“Serena Williams looks like a man.” I have said that if I heard or read it one more time, I would scream.  While reading a Facebook post that was intended to celebrate the tennis pro, a commenter wrote “she’s too muscular…looks like a man”. I screamed and then I sat down to write this post.  It’s a criticism that she receives a lot and I just don’t get it.  A few things come to mind whenever someone says that Serena Williams looks like a man:

What sort of men have you been around?
I’m being silly, but when I see photos of Serena Williams “man” is nowhere in mind.  I see a beautiful, perfectly toned, uber-talented athlete. 

I guess I want to look like a man because I would kill to have her physique.
I’ve been on the fitness rollercoaster for many years.  I do the New Year’s resolution every year and fall off by March. Sometimes I manage to make it to summer.  Anyway, over the past 2 years I have made a vision board as motivation.  Guess who’s one of the ladies posted on the vision board as inspiration? You got it! Serena Williams.  I know that I would never be shaped exactly like her, but if I could get to my own level of prime health and fitness, I would be happy.  I’ll get there one of these days. When I do get there, I’m sure that I’ll feel anything but manly.

What’s so wrong with a woman’s body having definition?
I guess it’s why so many women are afraid of weights in the gym.  They’re afraid of bulking up.  They’re afraid that they’ll look like men.  We can’t be afraid of weights. There are too many benefits that women can experience from weight training.  I’m no fitness expert, but I’ve heard it enough from fitness trainers and other health experts: our bodies do not bulk up in the same way as men’s bodies.

Ok. Now that I’ve vented on this post, I can just glance past remarks about Serena looking like a man with the understanding that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I’ll continue to see her as the all-around powerhouse that she is.  She rocks and I’m inspired. 

What are your thoughts on women and fitness?  Can we become too toned?  

Antoinette

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