Breaking Free from Societal Pressures: The Impact of Body Image on Women in Sports

"Every individual should have the freedom to make choices about their own body and appearance, without fear of judgment or criticism. As long as they are happy and fulfilled, that's all that truly matters," says Fran Kirby, a renowned English footballer, with conviction and authority when discussing body image issues in women's sports. However, her journey to self-acceptance has not been easy. As a key player in England's European Championship victory in 2022, Kirby has been an outspoken advocate for addressing sensitive topics in women's sports, including mental health, social media abuse, and body shaming. With 77 international caps and 14 domestic titles under her belt, Kirby is now using her experience to support younger players and promote a positive body image. "I'm more than happy to initiate conversations and help create a safe environment where everyone feels confident and valued," Kirby explains. After missing the 2023 World Cup due to a serious knee injury, Kirby returned to Chelsea training in October, sparking a heated discussion with her candid comments in a documentary. When someone off-camera asked her, "How are you wearing a jacket?" Kirby responded, "Because I'm constantly being called 'fat.'" Chelsea's then-manager, Emma Hayes, praised Kirby for speaking out, saying, "The media needs to be more mindful of the insecurities that players may have, and body shaming is a real issue. As women, we're already judged enough on our appearance." Kirby agrees, stating, "The media has a responsibility to be more thoughtful in their editorial decisions, such as the images they choose to publish. Not everyone will have the same body type, and that's perfectly fine. I might do the same workout as someone else, but we'll have different body types, and that's okay." Rugby superstar Ilona Maher has also been at the forefront of tackling body image stigma in women's sports. With 5.4 million followers on Instagram, Maher has shared her own vulnerabilities and body insecurities, including a recent interaction that made her feel self-conscious about her shoulders. "I looked in the mirror and started worrying that my shoulders were too big. I flexed and checked them, wondering if anyone would find them attractive. But I love my shoulders, and I love myself. It's normal to have negative thoughts sometimes, and to combat them, I talk to my family and friends, work out, or look at positive pictures of myself," Maher says. Earlier this year, Maher responded to an online troll who claimed she looked pregnant in a dress she wore to a red carpet event. "That's just a normal woman's body," Maher wrote. "You probably haven't seen a woman naked in a long time, and I hope you never get the privilege to again. That's just how we are, and it's okay." England's World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne has also spoken openly about her struggles with body dysmorphia. In her autobiography, Kildunne reveals how she suffered from disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss during the Covid lockdown. "I would exercise to compensate when I couldn't control my eating. I could see myself getting smaller, but I still wanted to be smaller. I wasn't in a team environment, and body dysmorphia is a strange thing – I would see myself as bigger in the mirror," Kildunne explains. Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has faced criticism for spending too much time on social media, but with four Grand Slam titles and 23 WTA Tour singles titles, she's proven her focus on the sport. Sabalenka uses social media to show her true self, but she's also opened up about her vulnerabilities, including her desire to move away from her aggressive on-court persona. "I show everything on social media because I want to connect with people and feel their support. I want to experience that support, and that's why I started sharing myself," Sabalenka says. However, she's recently grown tired of the online toxicity. "I see more negative than positive comments about myself. People are just being rude and mean, and it's not worth reading," Sabalenka says. The message this sends to the next generation of female athletes is concerning. Kirby hopes that young girls won't let body image concerns hold them back from pursuing their sporting dreams. She believes that conversations around nutrition and the increase in nutritionists working in women's football have helped educate players on how to fuel their bodies. Last December, the Women's Super League developed groundbreaking guidance on female-focused fuelling for female athletes. "These are elite athletes who require elite performance environments to perform at their best. We want to empower players and club practitioners to feel confident in understanding the role of nutrition and how it can enhance their performance," says Andy Hudson, Head of Performance Support for the WSL. Kirby reflects on how far the game has come in terms of nutrition. "When I started, most of the research was focused on the men's game, and we'd try to apply that to the women's game. Now, we have nutritionists who specialize in women's sports, and it's so important because many young girls don't know how many calories they should be eating or how to fuel their bodies for performance," Kirby explains. As the women's game continues to grow, it's essential to promote a positive body image and focus on performance rather than appearance. "It shouldn't matter how you look; as long as you're performing well and playing to the best of your ability, that's all that truly matters," Kirby says.