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Olympian Anju Bobby George’s revelation proves that women still struggle with the shame of imperfections even if they make it to the top.
In a tweet a couple of days ago, Olympian Anju Bobby George revealed that she reached the world top with one functioning kidney.
In 2003, Indian long jumper Anju Bobby George made history when she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a Medal at the World Athletics Championship. But, this win did not come easy to her. Instead, it was filled with a lot of challenges.
Recently, Anju Bobby George revealed in a tweet that she faced many limitations while competing in the 2003 World Athletics Championship. With a single working kidney, amplified by an allergy caused by painkillers, she still made it to the world top.
Anju said in an interview that people have a general perception that she has a perfect body. She says , “but the fact is that I achieved all the success in my field by overcoming all difficulties.”
Believe it or not, I'm one of the fortunate, among very few who reached the world top with a single KIDNEY, allergic with even a painkiller, with a dead takeoff leg.. Many limitations. still made it. Can we call, magic of a coach or his talent @KirenRijiju @afiindia @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/2kbXoH61BX — Anju Bobby George (@anjubobbygeorg1) December 7, 2020
Believe it or not, I'm one of the fortunate, among very few who reached the world top with a single KIDNEY, allergic with even a painkiller, with a dead takeoff leg.. Many limitations. still made it. Can we call, magic of a coach or his talent @KirenRijiju @afiindia @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/2kbXoH61BX
— Anju Bobby George (@anjubobbygeorg1) December 7, 2020
She opened up and said that she was afraid and ashamed to reveal that she was living with one kidney and now that she is confident, she can inspire others by telling them what she has achieved battling the condition.
We live in a society where conversations surrounding the complexities and problems women face still happen behind closed walls and sometimes not at all. We can’t have an open conversation about our struggles because there is a perpetual radar of shaming and stigma equipped by the society. There is this notion which makes young girls and women feel that they are supposed to fall into an ‘ideal’ standard of beauty, body perfection, and lifestyle, and anybody who does not fall into that category feels ashamed and afraid to open about their problems.
Slowly, but gradually, open discussions on topics associated with a lot of issues that attract stigma are happening. We have a long way to go, but a change is here to stay.
Celebrities like Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen have opened up portals to have a free and open discussion on pregnancy loss, something which isn’t talked about much ‘in polite society’.
Now, with Anju Bobby George’s revelation, people will understand that athletes, particularly women athletes, are human too. They can suffer setbacks, limitations, and still thrive and make it to the top. More than that, it will help young girls understand that they no longer have to conform to society’s specious standards.
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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