Every rose has its thorn and Michelle Wie West shared her feelings of being pricked by the thorns of stardom. Setting her sights high and reaching for the stars, the professional golfer put her best foot forward and became one of the leading golfers of her time.
But it seems success and fame are not enough to keep some of the haters and naysayers at bay. The 5 time LPGA tour winner discloses the not-so-sweet side of glory and triumph.
Uncovering the darker side of fame with Michelle Wie West
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LPGA ace shared some disheartening truths about being a woman pro golfer. The struggles of women in sports are as old as time. The plight of women across every sport is well known but, sadly, often overlooked.
On countless occasions, the Honolulu-born golfer has vocalized her thoughts and has stood up against the marginalization, oppression, and objectification that women face in the world of sports. West once said, “What should be discussed is the elite skill level that women play at,” and further added, “Not what we wear or look like.”
West proceeded to talk about the unreasonable choices that women have to make to avoid the illogical scrutiny that comes their way if they don’t act in a manner which is expected from them. “It’s hard, I love fashion, I love wearing cute outfits, but I also tether between, ‘Do I think this is pretty or do I think people will think this looks pretty on me?’”
Talking about people and their perceptions and opinions, West also addressed the crucial role of social media in enabling such harrowing behavior.
West’s take on social media
Talking about the duality of social media, West shared her experience of being on it and stated, “You can get a thousand nice comments and you have one mean comment and your day is ruined, crushed.”
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In all her years as a professional golfer, West has also come to realize that women golfers are expected to assent misogynistic behavior and iterates, ” is the impression that women golfers should not be surprised by this behavior.”
She goes on to reveal the dark side of the “Celebrity Culture” and the role social media plays in amplifying the toxicity and the negative impact of this very culture. “And because we’re a celebrity-obsessed culture, where famous people are treated like public entities, direct access to these figures behind a shield of anonymity is bringing out the worst of this social construct.”
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West presses on the importance of having conversations on such topics to let the voices be heard and changes be made for a better future and stated, “But what’s more important is having these discussions in public. I hope people know that words matter.”
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