{"id":124384,"date":"2024-05-13T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T11:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=124384"},"modified":"2024-05-12T22:35:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T02:35:05","slug":"divas-and-discrimination-misogyny-from-attitude-to-ruthless-aggression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/13\/divas-and-discrimination-misogyny-from-attitude-to-ruthless-aggression\/","title":{"rendered":"Divas and Discrimination: Misogyny from Attitude to Ruthless Aggression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Already this year, there have been multiple public cases of misogyny, sexism, and discrimination towards female wrestlers. The most recent being a fan at a\u00a0<\/span>Ring of Honour<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0taping making\u00a0<\/span>sexualised<\/span>\u00a0remarks towards\u00a0<\/span>Skye Blue<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Discrimination against women takes many forms.\u00a0<\/span>AEW<\/span><\/strong>\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Deonna Purrazzo<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was body-shamed online. In WWE,\u00a0<\/span>Rhea Ripley\u2019s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0alternative appearance has also attracted sexist comments. In all cases, fans rallied to the wrestlers in support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, there was body shaming when\u00a0<\/span>Sheamus<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0returned. However, to deny that culturally, society and people place different and often harsher\/stricter expectations on women\u2019s appearance and bodies compared to men is ignorant.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same as some fans have and will blame female wrestlers who receive abuse as their fault. It\u2019s not just victim blaming. It suggests that men, like wild animals, cannot control themselves. Ironically, it might be why many women responded to a social media question with an overwhelmingly one-sided answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Would they\u00a0<\/span>rather<\/span>\u00a0be lost\u00a0<\/span>in the woods<\/span>\u00a0with a man or a bear?<\/span>\u00a0The bear.\u00a0<\/span>If<\/span>\u00a0you\u2019re unsure why, please ask multiple women.<\/span><\/p>\n

Death threats were sent<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>Ava Raine<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>The Rock\u2019s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0daughter\u00a0<\/span>because<\/span>\u00a0of his insertion into the\u00a0<\/span>WrestleMania 40<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0title picture. As an onscreen authority figure of\u00a0<\/span>NXT<\/span><\/strong>, Raine has no responsibility or power over her\u00a0<\/span>father,<\/span>\u00a0in fiction or real life. But it fits a misogynistic pattern of when you can\u2019t blame the man, blame a woman close or near him as if she has control over him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in tribalistic takes, some fans have\u00a0<\/span>weaponised<\/span>\u00a0or treated allegations of the sexual abuse of women as another means of defining which company is better<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Trivialising<\/span>\u00a0the potential abuse of women and power for point scoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

Misogyny in\u00a0<\/span>wrestling,<\/span>\u00a0and our\u00a0<\/span>culture,<\/span>\u00a0is deep-rooted. Throughout my fandom, it\u2019s always been there.<\/span><\/p>\n

An Indecent Proposal\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

My first memory of a storyline involving a female wrestler, a diva, was a storyline where\u00a0<\/span>Jamie Noble<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0tried to buy an evening with\u00a0<\/span>Torrie Wilson<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span>Nidia<\/span><\/strong>, his on-screen girlfriend, usually stood\u00a0<\/span>next to<\/span>\u00a0him throughout this pursuit\u00a0<\/span>looking<\/span>\u00a0annoyed, but with little of her agency. However, when she did act, it backfired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Torrie said no.\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0didn\u2019t matter. Luckily,\u00a0<\/span>Billy Gunn<\/span><\/strong>, her on-screen boyfriend, was there to be the white knight. Against a male wrestler, it was made\u00a0<\/span>clear<\/span>\u00a0Torrie\u2019s autonomy, her voice and actions were rendered<\/span>\u00a0useless. So, like every storyline in wrestling,\u00a0<\/span>a match was made<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

At\u00a0<\/span>Vengeance<\/span><\/strong>\u00a02003, Billy Gunn fought Jamie Noble. The stipulation: if Noble won, he could spend the night with Torie. Stipulation matches involving women as the prizes were not new. Torrie had been a literal prize men fought over before. In\u00a0<\/span>WCW<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span>\u00a0Eddie Guerrero<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0wrestled\u00a0<\/span>Perry Saturn<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0in a key on a pole match on\u00a0<\/span>Nitro<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0on 1st November 1999. The key was to release Torrie from a shark cage\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0the winner claiming her for their faction. The fact this stipulation could result in nonconsensual intercourse went over my head as a teenager.<\/span><\/p>\n

Noble won, but luckily,\u00a0<\/span>both<\/span>\u00a0Nidia and Billy Gunn came to the rescue. The storyline ended in a foursome. Things worked out. A happy ending for all?<\/span><\/p>\n

Lessons About Women. Brought to you by Misogyny\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The lessons I learnt from wrestling were confirmed elsewhere in\u00a0<\/span>wider<\/span>\u00a0pop culture. I had seen similar narratives\u00a0<\/span>play out<\/span>\u00a0in film, TV, video games, and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>books.\u00a0<\/span>If you pursue a woman long enough, you can get her to do what you want<\/span>, eventually<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Even<\/span>\u00a0if she does not freely choose to. Men fight for their women. Women want to\u00a0<\/span>be fought<\/span>\u00a0over\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0this overrides their feelings. Eventually, everything with women leads to sex.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am\u00a0<\/span>not sure<\/span>\u00a0what other lessons I would have learnt had I not missed the Torie Wilson\/<\/span>Dawn Marie\/Al Wilson<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0storyline. But again, these storylines and depictions fitted with\u00a0<\/span>wider<\/span>\u00a0cultural depictions of women at the time.\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>biggest<\/span>\u00a0difference was that sex was not just implied<\/span>\u00a0but was the explicit desire of some male wrestlers in WWE storylines.\u00a0<\/span>It wasn\u2019t hidden<\/span>. Jamie Noble\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0a backstage\u00a0<\/span>segment,<\/span> before his Vengeance match, talked through his suitcase of adults toys that he planned to use when he won.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve written before using satire about\u00a0<\/span>lessons in love learned from wrestling<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>However,\u00a0<\/span>fresh in my mind were<\/span>\u00a0the unused notes from reporting a\u00a0<\/span>full breakdown of\u00a0<\/span><\/a>Ashley Massaro\u2019<\/span><\/a><\/strong>s allegations<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0How for so long, and historically not long ago, WWE\u00a0<\/span>normalised<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>sexualised<\/span>\u00a0and objectified view of its women\u2019s wrestlers.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I grew older, I learned about feminism. I didn\u2019t just listen. I actively asked questions and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>looked to remove cultural assumptions about women\u00a0<\/span>to properly hear their experiences<\/span>. It\u2019s how I learnt about misogyny.<\/span><\/p>\n

Misogyny is more than explicitly stating or having a hatred, prejudice\u00a0<\/span>and\/or<\/span>\u00a0dislike of women.\u00a0<\/span>At its<\/span>\u00a0roots<\/span>, it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0about the separation of women and men not only as equals but even as human beings.<\/span>\u00a0It is a philosophy of \u201cothering\u201d where women fit into two camps with no middle ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Miss Elizabeth-Jezebel Complex \u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some women\u00a0<\/span>are elevated<\/span>\u00a0in stature. Put on pedestals.\u00a0<\/span>Described<\/span>\u00a0as goddesses, holy, superior to men and untouchable. Often with a hint of being virginal and pure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Think\u00a0<\/span>Miss Elizabeth<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Randy Savage\u2019s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0real-life wife and valet.\u00a0<\/span>Elizabeth was elevated<\/span>\u00a0in how she was an\u00a0<\/span>idealised<\/span>\u00a0\u201cgood\u201d submissive woman. Pure and rarely\u00a0<\/span>sexualised<\/span>. Both on-screen and behind the scenes, Savage\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>obsession,<\/span>\u00a0and control over her reflects misogyny. Savage, in keeping control of Elizabeth, suggested she could never\u00a0<\/span>be trusted<\/span>\u00a0by herself around\u00a0<\/span>men,<\/span>\u00a0or because of what other men might do to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

It presents a paradox. Firstly, women are incapable of protecting themselves or can\u2019t control themselves. Yet also the assumption that men, when alone with a woman, will manipulate them to get what they want. The irony becomes the women are the ones who are controlled rather than the men who cannot control themselves. What it results in is a desperation to keep control. The woman is not\u00a0<\/span>being treated<\/span>\u00a0as a human being.<\/span><\/p>\n

The other, the \u201cJezebel<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>are those traitorous evil women who stab men in the back. They\u00a0<\/span>are degraded<\/span>\u00a0for being overly sexual and yet dismissed with\u00a0<\/span>sexualised<\/span>\u00a0language<\/span>. \u00a0Presented<\/span>\u00a0as being worthless. Blamed for men\u2019s or society\u2019s failings. Ultimately as being below men.\u00a0<\/span>Think of how Lita was spoken of by\u00a0<\/span>Jim Ross<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0after aligning with\u00a0<\/span>Edge<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span>\u00a0Or when\u00a0<\/span>Trish Stratus<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0betrayed\u00a0<\/span>Chris Jericho<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0Christian<\/span><\/strong>. Or any other time JR called a woman a \u201cJezebel\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

In both cases, women exist for male pleasure. Women are subservient or beneath men or not comparable at all<\/span>. As<\/span>\u00a0if they are another species.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

What \u201cDiva\u201d Means<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vince McMahon\u2019s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0penchant for marketing led him to rebrand his wrestlers as \u201csuperstars\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>The implication is that the wrestlers you\u00a0<\/span>are watching<\/span>\u00a0are above and beyond\u00a0<\/span>being<\/span>\u00a0human.<\/span>\u00a0The term diva has two meanings and other connotations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The literal: a female opera singer.<\/span>\u00a0The second is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the implication of a woman being \u201cdemanding\u201d, self-important, and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>difficult to please. Yet there is its actual meaning in Italian: Goddess.<\/span><\/p>\n

The last one is ironic. Even when WWE moved away from openly objectifying the divas in as few clothes as possible at the end of the Ruthless Aggression Era, women\u2019s position on the card remained limited\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0their power diminished.\u00a0<\/span>By the\u00a0<\/span>PG Era<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span>\u00a0women\u2019s values and place on the card\u00a0<\/span>were similar<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0\u201cPopcorn\/bathroom break\u201d matches, just with less\u00a0<\/span>sexualisation<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What About the Attitude Era?\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

During the\u00a0<\/span>Attitude Era<\/span><\/strong>, the\u00a0<\/span>sexualisation<\/span>\u00a0of women and the presentation of sex were more prevalent and explicit. That\u2019s undeniable. There was a pimp and his hoes. A porn star and\u00a0<\/span>Beaver Cleavage<\/span><\/strong>. Bikini contests that used bubble wrap, paint, and nipple slips. It reflected a culture where the\u00a0<\/span>Girls Gone Wild<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0franchise took off\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0music videos became increasingly obsessed with putting women in as few clothes as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

The WWE push women like<\/span>\u00a0Sable<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>The Cat<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0to the forefront of the women\u2019s division\u00a0<\/span>with an emphasis on<\/span>\u00a0\u201ceye candy\u201d over the work rate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Dark Side of the Ring\u2019s Luna Vachon<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0episode alleged that Luna was repeatedly shouted at and warned by\u00a0<\/span>Vince McMahon<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0not to hurt or bruise\u00a0<\/span>Sable<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0in their\u00a0<\/span>WrestleMania 14<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0match. Luna put Sable over and did not hurt her. Backstage, it\u00a0<\/span>was alleged<\/span>\u00a0McMahon praised Sable for her efforts and ignored\u00a0<\/span>Luna<\/span>\u00a0whose experience carried Sable through the match.<\/span><\/p>\n

If true, this implies\u00a0<\/span>one was elevated<\/span>\u00a0because of her perceived value linked to her appearance.\u00a0<\/span>While<\/span>\u00a0the other\u2019s work was ignored and seen as valueless due to a difference in appearance. Beauty over skills became a focus point that impacted WWE\u2019s recruitment of divas for years\u00a0<\/span>to come<\/span>. The metric for success was on beauty standards rather than athletic and wrestling ability.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Attitude Era was Cruder<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the most notorious moments, Vince McMahon making\u00a0<\/span>Trish Stratus<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0strip to her underwear and bark like a\u00a0<\/span>dog<\/span>\u00a0has been used by various media outlets\u00a0<\/span>to rightly\u00a0<\/span>criticise<\/span>\u00a0WWE<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is more at play than the literal\u00a0<\/span>dehumanisation<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>Trish,<\/span>\u00a0to act like a dog. Beyond making her be an animal, the fact she\u2019s on her hands and knees in underwear, lowered beneath Vince, doing what he commands, is almost pornographic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>You have no\u00a0<\/span>idea,<\/span>\u00a0how far I would go to degrade myself for the right cause. I would do anything for you, Mr McMahon<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These are words Trish had to say. Words written by a man. Perhaps male wish fulfilment. Again, like a script in a porno. Vince\u2019s declaration that \u201cHollywood hides behind the camera, everything we do we do live in front of 15,000 people\u201d seems ominous. Especially given what\u00a0<\/span>was exposed<\/span>\u00a0during the #MeToo Movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet Ruthless Aggression\u00a0<\/span>Normalised<\/span>\u00a0Attitudes<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ruthless Aggression will primarily be remembered<\/span>\u00a0for the emphasis on wrestling and the talent that emerged\u00a0<\/span>at that time<\/span>. Yet insidiously, although the bikini contests were less explicit, Trish Stratus and Lita and others showed they could wrestle, divas were still\u00a0<\/span>sexualised<\/span>\u00a0and treated like objects.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pornographic dialogue and situations did not vanish. Even\u00a0<\/span>Stephanie McMahon<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0was not exempt as the boss\u2019s daughter. Before introducing the WWE Tag Team Championships, the camera first focused on a shot of Stephanie\u2019s backside. Then\u00a0<\/span>when<\/span>\u00a0feuding with her father, one throwaway line in a backstage segment implied Vince had given Stephanie to his business partners when she was younger.<\/span><\/p>\n

If one group of women perhaps experienced things in an even more degrading way during this period,\u00a0<\/span>it was the women who<\/span>\u00a0took part in the WWE\u00a0<\/span>Divas Search<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span>\u00a0In a business known for hazing and poorly treating newcomers, the Divas Search saw contestants asked week to week to perform in\u00a0<\/span>sexualised<\/span>\u00a0acts in pursuit of a WWE contract.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2005 Diva Search started with an emphasis on male gratification. Contestants\u00a0<\/span>were interviewed<\/span>\u00a0in their underwear. Co-host, \u201cThe world\u2019s largest love machine<\/span>\u201d,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Viscera<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0told contestants not to be \u201cbashful\u2026loosen up\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

In week two, bikini boot camp,\u00a0<\/span>Sgt. Slaughter<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0asks contestants the innuendo who wants to blow on his whistle. The week<\/span>\u00a03\u00a0<\/span>talent show includes girls spanking and lap dancing. Throughout each\u00a0<\/span>week<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Jerry Lawler<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is making comments and noises\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0if made in public, someone might call the police.<\/span><\/p>\n

Former Diva Search\u00a0<\/span>contestant,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Rochelle\u00a0<\/span>Loewen<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span>\u00a0referred to their treatment as \u201centertainment sexual fodder\u201d. Loewen also stated that she felt the women backstage treated them more poorly than the men due to being part of the Diva’s search.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond Wrestling<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although time has moved on and women\u2019s wrestling has changed,\u00a0<\/span>often<\/span>\u00a0the same dismissals and excuses for misogyny are repeated. Beyond wrestling, sexism, misogyny and abuses of power against women are not solely a wrestling problem. It is not just a sports problem.\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0is a cultural problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only way things change long-term is by acknowledging these problems\u00a0<\/span>exist<\/span>\u00a0and learning how cultural biases\u00a0<\/span>are impacting<\/span>\u00a0women<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Giving<\/span>\u00a0women the platform to discuss their experiences, for people to listen to their experiences and\u00a0<\/span>give them<\/span>\u00a0the power to make equity changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For anyone who doesn\u2019t believe in patriarchy and the power men hold, ask a woman what they would do if there were no men on Earth for 24 hours. The most common answer in one survey was \u201cTake a walk at night.\u201d Because they do not feel safe because of men<\/span>. Like<\/span>\u00a0the bear question earlier, it reveals how there is an imbalance of power that exists between men and women.<\/span><\/p>\n

Things have improved over time\u00a0<\/span>in terms of<\/span>\u00a0awareness, discussion, and support.\u00a0<\/span>The past shouldn\u2019t be forgotten<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0likewise, the issues should not overshadow the successes and achievements of women in wrestling, then or now or\u00a0<\/span>going forward<\/span>. Women like Torrie Wilson, Lita and Trish Stratus had an impact on the wrestling business that goes beyond sexism. <\/span><\/p>\n

They inspired a generation of women\u2019s wrestlers\u00a0<\/span>now<\/span>\u00a0who are still fighting for equity. They deserve\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0not just our\u00a0<\/span>support,<\/span>\u00a0but to be acknowledged as people. Not as just\u00a0<\/span>fictionalised<\/span>\u00a0characters. Neither elevated nor demoted below us. Neither Elizabeth nor Jezebels, but as themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n

Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013 Stay tuned to the\u00a0Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Already this year, there have been multiple public cases of misogyny, sexism, and discrimination towards female wrestlers. The most recent being a fan at a\u00a0Ring of Honour\u00a0taping making\u00a0sexualised\u00a0remarks towards\u00a0Skye Blue. Discrimination against women takes many forms.\u00a0AEW\u2019s\u00a0Deonna Purrazzo\u00a0was body-shamed online. In WWE,\u00a0Rhea Ripley\u2019s\u00a0alternative appearance has also attracted sexist comments. In all cases, fans rallied to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":124400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,317,320],"tags":[3669,8468,185,1145,3041,4496,326,2004,238,241],"class_list":["post-124384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-women","category-wwe-women","tag-ashley-massaro","tag-ava-raine","tag-gail-kim","tag-luna-vachon","tag-rhea-ripley","tag-sable","tag-stephanie-mcmahon","tag-torrie-wilson","tag-trish-stratus","tag-vince-mcmahon"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Bikinis and Trauma<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Divas regularly performed in their underwear or bikinis for the amusement of the crowd. Both in matches like bra and panties matches, lingerie pillow fights and battle royals wearing gear reflecting male fantasies, like school-girl outfits (that become disassociated from being outfits primarily worn by children).<\/span><\/p>\n

Even during the Ruthless Aggression Era, where divas wore actual bikinis rather than the sometimes DIY improvisations, the practice was still degrading\u00a0<\/span>for the women<\/span>\u00a0themselves. Some have made this clear in the years since. When they performed in little clothing, they were not comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gail Kim<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0responded to a tweet from\u00a0<\/span>Alexa Bliss<\/span><\/strong>, who thanked Kim for having to compete in bra and panties matches so her generation did not have to by saying she still experiences PTSD from those matches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Torrie Wilson revealed in an interview with\u00a0<\/span>Chris Van Vliet<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0that:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>They were all mortifying. People don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>realize<\/span>. I went out there and owned it the best I could and pushed through the fear, but it was mortifying. There were times when I remember specifically this house show<\/span>, I<\/span>\u00a0was in this bikini showdown with Dawn Marie and Sable and someone else. I was standing in the corner\u00a0<\/span>watching<\/span>\u00a0one of the girls dance in the middle and fighting back tears. \u2018I cannot believe I\u2019m doing this right now.\u2019 It got to a raunchy point\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0I was like, \u2018I don\u2019t want to be a part of this,\u2019 but it was also my job.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0Transcript from\u00a0<\/span>411 Mania.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The same pressure to perform was placed<\/span>\u00a0on other women like Lita, who felt pressured to take part and undress to perform in a live sex celebration on\u00a0<\/span>Raw<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0with\u00a0<\/span>Edge<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n