They're Olympic Champions, Not Prey

[GObamaGO]

http://www.ontheissuesmagazine.com/cafe2/article/238

Thursday, August 2nd, was a huge day for American women in the prime-time Olympic sports. Rebecca Soni set a new world record and snagged gold in the women's 200m breaststroke. Elizabeth Beisel and Missy Franklin scorched the field leading up to the 200m backstroke final, leading their respective semifinal heats by 1.24 and 1.48 seconds. Beach volleyballers April Ross and Jen Kessy advanced to the round of 16, where they join legends Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings. And in Judo, Kayla Harrison won the first Olympic gold medal for the U.S. – ever.

Notwithstanding Harrison’s historic moment, of course all eyes were on the women’s gymnastics all-around final. Gabrielle Douglas emerged Thursday as the only American gold medalist on the podium, joining Mary Lou Retton, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin in an elite club of U.S. gymnasts. Poised, confident, strong and classy, Douglas was stunning as she executed vaults, leaps, twists that seemed to defy the laws of physics. In a sport of girls, the 16-year-old was a superwoman.

To most of us, anyway. Some were still obsessing over her (actually quite graceful) hairstyle, as if her hair mattered more than her stunning work. Worst of all: Over on Twitter, someone called @DarkBeige posted, "Watching gymnastics on bbc3. This may make me a Paedo."

And there, in 140 characters or less, is the problem with today's gymnastics.

This article succinctly stated things I have felt and experienced my entire life.

[thelordofhell]

1. The problem with her hair is.........it's black

Racist bastards are everywhere, belittling even the best achievements in the world

[obamanut2012]

3. It was mainly African American women criticizing her hair

On social media, which is a shame.

[Fresh_Start]

2. finally understand the comments about the hair. kind of agree with it

In no other summer sport is heavy makeup, thick eyeliner and shellacked, glittery hair part of the uniform.

[obamanut2012]

4. This has been rife in tennis for decades

Martina Navratilova has said that when she was playing, the parents and officials focused on "The Lesbians" being in the same locker rooms with their daughters, or preying on their daughters. Martina said the problem was the male coaches (and some officials) sexual abusing the young teens they were coaching, but that everyone turned a blind eye to that. She said some female players who became very big names were victims of this hush-hush sexual abuse.

[GObamaGO]

5. Sadly that does not surprise me

I think Navratilova and Billie Jean King took way too much grief for being who they are.

[spooky3]

11. here's a link to one story - the guy *allegedly* sounds like another Jerry Sandusky

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/08/28/former_tennis_star_coach_bob_hewitt_accused_in_abuse_of_young_girls/?page=1

[spooky3]

12. and here's a link to a story about another alleged child abuser

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076294/Tennis-coach-stars-jailed-indecently-assaulting-young-girls.html

[obamanut2012]

14. Disgusting

[spooky3]

13. and here's a link to a third

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/02/1091432114945.html

I suppose there are many more stories out there.

I'm glad Martina and the girls/women unfortunately involved in the incidents spoke out.

[REP]

6. I know there's something I'm not "getting" about the hair to-do

How she was wearing her hair looked to me like a very practical and comfortable way to wear your hair and keep it out of the way while doing intensely demanding gymnastics. Plus now she's a gold-medal winning Olympian - she can wear it however she wants and look great (well, being 16 is mostly the reason for that).

[obamanut2012]

7. Because her hair wis considered "nappy" and "undone"

By some critics, mainly (via social media) African American women. Get Chris Rock's documentary "Good Hair" from Netflix.

[REP]

8. I know; but as a (very UNstylish) white woman, I just don't "get" it

Why tear down another woman like that (really, a girl)? Especially one who is doing something remarkable that has nothing to with her hair?

I do know about hair and (some) AA women, but knowing and "getting" aren't exactly the same I hate to see women tearing themselves and each other up over anything, especially something like this.

[obamanut2012]

9. I don't get it either

[Zorra]

10. Maybe this is, at least partly, a manifestation of the relentless

Sexualization of Girls and women in US society/culture.

Frequent exposure to media images that sexualize girls and women affects how girls conceptualize femininity and sexuality. Girls and young women who more frequently consume or engage with mainstream media content offer stronger endorsement of sexual stereotypes that depict women as sexual objects (Ward, 2002; Ward & Rivadeneyra, 1999; Zurbriggen & Morgan, 2006). They also place appearance and physical attractiveness at the center of women’s value.

[Whisp]

15. I don't either

the kid/girl/young woman is an amazing machine and fricken hair is talked about to try to bring her down?

how utterly stupid. but stupid is 'in' these days, or all days before.