On being a very sweaty girl
I am a very sweaty human. I work out and suddenly, my body decides to eject all moisture via my pores. It is sort of disgusting.
As proof, when I came home from tennis tonight, everything I was wearing, with the exception of my sneakers, were soaked. With sweat. It was nasty. Granted, I biked to tennis and then played several sets in the sun before biking back. But I remain sweaty human being. An active, sweaty, human being.
I have never ever gained that lovely mythical equilibrium touted by deodorant companies, where you are just dewy when you exercise, not drenched in sweat. It generally looks something like this:
I look nothing like that. I look more like this:
When did I learn that it wasn't ok to sweat when exercising? That my body's natural reaction to me being hot is something to be ashamed of. Why do I see so many women in my local gym not exerting themselves to the point of sweating? And those of us who do, it's almost like a secret club. We nod at each other, as if to say, "You're a sweaty human, I'm a sweaty human. We are here to sweat via exercise."
Granted, some of us are more dewy humans. But honestly, why is this a hang up for me? I am human, I like being active which causes perspiration. Why do I feel ashamed of it?
It's one of those ways that you're told you must be a girl or girl like in society. Can't be too active so you sweat a lot but you can't not be active, so you have to find this happy middle ground where you still hate your body for holding you back, but you can't just let go because then the patriarchy will kick you back into line via your female friends, your co-workers, media, and expectations.
So, to that I say, I was active today. I played my best tennis game yet, I biked, I walked, I drank lots of water, and my body is happy and sweaty, and the fact that I sweat through my sports bra and my t-shirt is a goddamn trophy saying I exerted myself and did a good job. That's all that matters, isn't it?
As proof, when I came home from tennis tonight, everything I was wearing, with the exception of my sneakers, were soaked. With sweat. It was nasty. Granted, I biked to tennis and then played several sets in the sun before biking back. But I remain sweaty human being. An active, sweaty, human being.
I have never ever gained that lovely mythical equilibrium touted by deodorant companies, where you are just dewy when you exercise, not drenched in sweat. It generally looks something like this:
I look nothing like that. I look more like this:
When did I learn that it wasn't ok to sweat when exercising? That my body's natural reaction to me being hot is something to be ashamed of. Why do I see so many women in my local gym not exerting themselves to the point of sweating? And those of us who do, it's almost like a secret club. We nod at each other, as if to say, "You're a sweaty human, I'm a sweaty human. We are here to sweat via exercise."
Granted, some of us are more dewy humans. But honestly, why is this a hang up for me? I am human, I like being active which causes perspiration. Why do I feel ashamed of it?
It's one of those ways that you're told you must be a girl or girl like in society. Can't be too active so you sweat a lot but you can't not be active, so you have to find this happy middle ground where you still hate your body for holding you back, but you can't just let go because then the patriarchy will kick you back into line via your female friends, your co-workers, media, and expectations.
So, to that I say, I was active today. I played my best tennis game yet, I biked, I walked, I drank lots of water, and my body is happy and sweaty, and the fact that I sweat through my sports bra and my t-shirt is a goddamn trophy saying I exerted myself and did a good job. That's all that matters, isn't it?