Hi everyone, Shalom Aleichem!
Good morning GanSist everyone! 
Welcome to Superwoman Seriesthe 137th. In several previous series, the Superwoman Series has discussed the importance of building a healthy body, strong mentality, self-control and a balanced lifestyle. One of the recurring messages in this series is that strong women not only train their minds, but also take care of their bodies through regular physical activity.
Unfortunately, there are still many wrong assumptions about sports. Some people judge certain types of exercise based on stereotypes, not based on their health benefits. As a result, quite a few women are reluctant to try a sport just because they are afraid of being given a certain label by the environment.
In fact, sports medicine does not assess an activity based on its social image, but rather on its benefits for heart health, muscles, bones, balance, mental health and quality of life.
The World Health Organization (WHO) even emphasizes that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of various non-communicable diseases, improve mental health, and help maintain body function throughout life.
Therefore, it is time for us to abandon various baseless stereotypes.
Here are 5 myths that are still often heard.
Quote:
1. “Running Is a Coward’s Sport”
The first myth may sound strange, but there is still an opinion that people who like to run are identical to people who like to run away from problems. In fact, these two things are completely different.
Running is a physical activity that trains heart and lung endurance, increases aerobic capacity, strengthens leg muscles, and helps maintain metabolic health. On the other hand, the habit of avoiding problems is a psychological behavior pattern that is not determined by the type of exercise performed.
A person can be a marathon runner and at the same time have the courage to face life’s challenges. On the other hand, someone who has never run may avoid conflict and responsibility.
What needs to be avoided is not running, but the habit of always avoiding problems that actually need to be resolved. When chased by wild animals or a natural disaster occurs, running to a safe place is actually the right decision.
However, when facing responsibility, conflict, or a learning process, courage to face it is still needed.
Quote:
2. “Push-Ups Are a Tomboy Girl’s Sport”
Push-ups are strength training using your own body weight. This movement trains the chest muscles, shoulders, arms, core muscles, and increases body stability.
There is no scientific basis that states that doing push-ups will change a person’s identity or make women lose their feminine characteristics. Strength training actually provides many benefits for women, including helping maintain bone density, increasing muscle strength, improving body posture, and supporting the ability to carry out daily activities.
Being a woman means having the biological nature of being a woman. Exercising does not change this biological nature. What is more important is maintaining health, respecting your own body, and using your physical abilities for useful things.
Push-ups are not a symbol of masculinity. Push-ups are just one form of fitness exercise.
Quote:
3. “Futsal is a cool sport for women”
Futsal is a team sport that trains coordination, agility, cooperation, decision making and cardiovascular fitness. Some people may think that women who play futsal just want to look cool. In fact, this assumption is just a stereotype.
The reasons why someone plays futsal can be very varied. Some people want to be healthy. Some people like working together in teams. There are those who like challenges. There are also those who enjoy this sport as a hobby.
What needs to be avoided is not futsal, but rather arrogant attitudes after having certain abilities. Sports should teach sportsmanship, cooperation and respect for opponents and teammates. There is no point in being a great futsal player if you use that ability to belittle or bully other women. Attitude and empathy remain more important than the score of the game.
Quote:
4. “Swimming is a sport for women who are afraid to sweat”
Because it is done in water, some people think swimming is chosen by those who don’t want to sweat. This view does not correspond to reality.
Swimming is a sport that activates almost all major muscle groups. Heart rate increases. Breathing works harder. Energy is still used in large quantities. The body also still produces sweat when swimming, it’s just that the sweat mixes with water so it’s not easy to notice.
Swimming has many benefits, from improving heart health, strengthening muscles, to training your ability to move in a water environment.
What needs to be avoided is not swimming, but rather use it as an excuse to avoid other physical activities if a variety of training is needed. Each sport has its own advantages. Swimming is not an escape from sweat, but rather a form of exercise that is very good for health.
Quote:
5. “Cycling is just to appear to care about the environment”
Cycling is often associated with concern for the environment because it can reduce the use of motorized vehicles in certain situations. However, the benefits of cycling are much wider than that.
Cycling helps improve heart fitness, strengthens leg muscles, trains balance, and is a fun physical activity choice for many people.
If someone cycles because they want to maintain health while reducing the impact on the environment, of course this is a good intention. What is important is sincerity.
There’s no need to cycle just for the sake of image or to be seen as caring more than other people. The value of an action is determined not only by what is done, but also by the consistency and goodwill that accompanies it.
Quote:
CLOSURE
As part of Superwoman Series #137, this issue asks us to stop judging sports based on stereotypes.
Running is not a sign of cowardice. Push-ups are not a tomboy symbol. Futsal is not a place to seek recognition. Swimming is not a sport for people who don’t want to sweat. Cycling is not just a symbol of concern for the environment. All of these are forms of physical activity that can provide benefits if done with the correct technique, according to ability, and based on healthy goals.
Strong women do not choose sports based on other people’s comments, but choose sports that suit their body condition, health needs and life goals.
Because, in the end, what makes someone look strong is not the type of sport they choose, but the discipline in carrying it out, humility after gaining the ability, and the willingness to use a healthy body to work and benefit others.
Quote:
SOURCE
One Hundred Percent Male Y*ut*be Account (but adapted to a female style)
American College of Sports Medicine. (2021). ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Garber, C. E., Blissmer, B., Deschenes, M. R., Franklin, B. A., Lamonte, M. J., Lee, I. M., Nieman, D. C., & Swain, D. P. (2011). Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(7)1334-1359.
World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. World Health Organization.
American Heart Association. (2024). Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults. American Heart Association.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Benefits of Physical Activity. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
@vale79791 @strangerfdotnet @jokingwet
