Rising From Hate In Style
Kennedy Dunning
Kennedy Dunning
On August 26, 2018, Serena Williams, 23 time grand slam champion, was banned from wearing a catsuit ( close-fitting jumpsuit) after being deemed disrespectful by the French tennis president.
Williams wore the black full-length catsuit for her first opening grand slam match after giving birth to her daughter Olimpia last September. The outfit was made by Nike specifically to help Williams cope with blood clots that threatened to take her life twice. Williams stated that she felt like a warrior princess in the outfit, comparing herself to the female leads in the Black Panther movie franchise. Her fans, like Anslea Langford, could not agree more, calling the dress, “...fun and sassy. So Serena!” However the catsuit will never be seen at the Roland Garros again.
While women and young girls around the world felt the outfit was empowering, Bernard Giudicelli, the head of the French Tennis Federation (FTF), viewed the outfit as a disgraced. When the FTF published their response, Giudicelli said the the catsuit, “...went too far. You have to respect the game and place.” This may appear to be a reasonable explanation to a dress code violation but it is not the case.
Serena Williams has been singled out countless instances before. Not only for so-called “dress code violations” but drug accusations as well. Last year alone, Serena was drug tested four times more than any other tennis professional. If the embarrassment was not enough, Serena was also publicly mocked during a game by fellow athlete, Caroline Wozniacki. Wozniacki stuffed towels down her skirt and shirt, trying to mimic Williams’s figure. To some this may seem like a simple prank, but it is a prime example of how black women’s bodies are sexualized and seen as caricatures.
Given history and today’s context, when a white woman mocks a black woman by hypersexualizes her, she is contributing to the racist stereotype that all black females have big butts. “From a black girl’s perspective,” states Hannah Young, “when a white girl wears something short it’s quirky, but when I wear the same thing it’s offensive or distasteful.” This blatant discrimination is universal for minority women, especially black women. Stereotyping is never harmless fun and it always, one way or another, leads to prejudice.
How has Serena Williams responded to the discrimination? She has risen from the hate by upgrading her iconic sporty style and speaking out against injustice. After the catsuit ban, Williams was seen in her next matches rocking black and purple tutus. With each hit, she ignored the idea that black women’s bodies can be policed. Black women around the world felt empowered by seeing Williams come back so strong without the fear of judgement. Even Nike felt inspired, calling Williams a superhero whose powers will still remain if her costume is taken away.
Williams wore the black full-length catsuit for her first opening grand slam match after giving birth to her daughter Olimpia last September. The outfit was made by Nike specifically to help Williams cope with blood clots that threatened to take her life twice. Williams stated that she felt like a warrior princess in the outfit, comparing herself to the female leads in the Black Panther movie franchise. Her fans, like Anslea Langford, could not agree more, calling the dress, “...fun and sassy. So Serena!” However the catsuit will never be seen at the Roland Garros again.
While women and young girls around the world felt the outfit was empowering, Bernard Giudicelli, the head of the French Tennis Federation (FTF), viewed the outfit as a disgraced. When the FTF published their response, Giudicelli said the the catsuit, “...went too far. You have to respect the game and place.” This may appear to be a reasonable explanation to a dress code violation but it is not the case.
Serena Williams has been singled out countless instances before. Not only for so-called “dress code violations” but drug accusations as well. Last year alone, Serena was drug tested four times more than any other tennis professional. If the embarrassment was not enough, Serena was also publicly mocked during a game by fellow athlete, Caroline Wozniacki. Wozniacki stuffed towels down her skirt and shirt, trying to mimic Williams’s figure. To some this may seem like a simple prank, but it is a prime example of how black women’s bodies are sexualized and seen as caricatures.
Given history and today’s context, when a white woman mocks a black woman by hypersexualizes her, she is contributing to the racist stereotype that all black females have big butts. “From a black girl’s perspective,” states Hannah Young, “when a white girl wears something short it’s quirky, but when I wear the same thing it’s offensive or distasteful.” This blatant discrimination is universal for minority women, especially black women. Stereotyping is never harmless fun and it always, one way or another, leads to prejudice.
How has Serena Williams responded to the discrimination? She has risen from the hate by upgrading her iconic sporty style and speaking out against injustice. After the catsuit ban, Williams was seen in her next matches rocking black and purple tutus. With each hit, she ignored the idea that black women’s bodies can be policed. Black women around the world felt empowered by seeing Williams come back so strong without the fear of judgement. Even Nike felt inspired, calling Williams a superhero whose powers will still remain if her costume is taken away.