This is honestly crazy to read. Even when athletes are satisfied with their body image, they still exhibit eating disorder behaviors. So, you’re telling me that even athletes who “like” their body are still engaging in mistreating their body. So, something bigger must be at play here. I’m thinking that the idea we have about how our bodies “should” look in society is a massive, if not the top, contributing factor. I think we, both men & women, internalize that if we are “fat” or “unattractive” we will not be loved. So, we place these unnecessary bounds around ourselves to achieve an “ideal” that for most people isn’t even physically possible, even if they starved themselves.

There was the quote from Drew Afualo that I don’t remember where I saw or heard it, but basically she said that people hate her because she makes them confront the idea that you have to look a certain way to be loved by others & to be happy, which isn’t the case. She is fat and has a better life filled with love & joy than majority of people. Her mere existence makes people realize that they never had to deprive themselves to be loved.

In volleyball, I’m pretty sure every single person can tell you exactly what the “ideal” body type is. Tall, thin, & white.