WASHINGTON 鈥� A complaint made by an Arlington, Virginia, mom about the physique of her daughter’s swim instructor has stirred up a heated response online.
According to , the woman 鈥� who wanted to be referred to only as聽鈥淟ynn鈥� 鈥� penned a letter to the complaining about a 鈥渕ale instructor鈥檚 breasts.鈥�
鈥淲e felt extremely uncomfortable with her getting into the water skin-to-skin and in such close proximity to his intimate space,鈥� the mother wrote, in a letter sent to various news outlets. 鈥淟ynn鈥� wrote that she wants her daughter switched to a different instructor who is 鈥渕ore appropriate.鈥�
The story, first reported by on Thursday, sparked an and on social media. Comments ranged from mocking and incredulous to shock and anger.
鈥淭hanks for teaching your daughter the fine art of body shaming!鈥� Jean Burlingame-Pulley wrote on . 鈥淚 do not think his man boobs has any to do with the life saving swimming instructions she would be receiving.鈥�
Dozens of others also referenced body-shaming in their comments, including Jennifer Stuntz who wondered, 鈥淪o if he was ripped, fit and there were no 鈥榤an boobs鈥� would the no shirt still be an issue?鈥�
鈥淲ould she be writing this letter about an instructor with a 6-pack? What if the instructor were, say, a large-chested female?鈥� a 海角精品黑料 commenter voiced similarly.
鈥淚 think the Arlington Parks and rec Dept should ban this woman from entering and of their public facilities. What if it was a guy body shaming a woman? He would be banned, maybe even arrested for harassment. Am I right?鈥� a different 海角精品黑料.com user wrote.
Other聽common themes among the responses have been support for the swim instructor, and sympathy for the child involved.
鈥淔eel sorry for the child, as she is the true victim here. Not only will she potentially miss out on her swimming lessons, which are important as a life skill, but she also has that woman as her mother,鈥� Steve Cooperstein posted on the 海角精品黑料 Facebook thread.
鈥淚 think this male swim instructor is a victim of body shaming here. And the park’s management responded professionally,鈥� Soo Wilson posted.
ARLnow reports the Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation responded in an email to 鈥淟ynn鈥� earlier this week.
鈥淭o address your concern, all of the instructors teaching for DPR wear swim聽suits that are appropriate for swimming pools, active movement, both in and聽out of the swimming pool and for teaching swimming lessons. … I am sorry that you feel uncomfortable, however, [the instructor]聽handles聽himself in a very professional manner in water with students,鈥� the letter reads, in part.
What鈥檚 your reaction to 鈥淟ynn鈥檚鈥� letter or the Department of Parks and Recreation鈥檚 response? Continue the conversation in the comments below, or on .
