Behind the Sport

One common problem that many share is body image. I mean, the ideal body type is thrown at us wherever we go. It is in advertisements, movies, TV Shows and social media. However, there is one big set of injustice that many might not think about. It is gymnastics. How could body image be an issue in a sport? Well, gymnastics is a very competitive sport with actual judges critiquing every move you make. Not only that, but you are in a leotard that is exposing. You feel judged. In gymnastics, every little detail counts. For example, you have to have straight lines. Your legs must be always straight with pointed toes. It makes this idea of a stick-straight body type. Well, unfortunately, not everyone’s body type is like that. So it creates some disorders. Being a gymnast myself, it can be hard on a person. You are trained to be perfect and if you’re not it is a bad thing. In this scenario, the gymnast can feel outcast, or a “other”. You can feel inferior to a judge or other people watching. The judge has ultimate power over you, along with your coaches.

Self V Other

 In a writing, International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, written by Moosavina, SR., N. Niazi, and Ahmad Ghaforian, it talks about this theory self versus other. He talks about how the self which has power over the other will influence certain ideals over the other because they have more power.They talk about colonization and Edward said’s theory. This theory first applied to orientalism can be applied to any circumstance. It is broad theory that is human nature. 

Therefore, if we apply the self versus other theory to the gymnast point of view we can see how a gymnast can feel like an outsider. It continues to happen because of the nature of the sport. The point of the sport is to perform for a judge and get scored on how you do. This can create serious problems about self image over the years. One gymnast, who is very successful, has dealt with these issues before. Her name is Katelyn Ohashi, and she is currently a gymnast at UCLA and was a competitive elite gymnast, being the highest level you can get to. She told BBC her struggles with body image. She tells them.  “A coach was upset I had put on weight – he said it was why it was hurting” (Ohashi). Being told over and over imperfections about you can cause some serious damage. She also tells BBC, “As gymnasts, our bodies are constantly being seen in these minimal clothing leotards. I felt so uncomfortable looking in the mirror” (Ohashi). With the nature of the sport it can be hard to be told something negative by someone who is in a higher position than you. You are vulnerable when doing your routines, because people are watching you and judging you while in a leotard. That is where we see the self versus other theory and how gymnasts can feel almost inferior, even the best ones. 

Moosavina, SR., N. Niazi, and Ahmad Ghaforian. “Edward Said’s Orientalism and the Study of the Self and the Other in Burmese Days.” Studies in Language and Literature. Vol 2, No. 1, 2011, p. 103-113. https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/56669/ssoar-ilshs-2015-60-marandi_et_al-Edward_Saids_Orientalism_and_the.pdf?sequence=1 Accessed 02 Mar. 2020.

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