Making Sense of Muscle

In Molly George's article she interviews soccer players from a division D1 university. She asks them questions about their muscles and body and how they feel about their images and being more muscular than the average woman. The players talk about having trouble wearing shorts, because they are hard to find sizes that fit, but also because they are self conscious about their legs in any other shorts than athletic ones. In my own opinion the girls should embrace being fit. There should not need to be a "trade off" for women athletes juggling the dilemma "Do I play sports and lift hard to get better, and sacrifice my body by turning it very muscular?" I do not think this should be an issue. If you are fortunate enough to have the skill of playing not only sports in general, but specifically D1 sports, I feel you should embrace the way your body is able to perform. Some people admire that talent and will therefore admire that body type. The athletes have accomplished something that several women cannot accomplish so maybe they should think more towards that aspect rather than thinking of the aesthetic side. Soccer players are very healthy athletes because of the cardio workouts they get in addition to the muscle building. These athletes should appreciate that! One athlete mentions that her boyfriend's friends ridicule her for having big muscles and tease her by saying she could probably beat up her boyfriend. Comments like these are what make female athletes feel self conscious. There are several males out there who like that body type, and they should surround themselves with ones who do and who boost their confidence. Everyone feels self-conscious about their bodies now and then.. However these elite women athletes  in exceptional shape who do very healthy work-outs and acquire muscle should not at all feel as if they look manly, or unattractive, they should embrace the talent they have been given.