Simone Biles' fierce beach photo started an internet conversation on the male gaze
After the Olympics competition ended, a few of Team USA’s gold medal-winning gymnasts took a well-deserved beach day in Rio.
When Simone Biles shared a shot of herself and teammates Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman displaying their strong gymnast abs, a Twitter conversation erupted, proving that women are subject to the male gaze no matter their accomplishments.
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Firstly, here’s the ab fierceness, posted by Biles on both Twitter and Instagram.
Many Twitter reactions were from supportive women, in awe of the gymnasts’ rock-hard abs:
However, one Twitter troll shamelessly shared the picture with the caption, “y'all find this attractive? lmaaoo.”
One mic drop-worthy response succinctly shut him down:
Crystal’s response not only comments on this particular situation, but also on the male gaze on a larger scale. Her tweet points out why men shouldn’t comment on women’s looks or bodies – because women don’t exist to be looked at.
Biles, Kocian and Raisman’s bodies are impressively strong and toned because they are three of the best gymnasts in the world, and not because they are trying to seem attractive to men.
Well done, Crystal.