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| Here we GLOW: spandex, subversion and the joy of women’s wrestling | Here we GLOW: spandex, subversion and the joy of women’s wrestling |
| (7 months later) | |
| Mon 26 Jun 2017 09.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Tue 8 Aug 2017 19.36 BST | |
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| GLOW – a series about women’s wrestling by the creators of Orange is the New Black – launched at the weekend to huge excitement. As a wrestler myself, I’ve written previously about the strong female role models showcased by wrestling. But now, as the sport crosses over to a new audience, there has never been such an exciting time to be part of the industry. | GLOW – a series about women’s wrestling by the creators of Orange is the New Black – launched at the weekend to huge excitement. As a wrestler myself, I’ve written previously about the strong female role models showcased by wrestling. But now, as the sport crosses over to a new audience, there has never been such an exciting time to be part of the industry. |
| Wrestling, has always had a large cult following despite its damaging stereotypes, “fake” violence and hyper-masculinity. As an antithesis, GLOW follows the true story of a women-only promotion in the US that enjoyed huge popularity in the 80s. The stars are unlikely newcomers to the sport, forming rivalries and friendships through complex and strong characters. I identified with the story, as I came to wrestling through comedy, knowing nothing about it other than it would be more fun than the gym. | Wrestling, has always had a large cult following despite its damaging stereotypes, “fake” violence and hyper-masculinity. As an antithesis, GLOW follows the true story of a women-only promotion in the US that enjoyed huge popularity in the 80s. The stars are unlikely newcomers to the sport, forming rivalries and friendships through complex and strong characters. I identified with the story, as I came to wrestling through comedy, knowing nothing about it other than it would be more fun than the gym. |
| I’m glad to say that despite the 80s nostalgia, GLOW doesn’t sugar-coat the wrestling industry. Two episodes in, we’ve already hit on miscarriage, routine body-shaming and drugs. I find the lack of training montages pleasing, adding a realism to the story by showing that it really is a long road to success. As the series progresses, it shows that wrestling creates the opportunity to sculpt a character, an alter-ego to help deal with everyday life – it provides a space to be strong, fearless, dangerous and inspirational. This subversion is what many wrestlers celebrate today in the sport, like the luchador Cassandro El Exotico – an openly gay wrestler in a traditionally repressive sport. | I’m glad to say that despite the 80s nostalgia, GLOW doesn’t sugar-coat the wrestling industry. Two episodes in, we’ve already hit on miscarriage, routine body-shaming and drugs. I find the lack of training montages pleasing, adding a realism to the story by showing that it really is a long road to success. As the series progresses, it shows that wrestling creates the opportunity to sculpt a character, an alter-ego to help deal with everyday life – it provides a space to be strong, fearless, dangerous and inspirational. This subversion is what many wrestlers celebrate today in the sport, like the luchador Cassandro El Exotico – an openly gay wrestler in a traditionally repressive sport. |
| While reality seems to drive many of us to anxiety and anger, being able to channel these feelings into a performance is emancipating. Audiences boo and cheer characters as if in a violent panto, telling a story through live stunts that suspend disbelief. GLOW beautifully illustrates how women, just by being present in a male-dominated environment such as wrestling, defy prejudices about female weakness. | While reality seems to drive many of us to anxiety and anger, being able to channel these feelings into a performance is emancipating. Audiences boo and cheer characters as if in a violent panto, telling a story through live stunts that suspend disbelief. GLOW beautifully illustrates how women, just by being present in a male-dominated environment such as wrestling, defy prejudices about female weakness. |
| Ultimately, GLOW tells the story of forgotten wrestlers, and there are hundreds, who will never gain the prestige of their male counterparts; sharing their story allows them to be remembered as icons rather than freaks. | Ultimately, GLOW tells the story of forgotten wrestlers, and there are hundreds, who will never gain the prestige of their male counterparts; sharing their story allows them to be remembered as icons rather than freaks. |
| If you love the costumes, strength and determination that the characters of GLOW portray, then I welcome you into our weird world. And our world is, thankfully, becoming less abusive (if only marginally). In London alone there are three proudly feminist promotions – EVE, Burning Hearts and the mixed-gender Lucha Britannia – all with women topping the bill and doing it for themselves rather than the male gaze. | If you love the costumes, strength and determination that the characters of GLOW portray, then I welcome you into our weird world. And our world is, thankfully, becoming less abusive (if only marginally). In London alone there are three proudly feminist promotions – EVE, Burning Hearts and the mixed-gender Lucha Britannia – all with women topping the bill and doing it for themselves rather than the male gaze. |
| Their names are a joy to roll of the tongue – La Diablesa Rosa, Emi Sakura, Asuka, Charlotte Flair, Niya Jaxx, Rhea O’Reilly, Viper. You can even train to be a wrestler at the Burning Hearts all-female school, or at a mixed school such as the London School of Lucha Libre. And coming to screens soon: the Mae Young Classic, the first ever World Wrestling Entertainment tournament, and the belt isn’t even pink. | Their names are a joy to roll of the tongue – La Diablesa Rosa, Emi Sakura, Asuka, Charlotte Flair, Niya Jaxx, Rhea O’Reilly, Viper. You can even train to be a wrestler at the Burning Hearts all-female school, or at a mixed school such as the London School of Lucha Libre. And coming to screens soon: the Mae Young Classic, the first ever World Wrestling Entertainment tournament, and the belt isn’t even pink. |
| The unifying mission of female wrestlers is to defy expectations and use anger as an energy – for escapism, creativity and change. As GLOW’s co-creator Carly Mensch explains: “There is something very different when you are one woman in a leotard surrounded by men, than when you are 14 women in a female-forward environment wrestling in leotards.” | The unifying mission of female wrestlers is to defy expectations and use anger as an energy – for escapism, creativity and change. As GLOW’s co-creator Carly Mensch explains: “There is something very different when you are one woman in a leotard surrounded by men, than when you are 14 women in a female-forward environment wrestling in leotards.” |
| One thing about GLOW is that it rarely shows a full-length bout. So if you want to broaden your understanding, I urge you to watch some contemporary women’s wrestling. I guarantee by the end of your first show you will be desperate to shout and wear spandex. And with the current state of the world, that’s a good feeling. | One thing about GLOW is that it rarely shows a full-length bout. So if you want to broaden your understanding, I urge you to watch some contemporary women’s wrestling. I guarantee by the end of your first show you will be desperate to shout and wear spandex. And with the current state of the world, that’s a good feeling. |
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