Thanks for posting!
I'll continue quoting what she wrote:
Quote:
and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don't know how I would react if she has to go through what I've gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day.
I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage). It has been said I don't belong in Women's sports -- that I belong in Men's -- because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it).
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Even before I read this context, I was wondering what kind of world her daughter will find, maybe even before she herself turns 15.
Even if Serena doesn't tell her daughter that she should be ashamed of her body (and that she should constrain her exercise life so that she doesn't turn
TOO BIG!!!! or whatnot), the world is still acutely interested in telling people (especially girls and women) what's "wrong" with their bodies and what products they should buy to "fix" them.
And I'll requote another part for this reason.
Quote:
I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don't all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!
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Some years ago, I noticed that exercise instructors generally seem to teach, at least in effect if not explicitly, that the world would be a better place if all women looked as much alike as humanly possible.
I prefer to support instructors with a different story.
And I wish them a happy, healthy life, especially in a world that accepts them for who they are.