International Women’s Day 2022: Sarah Perkins hits back at faceless online trolls

Sarah Perkins won’t shy away from the fact that “I’m a bigger woman than most” — but the joke is on body-shaming trolls because it makes her a weapon on the field.

I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been a difficult couple of weeks.

I’ve become the victim of online bullying and trolling after posting a vulnerable tweet about my football performance last week.

While the vast majority of responses I received to my post were positive and supportive, there were a couple that were a kick to the guts.

But today marks International Women’s Day.

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And as an AFLW player, the day holds a special significance for me, but this year it feels even more important and is a chance for me to get an important message across.

Yesterday hurt a lot but the sun came up this morning & I’m ready for a big week on the track and in front of goals.
Sorry to the @GoldCoastSUNS fans but please stick with us. pic.twitter.com/VAgNxiVGk4

— Sarah Perkins (@sarahperkins28) February 28, 2022

2 from 2 this evening… anyone other bloke/fake account wanna comment on my size, body shape, athleticism?

More then happy to hear feedback about my football skill/ability but unfortunately not everyone can be a size 6! @Steph_Chiocci ❤️🤝 pic.twitter.com/LyQKfEeWXs

— Sarah Perkins (@sarahperkins28) February 28, 2022

A number of people hiding behind anonymous accounts decided it would be funny to comment on my body and my appearance and throughout the week I have continued to receive these comments, a lot of the time being directly tagged in these on social media.

It’s hard to ignore and not read these comments when that happens. I won’t shy away from the fact that I’m a bigger woman than most.

It’s how I’ve been my entire life but is actually something I use to my advantage on the football field.

AFLW star Sarah Perkins has taken aim at online trolls who body shamed her.

I use it in tandem with my other strengths, my skills and football IQ, which have nothing to do with how I look.

My role in the team is to be a target to kick to in the forward line and to use my bodywork to create a contest and bring my teammates into the game.

But then you get people commenting on social media who believe they know just by looking at an athlete that they are overweight and won’t be able to perform at an elite level.

The sad thing is … this isn’t the first time this has happened.

This is something I’ve had to deal with my entire AFLW career since I first debuted in 2017 six years ago.

Casual body-shaming and offensive comments seem to be commonplace on social media these days and I almost feel like we need an entire cultural shift to eliminate it.

It just doesn’t stop – and it can wreak havoc on someone’s mental health and self-worth.

Perkins says the support she as received from all corners has been heartening. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

I’ve been through some dark times as I battled with my own mental health and I know in the past some of these comments have been a trigger for some of the bad days I’ve had.

The reason I’m calling this out right now is because I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, and I want to use my platform to effect change.

That’s why I want to talk about my experiences, so we can target the next generation and educate them on the impacts hurtful comments and words can have on another person.

It’s as simple as being kind to one another.

This doesn’t just happen to male and female athletes, it’s happening to kids in the playground and adults in the workplace.

So it’s perfect timing this column aligns with International Women’s Day.

This year the theme is Break the Bias.

Let’s start by breaking the bias about the ingrained belief that the appearance of a woman somehow determines her worth.

We should be empowering women and building them up. We should be celebrating their differences and their achievements.

We shouldn’t be seeking to destroy them and tear them down at any opportunity.

I was inundated with messages of support after I called out the perpetrators on social media, and to be honest it has been quite overwhelming.

It would have been a much tougher week without reading the hundreds of positive tweets, posts and private messages I have received.

I draw my strength and resilience from those around me and my support network.

This is the type of culture AFLW was built on, one where everyone is welcome and supported no matter their appearance, race, sexuality or gender identity.

I’m calling this type of behaviour out, and will continue to call it out because I don’t want young boys or girls to have to cop this bullying.

I also don’t want other athletes to have to deal with the same things I’ve had to deal with.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up to this type of bullying, but I draw my own courage from all the people who have been in a similar situation and have been shut down because of the way they look.

Let’s make sure we’re all doing the same and continue to call out this behaviour to Break the Bias and create a safer space for the next generation.