind of divisive language makes it seem as if women are incapable of building one another up, which is just not true. Quite the contrary, the obvious bond between the members of the Final Five—even when they’re not always grinning ear-to-ear—is an excellent example of how when women support and love one another, we become that much more powerful. After all, camaraderie is kind of the entire point of organized sport.