Aly Raisman is a three-time Olympic medalist and Kveller favorite. She’s also a human who doesn’t deserve to be body shamed or judged–which is exactly what happened when she was stopped by a male TSA agent. Why? According to her tweets on the incident, he said he couldn’t “see” her muscles–as if muscles pop out of your clothes and punch you in the face or something.
This is why Raisman went to Twitter to air her frustrations–because it’s not cool, even if you are super famous:
Lady at TSA: “Gymnast? I recognized u by ur biceps”
Man at TSA: “I don’t see any muscles” & continues 2 stare at me
How rude & uncomfortable— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) May 24, 2017
If u are a man who can’t compliment a girls 💪🏻 you are sexist. Get over yourself. Are u kidding me? It’s 2017. When will this change?
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) May 24, 2017
I work very hard to be healthy & fit. The fact that a man thinks he judge my arms pisses me off I am so sick of this judgmental generation.
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) May 24, 2017
He was very rude. Staring at me shaking his head like it couldn’t be me because I didn’t look “strong enough” to him? Not cool.
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) May 24, 2017
The constant questioning and scrutinizing of women’s bodies leads to eating disorders and body dysmorphia. According to NationalEatingDisorders.org, “In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder.”
ANAD also notes that “at least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S.” and “Every 62 minutes at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder.” Clearly, eating disorders are all too common. And clearly, people need to be more educated, and more sensitive, when making comments on someone else’s body (which is honestly almost never necessary, never if it’s mean-spirited).
Raisman has opened up in the past about her own insecurities, stating:
“Something like 30 years ago, maybe even 20 years ago, they probably wouldn’t have even looked at me because I didn’t have the right body type. It’s really cool now that it is 2017, there really is no ideal body type. There are so many women who are inspiring and they’re changing the way people view female athletes and it’s really incredible.
When I was younger I was always told I didn’t have the right body type for gymnastics and I obviously proved them wrong but I think the important thing is my parents and my coaches always believed in me.
It’s a really important thing to surround yourself with loving people that want the best for you and support you because my mom and [I] would always have the conversation when I was younger about the importance of being confident.”
Clearly, Raisman has muscles–and she’s not afraid to show them–just as any woman shouldn’t be afraid to show her body, thick, thin, muscular, post-baby and everything in between:
