On April 20, Australian tennis commentator and former player Jelena Dokic wrote a devastating Instagram post on the unpleasant comments she had been getting about her weight. This is not the first time Jelena has spoken up about issues of this nature with her followers. Dokic has always been open about the struggles she faced as an athlete both physically and mentally.
“I am here fighting for all who are being abused and fat-shamed. I can't change the world but I am going to continue speaking up, calling this behaviour out, using my platform for something good, and supporting other people out there and to give others a voice and try to make others feel less alone and scared,” said Dokic.
As a victim of domestic violence, the 39-year-old had nowhere to turn to escape her abusive father Damir Dokic; as a refugee, she faced relentless bullying and battled with anxiety, depression, and PTSD almost all her life. On April 28 last year Dokic revealed how she had attempted to take her life; the former athlete has always been honest about her battles with her mental health. She severed all relations with her father and escaped her abusive household in 2002. Dokic quit playing professionally in 2014 and now is firmly dedicated to doing everything to support others fighting with battles of their own in any way she can.
Dokic shared multiple screenshots of the comments she had been receiving on Instagram in January. In response to the trolls, the former world No. 4 asked people relentlessly commenting on her weight to be ashamed of themselves. She also reiterated that it was not size that mattered at the end of the day but kindness.
'What matters is your online abuse, bullying and fat shaming. That's what matters because those of you that do it are just evil, bad, mean and ignorant people. I can and will get in shape for myself and my health but you will not become a better person.' Dokic wrote on instagram.
Dokic, in another post, wrote how she was happier at size 16 than at size 4 and her happiness mattered more than anyone else's perception of her.
Referencing the two pictures on a post which had side to side pictures of her as a young athlete and her now, Dokic wrote: 'The one on the left is a size 4, scared to death, beaten unconscious and the bulge on my left shin is from being kicked all night. The one on the right is me at size 16, I have survived it all and I am here healing from my trauma and surviving.'
In a world that glorifies being flat and thick in the 'right' places and discourages anything that deviates even slightly from the ideal 'body type,' it is sad but not uncommon to see people subconsciously and actively reinforce harmful unrealistic expectations. This cookie-cutter body type norm is terrifying and because the internet is free for all, some people have become far too comfortable fretting over becoming the weight boss of others.
