While scrolling through Twitter, I came across a tweet about Aston Villa forward Alisha Lehmann after she made headlines scoring the match winner against Leicester City in the FA Women\u2019s Super League. The tweet did not speak about her immense talent, but instead focused on how her body is the reason to watch women\u2019s football. This was not a one-off comment, there were many similar tweets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A user compiled a video of her stretching with the caption, \u201cForget about Ronaldo and Messi, have you guys seen Alisha Lehmann.\u201d It would be an honour for any footballer to be compared to such sporting legends if it was based solely on their skills, not their body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the sexualisation of women following the 2014 FIFA World Cup<\/a>, to the abuse they received during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics<\/a>, the judgement of sportswomen based on their appearance needs to end. It negates the progress made in feminist movements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Messner, a professor at the University of South California, compared the difference in commentary<\/a> about men and women in 1993. The research found that in tennis matches commentators would often describe shots as being hit with \u201cnaked aggression.\u201d This was not the case in men\u2019s sports. Women were always \u201cinfantilized\u201d regardless the sex of the commentators.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNaked agression<\/h5>\n\n\n\n