For a young adult trying to make do in the real world, I didn't know how to swim. Well, that was until I met a swim coach in Dumaguete City who used to champion in the athletic world in her younger days. She had a big build but was very gentle on the inside. After a couple of sessions I finally convinced myself that I could float and also swim. It gave me more confidence to cover stories that were risky over the seas or the rivers of the provinces in Central Visayas.
Recently, my coach joined Ocean 6 -an all-female group that was determined to cross the Tañon Strait from Sibulan, Negros Oriental, to Santander, Cebu. By FastCraft, it would take 25 minutes to complete this trip with no sweat, but the six of them crossed it within hours. It was not an easy feat battling strong waves and stinging jellyfish. Yet, they made it. It was a testament that anybody can do anything if you just believe in yourself.
The sad part was the body shaming the group received after their unbelievable feat. Many couldn't believe that they were able to swim such shallow waters. Really, with their structure? It was really pointless. All I could say was that it was the effect of how media portrays being a successful swimmer. Ultimately, it is stereotyping. How you look does not define what you can do.
I guess it's time to stop all the shaming. In this world full of selfies, hearts, and likes, it is inevitable to put judgment first before knowing the facts. But you shouldn't let looks cloud your judgment. I've had classmates in college who would cry in silence because of the cyberbullying they received because of how they looked in pictures. I wish everyone would just mind their own business and be happy for what others have achieved. As for me, I couldn't be more proud to know somebody who bravely went through the struggle of swimming for hours just to prove a point to the whole world -that your bodies do not define you.
Stereotypes are products of the media's agenda-setting for the past years and if you were to ask me, we should put all these in the past. The theory that all what media portrays is true should be debunked by now since it is proven that anybody can do anything if they will just persevere and work hard. Gone are the days that what men could do is restricted to the males, and vice-versa. We now live in the world where equality rules and everyone has the right to do so.
Let us not forget that we are entitled to many ways to express ourselves in this democracy that we freely enjoy. But with this comes responsibility to also use the right words in the proper forum. It takes responsibility to exercise good judgment before putting one to shame. Take a look first in the mirror before pointing fingers.