Why Can’t Women Simply Love the Body They Live In?

Many women across the world watch TV, advertisements, and other people, and wish they could look like that. With their thin bodies containing not an inch of fat. But why can’t women simply love the body, they live in? Why do we have to fear what others think of your body? The social idea that the ideal woman’s body should consist of no fat has created this inappropriate conformity of women’s bodies. Even more this ideal has massively impacted and effected gymnasts all across the world.

It has created psychological problems within women and gymnasts and health issues that risk their life. We need to change this stigmatization that has affected and continues to effect so many gymnasts. The stigma starts as early as childhood and lasts forever, but we can regulate what gymnastics coaches can do and we can continue to change the governing body of the United States gymnastics to a healthier culture for young gymnasts.

Before diving into how this conformity effects women and gymnasts it is important to discuss what exactly stigma defines.

According to Goffman stigma is, “an attribute that is deeply discrediting a whole and usual person to the tainted, discounted one.” (Pickett et al 21) In this case the stigma represents a body that is thin and free of visible fat. A body in which few can ever achieve. Goffman argued that, “the lack of a certain devalued identities [like a thin body] result in lower social status, based on negative stereotypes attributed [to] all people who hold that particular identity [those who are thin].

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” (Pickett et al 22) This stigma occurs often in almost all areas of life. The obvious answers would be at the gym.

However, women constantly are reminded of the perfect body in advertisements on TV, in magazines and in public windows and on walls. For women it never ends. Women often try to comply with the ‘perfect’ body type, but as hard as they try, it just may not achieve. As many know, models display the optimal societal body. As most know, every body is different. Some are naturally thin. Some naturally thick. Some gain muscle faster. Some gain fat faster. Some can eat all day and still look thin. Some eat nothing and still cannot lose weight. Each body is built differently and that is why having society create an expected body type for all women is unjust.

Furthermore, very few people possess the bodily characteristics to become a model. Based on an NBC interview by Lauren Effron viewed on Nightline, “the minimum and maximum height [for models] is 5’6-6’1 and minimum and maximum weight [for models] is 110-130lb.” Based on the US female height and weight percentile the 5’9 (median of model heights)is in the 97 percentile. This means that only 3 percent of the female population is above the height of 5’9. To continue the median weight (120lb) is at the 16th percentile, meaning only 16 percent of the female population is below the ideal model weight. To add more to this, the body mass index of these two medians (assuming a person is of these two characteristics) is in less than the 3rd percentile. A model body mass index characterizes less that 3 percent of the women population. This alone proves that very few can ever achieve the body type. So, why can we expect the so many women to comply to this body type? People often judge others.

It’s a natural tendency that all humans possess. “Humans generally engage in labeling of individuals as a social process” (Pickett et al 22). This can be explained as people watching, where people observe others in a public place. “The more modern, embracing of healthiest reinforces that fatness is a result of poor individual choices, made by individuals who then become a burden on the rest of society”(pausé 4p). They see them as lazy and unproductive to society. They will look at a person who is thin and long as a favorable body and someone who cares about their body. “Individuals with such physiques (thinness and muscularity) are affording higher place in the social hierarchy.

Meanwhile, those in larger bodies face discrimination” (Pickett et al 21). But this is all wrong. In looking at people this way people are placing stereotypes on others. Those who are thin and long can be lazy and those who are more round may work their ass off to look thin, but with all the work they do it is hard to achieve thinness. Because someone may be more round makes them in no way a burden to society the type of body someone has dose not determine the productiveness they provide to the society. Instead it creates diversity within the population. It is not fair for people to be placed in certain stereotypes based on the characteristics of their body and then be treated as lesser. Many expect gymnasts to look a certain way. That is, to look lean and muscular. “The sport of gymnastics emphasizes both leanness and aestheticism, promotes subjective evaluations of the athlete based on bodily appearance, and fuels dieting pressure to improve both performance and appearance” (Harriger et al).

It is no lie that gymnasts are expected to do so much. On top of the 36+ hours of gymnastics practice and the 7+ hours of schooling a day they also have to focus on how their body looks. It is a demand from society that gymnast look the part. Think for a second and try to name at least one elite or even Olympic gymnast that had visible fat on them. You couldn’t think of any could you? That’s because gymnasts are forced to conform to a certain body type even if that means risking their health. A gymnasts body type is like no other athlete body type. The ideal gymnast body, “shows a high body density and reduced fat mass, muscle mass and total body water” (Silva et al 4p). Unfortunately the reality is that their bodies don’t have the adequate amount of water. Their body have to work harder to regulate temperature, and to keep your skin moist. In some cases hormones will also become out of wack.

Furthermore, “gymnasts’ energy intake decreased from preparatory periods to competitive period” (Silva et al 3p). Competition season is when gymnasts are expected to look their best so they will eat less in order to maintain that figure. But, n turn that provides them with less energy and more room for injuries. Gymnasts are demanded to perform dangerous skills that defy all types of physics, so when they lack the energy they are more likely to hurt themselves since they cannot effectively perform the skills.

However, gymnastics are willing to the risk because “they anticipate being scrutinized by judges, coaches, and spectators; they are told that their performance and resulting score is based on how well their body performs” (Harriger et al). Based on my research, people and studies could not conclude that judges did have a bias toward gymnasts who encompasses a more ideal gymnast body. That being said, the studies only expanded to Olympic gymnastics judging. That being said, it is very possible that judges ranked lower (USA Gymnastics state judges or regional judges) who judge meets every weekend for club programs could pose some type if bias in scoring based on the initial body type of the gymnast. In no way should judges form any bias of a gymnast before they compete. Stigma can be experienced by a number of factors, directly or indirectly. “Stigma may be experienced directly, for example, through staring or verbal harassment. It may also be experienced indirectly, through negative messaging, media, and micro-aggressions (pausé 10p). A gymnasts can be shamed just by a simple stare.

Gymnasts are between the ages of 8 and 22 years old. An age which is much too young to already be experiences the shaming of their body and the discomfort of living in their body. “Gymnasts are essentially taught to practice body surveillance by their coaches. “Gymnasts often practice in front of a mirror in their leotards” (Harriger et al). This is a reality that is hard to avoid. Unlike basketball player who wear long baggy shorts and a loose fitting shirt, gymnasts wear leotards for practice and for competition. Leotards show every curve of the body. It is skin tight only covering the torso and chest and in some cases the arms. For some gymnasts, the leotard may not even cover their whole butt. What does this signal toward the gymnast? It is an indirect sign that the gymnast needs to lose some fat or muscle in the butt area. The leotard can cause a gymnast to become self conscious about themselves.

Not to mention, almost all gymnastics facilities have mirrors as long as the walls. It’s hard for gymnasts and for that matter anyone not to judge their own body in a mirror and compare it to other teammates when part of a gymnasts practice consists of performing skills in front of a mirror and making sure that the positions their body is going through are tight and correct. This creates even more stigma to conform to that certain body type because gymnasts can not only view their body but they coincidently compare their body to their teammates’ body. When their body doesn’t match up to those of their teammates, gymnasts will take it upon themselves to do what they can to conform to the body. Gymnasts will begin to have self doubt about their own bodies. Furthermore, “pubertal development in girls is associated with a poorer self-image and higher likelihood of developing maladaptive strategies for dealing with such changes” (Harriger et al).

Strategies like fasting and eating disorders. “Pubertal changes in adolescence establish this developmental period as one in which young females face higher risk for body surveillance” (Harriger et al). These gymnasts are already at higher risk that an average female because they have the added demand of looking the part, a part they cannot hide from due to leotards that are necessary to wear every day of practice and competition. Even pubertal changes don’t stop coaches and gymnasts from trying to conform to a certain body type. In fact, “gymnasts are essentially taught to practice body surveillance by their coaches” (Harriger et al). An interview with Julie Cotter, a retired elite gymnast, revealed that coaches will do anything to keep their girls looking the part. Cotter claims that once a month her coaches would weigh her to make sure she wasn’t gaining too much or any weight. Like all girls, but the time she was 12 or 13 Cotter says she began to gain weight and go through puberty. Her butt and chest started to grow and her coaches could tell. They even told her that her butt was too jiggly and that she had to watch her weight.

Every female goes through puberty and naturally gains weight through the process. It is inevitable too. But when coaches tell gymnasts to watch their weight while they are growing, that is simply a recipe for self conscious gymnasts. The gymnasts can try all they want to lose weight at age 13 but no matter how hard they do try, chances are that they will still gain at least a little bit. By showing a dissatisfaction for a gymnasts’ body it not only denounces their appearance but it also causes the gymnast to bemuse self conscious. Cotter explains that after she her coach had told her that she was appalled and didn’t know what to do. She was embarrassed that a coach, someone she looked up to would tell her something like that. It messed with her psychologically and she began to worry more about her appearance and weight. Simone Biles, a 5 time olympic gold medalist for gymnasts, experienced something similar to Cotter.

Biles reveals her story on the Today Show with Hoda Kotb. While warming up at a meet before competition Biles fell on a skill. From behind she could hear her coach and another gymnasts’ coach talking about her. Her former coach had said, “You know why she fell? Because she is too fat, thats why. How does she expect to compete like that.” Biles was devastated. Instead of finishing warm up she ram behind the curtains and began crying. She was mortified and humiliated. Martha (the USA Gymnastics team coordinator; and one of the most respected Gymnastics figures in the United States) goes to Biles and inspires she to keep going. To wipe it off and perofor, like she always does, perfectly. Biles was lucky and was able to rebound for this tragic remark of her former coach, but many face embarrassment everyday. Whether they fear they are too fat or coaches or other gymnasts tell them directly or indirectly that they are fat.

Gymnasts struggle with conformity everyday. They are faced with having to look at themselves and compare their body to others in mirrors, in a skin tight leotard that shows every inch of muscle and unfortunately every inch of fat as well. Gymnasts often go on diets to maintain the body type expected of them from coaches and society. “The practice of rapidly losing a significant amount of weight through low calorie diets, deliberate dehydration etc. just before completion is widespread” (Paoli 3). In fact “Participation in women’s gymnastics is associated with increased rates of disordered eating, drive for thinness, dieting behaviors, and body dissatisfaction” (Harriger et al).

A very common diet for gymnasts to go on is called to Ketogenic Diet, specifically the Very Low Carb Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD). “This diet is primarily made up of beef, veal, poultry, fish, raw and cooked green vegetables, eggs and seasoning cheese, like parmesan. It dose not include bread, pasta, rice, mile, your and barley” (Paoli 3). Fat is known to help maintain and gain muscle composition, which is optimal for gymnast bodies Although taking out carbohydrates from one’s diet does cause weight loss at a fast rate, most of the weight that is lost just comes from water expulsion from the body. This can cause a hormonal imbalance in young gymnasts and greater chance of muscle damage. Without the necessary water mass in the body, muscles begin to cramp up and even tear if under intense conditions.

Gymnasts train for 36+ hours a week, upward of 8 hours a day. This is indeed intense conditions for any body. Thus, this diet creates health issues that can take gymnasts out of the sport for a season or forever. Ridding a gymnast of their passion just so their body can look lean and muscular is not appropriate. In fact it is unjust. Some gymnasts take the dieting one step farther and create eating disordering. “Participation in women’s gymnastics is associated with increased rates of disordered eating, drive for thinness, dieting behaviors, and body dissatisfaction” (Harriger et al). The most common eating disorders among people who are uncomfortable with their bodies are Anorexia and Bulimia. Those who do have Anorexia will view themselves as fat and constantly monitor their weight so much that they will do anything to lose or keep the same weight they have that they will starve themselves for days straight.

They have a “feeling as though their body does not measure up against internalized standards (Harriger et al). To conform to standard they will eat less food. Bulimia is similar, but girls and women who have this eating disorder will eat food they please, but then force vomit the food back up as to not cause any weight gain. Julie Cotter, in her interview, had reported that while being an elite gymnast, one of her teammates had obtained Bulimia. How did she obtain Bulimia? Well, Cotter explained that her coaches would manage what they eat. While on lunch break, Cotter says that she and her teammates would throw away the bread to their turkey sandwiches and solely eat turkey and lettuce. Then when on trips across the world or nation to compete her coaches would limit what they could eat at restaurants. If Cotter decided to have a burger the coaches would take away all of the fries before the plate was handed to her. If bread can to the table as an appetizer the coaches would similarly take the bread away and prohibit the gymnasts from eating it. Sadly, five years after their retirement of being a gymnast, Cotter’s teammate still had Bulimia.

The importance of looking a certain body type has scarred her even after she stopped doing gymnastics. The stigma starts in gymnastics but can last forever. According to ANAD, a program designed to inform people about the risks of eating disorders, “nearly 30 million people have either Anorexia or Bulimia” (Hudson 3). That is 30 million people who rid themselves of necessary nutrients and vitamins. Societal norms have created unhealthy eating habits for women. What can retired gymnasts do to cure or manage their unhappy feelings with their body? Like previously stated, some gymnasts, even after retiring from the sport will experience eating disorders because of the painful stigma they have lived with their whole life to look a certain way. It is a social expectation that will always live on a gymnasts shoulder. That is why, body conformity continue to take over. Instead of conforming to the societal body of a gymnast they simply strive to conform to the societal body of a female (thin and lean). Many will resort to diets that induce weight loss.

In fact, “91 percent of women who are unhappy with their bodies report going on diets to reduce weight” (pausé 43p). It has become such a social norm for women to be ashamed of their bodies and resort to dieting to resolve the problem that people have created multi million dollar companies to help them do just that. Take for instance the widely known weight loss corporation called Weight Watchers. In last year alone, 2017, “Weight Watchers made a total of 1.3 billion dollars in revenue” (Helmore). They also published having “4.6 million members in just the last quarter of 2017 world wide” (Helmore). It is appalling that people have being multi millionaires by making money off of other people who are dissatisfied with their bodies. Not the mention the amount of money people will pay to have their body thinner. Some people are paying upward of $1,000 a year to have the body they wish to love. This is so not fair for people to pay that much just to try to look like the unrealistic body type that society has created.