Lauren Fleshman blasts Maria Sharapova

Mundus Vult Decipi wrote:

controversy alert wrote:

No matter how politically correct society becomes, men will still appreciate slender bodies on females, and will continue to choose them. It's reality. It's also perhaps a consequence of all this tolerance. . . . Mark these words, as time goes on, men will be looking for a greater 'guarantee' that a woman really is a woman, and looking like a 'traditional' woman's body-type will become even more important.

You do realize that a "traditional" woman's body looks more like Serena than Maria Sharapova? Thin, athletically built women are a relatively modern creation.

I don't have a problem with you being attracted to "skinny" women nor do I have a problem with women who aspire to be thin especially if that slenderness is a means to achieve other goals (i.e. running faster).

Here is the issue for me: the attention men give to women's bodies in sports is almost always in a sexually charged way. The upshot of that, it seems to me, is that female athlete's face incredible pressure not only to "perform" as athletes but to maintain their sex appeal in a male driven culture that frankly has a pretty narrow view of what is "sexy." When the athlete's desire to maintain the body image necessary to be attractive starts to conflict with the body necessary be successful in athletics then sport almost always loses. Put differently, to be successful in athletics, women almost always have to be both athletic and traditionally beautiful. If one is a fan of female athletics regardless of an athlete's appearance, then this is a loss.

Note that his is remarkably different from male athletes whose bodies are--at least in general--celebrated for their performance not their appearance. In the panopticon of male sports there is such a range of body shapes and appearances that are not only accepted but lauded and celebrated.

The point, by the way, is not that men should find all women attractive just as women are certainly not attracted to all men. The point is that women should be able to pursue athletics without having to negotiate a gauntlet between athletic success and preserving some cultural notion of how a "woman" should look.

rojo wrote:

Let me start by saying I've always thought Lauren Fleshman is incredibly smart and I've always respected her balanced viewpoint on body issues. I remember her saying way back when, i think in a RW interview, that it was ok to look a piece of cake and not eat as you realized you had a big race coming up. That didn't make you anorexic. If I recall, there was a big thread about it (but I can't find it).

Anyway, here is what Sharapova said:

NY Tiimeswrote:

Maria Sharapova, a slender, blond Russian who has been the highest-paid female athlete for more than a decade because of her lucrative endorsements, said she still wished she could be thinner. “I always want to be skinnier with less cellulite; I think that’s every girl’s wish,” she said, laughing.

Sharapova said she avoided weights in her training, instead focusing on stretching and preventive exercises, which she believes are more beneficial for tennis than adding muscle.

“I can’t handle lifting more than five pounds,” Sharapova said. “It’s just annoying, and it’s just too much hard work. And for my sport, I just feel like it’s unnecessary.”

.

I don't have a problem with what Sharapova said at all. The vast majority of women do want to be thinner and have less celluilite. If she doesn't want to lift weights, that's her prerogative as well.

I know it can be incredibly hard to be a woman and feel the need to be skinny, but I don't think it's fair to crush those who are skinny or want to be it.

Who gave people the right to slam other people's wants/desires?

It amazes me that in the year 2015 when we are taught to accept every single viewpoint in the name of tolerance, it's totally acceptable to rip people who want to be skinny.

If I have a daughter, I hope that she isn't obsessed wtih her body but I certainly won't crticize her for saying "Yeah I wish I had less cellulite."

To each their own.

I do agree that the sentiment that thin women shouldn't criticize non skinny but don't get why it's cool to bash thin women. Yes, I know eating disorders are a problem but so is alcoholism, drunk driving, etc and we don't ban alcohol.

runningart2004 wrote:

rojo wrote:

Let me start by saying I've always thought Lauren Fleshman is incredibly smart and I've always respected her balanced viewpoint on body issues. I remember her saying way back when, i think in a RW interview, that it was ok to look a piece of cake and not eat as you realized you had a big race coming up. That didn't make you anorexic. If I recall, there was a big thread about it (but I can't find it).

Anyway, here is what Sharapova said:

I don't have a problem with what Sharapova said at all. The vast majority of women do want to be thinner and have less celluilite. If she doesn't want to lift weights, that's her prerogative as well.

I know it can be incredibly hard to be a woman and feel the need to be skinny, but I don't think it's fair to crush those who are skinny or want to be it.

Who gave people the right to slam other people's wants/desires?

It amazes me that in the year 2015 when we are taught to accept every single viewpoint in the name of tolerance, it's totally acceptable to rip people who want to be skinny.

If I have a daughter, I hope that she isn't obsessed wtih her body but I certainly won't crticize her for saying "Yeah I wish I had less cellulite."

To each their own.

I do agree that the sentiment that thin women shouldn't criticize non skinny but don't get why it's cool to bash thin women. Yes, I know eating disorders are a problem but so is alcoholism, drunk driving, etc and we don't ban alcohol.

So the best women's tennis player of the past 10-15 years obviously lifts weights yet to beat her you decide to stretch? Maria is more concerned with her endorsements than her winnings. She's also uneducated about weights and has the same mentality as every female I've ever trained. It is sad. Maria could get loads stronger while not gaining mass and putting mphs on her serve.

Also...Williams beefy look is all about her genetics and improper lifting routine...if not her pharmaceutical bill.

Alan

Mundus Vult Decipi wrote:

controversy alert wrote:

No matter how politically correct society becomes, men will still appreciate slender bodies on females, and will continue to choose them. It's reality. It's also perhaps a consequence of all this tolerance. . . . Mark these words, as time goes on, men will be looking for a greater 'guarantee' that a woman really is a woman, and looking like a 'traditional' woman's body-type will become even more important.

You do realize that a "traditional" woman's body looks more like Serena than Maria Sharapova? Thin, athletically built women are a relatively modern creation.

I don't have a problem with you being attracted to "skinny" women nor do I have a problem with women who aspire to be thin especially if that slenderness is a means to achieve other goals (i.e. running faster).

Here is the issue for me: the attention men give to women's bodies in sports is almost always in a sexually charged way. The upshot of that, it seems to me, is that female athlete's face incredible pressure not only to "perform" as athletes but to maintain their sex appeal in a male driven culture that frankly has a pretty narrow view of what is "sexy." When the athlete's desire to maintain the body image necessary to be attractive starts to conflict with the body necessary be successful in athletics then sport almost always loses. Put differently, to be successful in athletics, women almost always have to be both athletic and traditionally beautiful. If one is a fan of female athletics regardless of an athlete's appearance, then this is a loss.

Note that his is remarkably different from male athletes whose bodies are--at least in general--celebrated for their performance not their appearance. In the panopticon of male sports there is such a range of body shapes and appearances that are not only accepted but lauded and celebrated.

The point, by the way, is not that men should find all women attractive just as women are certainly not attracted to all men. The point is that women should be able to pursue athletics without having to negotiate a gauntlet between athletic success and preserving some cultural notion of how a "woman" should look.