Kamikaze Magazine December 2013 | Page 11

2 1     “There's  something  to  be  said   about  being  comfortable  in   your  own  skin.  That's  an   incredible  trait  to  have.  She's   not  trying  to  be  anyone  she's   not.  She's  not  trying  to  be  an   actress,  she's  not  trying  to  be   a  rapper.  She's  Brittney   Griner,  who  plays  basketball   at  the  highest  level,  and  off   the  court  can  get  along  with   anyone,”     -­?Teammate,  Diana  Taurasi   “Duis  at  neque  eu  ligula  vehicula  feugiat.”    -­?  Donec  vehicula  mauris  in  est   She  does  not  hide  her  tattoos,   conceal  her  sexual  identity,  or   masculinity  and  femininity  such  strong,   downplay  her  extraordinary  athletic  ability.   distinct  categories  that  any  slight  variation  of   She  can  dunk,  and  she  will.  She  likes  to  wear   these  constructed  definitions  creates   men’s  clothing,  and  she  will.  She  wants  to   controversy.  However,  Brittney  Griner  makes   date  women,  and  she  will.  While  society  tells   it  clear  that  she  does  not  see  these  two   us  these  things  are  wrong  and  unacceptable,   categories  as  important.  Brittney  is  Brittney   Brittney  shows  us  the  opposite.  She  is  a   and  if  she  falls  into  a  society-­?accepted  role,   beautiful  woman  with  an  unprecedented   great,  but  if  she  doesn’t,  who  cares.   talent  in  basketball.  Why  should  she  be   Regardless  of  what  the  critics  say,  Brittney  is   criticized  for  the  way  she  looks,  acts,  or  loves?   showing  young  females  that  there  is  not  just   Our  society  has  become  so  obsessed  with   one  way  to  be  a  woman.  Her  teammate,   sexualizing  females  that  they  do  not  know   Diana  Taurasi,  puts  its  perfectly  when  she   how  to  handle  a  woman  that  refuses  to  give  in   says,  “’There's  something  to  be  said  about   to  that  unattainable,  sexual  image.  Men  are   being  comfortable  in  your  own  skin.  That's  an   threatened  by  Griner’s  outstanding  athletic   incredible  trait  to  have.  She's  not  trying  to  be   ability  while  women  are  too  insecure  about   anyone  she's  not.  She's  not  trying  to  be  an   their  own  image  to  accept  Griner  for  who  she   actress,  she's  not  trying  to  be  a  rapper.  She's   is.  We  have  grown  up  in  a  society  that  is  so   Brittney  Griner,  who  plays  basketball  at  the   bimodal  that  when  we  are  faced  with   highest  level,  and  off  the  court  can  get  along   situation  in  which  the  identity  of  a  person  is   with  anyone,’”  (Gleeson).   unknown,  we  panic.  Society  has  made