It was supposed to be a fun family outing, so she was very much surprised that she suffered humiliation, unfairness, and rage on the same day. The problem was not the little children playing around her or the expensive water park tickets and food. It was something more serious than those things. After just a couple of minutes of being in the water, this woman got kicked out from there. However, this was something that she could not let go so easily!
Water Park Kicked Mom Out For Her Outfit But Had No Clue That She Won’t Stand For This
Her Name Is Madelyn Scheaffer
A dedicated mom from Odessa, Missouri, Madelyn Scheaffer was the type of woman that would do everything that she could to make sure her family members were doing well. However, in her mid-30s, something big happened and shattered her entire world. And saying that is not an exaggeration!
Her Name Is Madelyn Scheaffer
Hard Work
Several years after that, some employees at the waterpark attempted to undo the hard work she had done. She had definitely been through it all. It would be an understatement to say it was a tough time. Therefore, for her to be affected as much by a water park – you can imagine that whatever happened was not good.
Hard Work
It Was Time To Make A Decision
She learned something about herself in 2005, and it made her rethink her choices in life. She had been leaning over to make a bath for herself when she slipped into the bathtub. Because of this, she suffered from a slipped disc.
It Was Time To Make A Decision
A Change
The kind of lifestyle that she had did not really help her body. One day, she thought enough was enough and decided to make a change. The ordeal and pain of suffering a slipped disc can definitely cause anyone to change their ways!
A Change
It Was A Sign
In no time at all, emergency workers came over when the accident happened. However, Madelyn was in so much pain she chose not to be moved and even asked the responders to leave. For a few days, she just laid in the bathtub.
It Was A Sign
A Sense Of Calm
While spending her time there, she felt calmness that overtook her whole body. That was not part of the plan at all. She considered it a sign telling her that she had not looked after herself in her quest to take care of her family.
A Sense Of Calm
She Was Determined To Change
“That should have been the first sign for me that I needed to lose weight, but it took me another year before I made the decision to do something,” Madelyn said. However, something incredible took place when she finally managed to gather up her willpower and strength.
She Was Determined To Change
Best Shape Of Her Life
In two years, she managed to drop a hundred pounds. She definitely made a life change. What’s more, she remained in good shape five years later. However, little did she know that one of her life’s biggest battles was just around the corner.
Best Shape Of Her Life
Mustering The Bravery To Do It
Madelyn weighed 170 pounds at the age of 43. She was in great shape and felt more confident than ever. One very hot day, the mom decided to try something she had never had the courage to try before. She knew she did not have the perfect body but she still wore a new black bikini when she and her family visited the Adventure Oasis Water Park. However, things started going south.
Mustering The Bravery To Do It
Someone Was Watching Her
There were young and old people in the water park and they had different body types. Madelyn looked at them but she was not jealous of them! By then, she was happy with how she looked, and rightly so. She worked hard to achieve this. Unbeknownst to her, someone in the waterpark was also watching her secretly!
Someone Was Watching Her
Confidence is Key
Losing weight is really hard to do and so is building up the confidence to wear a bikini after losing all that weight. Confidence does not automatically come when you drop some pounds. It is a work in progress. Although Madelyn felt good initially, that was soon revoked.
Confidence Is Key
She Could Not Believe It
After putting her towel away, she sat down and then went into the water. She had not been in there for more than five minutes when two female staff members approached her. They said something to Madelyn, something she could not process right away.
She Could Not Believe It
Employees Say What
Squinting up at the women in the sunlight, Madelyn asked them to repeat what they told her. Was it possible that she just misheard them? She was completely stunned by the female staff members nevertheless.
Employees Say What
Her “Inappropriate” Outfit
Sighing, one of the ladies repeated what she had just said. She told Madelyn that the mother was wearing “inappropriate” bikini bottoms that were “too small”. The staff member even went on to add, “This is a family park.”
Her “Inappropriate” Outfit
According To Who’s Standards?
Madelyn wondered how this could be right. After all, she was wearing “full” bikini bottoms. She was absolutely confused when she looked at other women in the water park. Many of them had scantier swimwear on! Clearly, something was wrong here.
According To Who’s Standards
She Felt Violated
She felt a sudden rush of emotion, and her face was showing it. Madelyn could not stop herself from feeling a deep sense of shame and embarrassment after she heard the female employees’ comments about her body. She felt like it was a total violation.
She Felt Violated
Taking A Stand
However, Madelyn soon stopped feeling like that and felt angry instead. She shared, “I was embarrassed for a second, and then it was no, no way.” She had put a lot of effort into improving herself and she was not going to allow these fellow women to break her down that way.
Taking A Stand
They Singled Her Out
Madelyn explained, “My body is different than the young girls that were walking around in their bikinis, but why should I be made ashamed of my body?” She added, “I am comfortable in my bikini. I am happy with who I am.”
They Singled Her Out
Embracing Your Body
Madelyn also said, “My first reaction was why are you singling me out? They said that my bottoms were inappropriate. That was funny to me because they are full-size bottoms.” Whatever body shape or size a woman has, she should be free to embrace her body and not feel ashamed.
Embracing Your Body
Time To Take A Stand
Madelyn looked at the staff members who looked her up and down in a manner that was accusing. Had this incident happened several years before, Madelyn knew she would not have stuck up for herself because she was too shy. However, she was a different person now.
Time To Take A Stand
Standing Up For Herself
It was time she took a stand, she thought. After all, they were obviously singling her out without good reason. She had built up her confidence in a way that it would not be broken down easily. She intended it to last.
Standing Up For Herself
They Gave Her Two Options
However, the nasty young women just will not let it go. They informed Madelyn of her only two options. She could put on shorts over her bottoms, or she would have to leave. Furious now, Madelyn asked to speak to their supervisor.
They Gave Her Two Options
Choosing
She felt incensed and told them, “Well I am not covering up.” She went on to say, “And if you expect me to leave, you had better call the police and have them escort me out.” She was not only embarrassed to have been singled out but she also felt she was making a stand for a lot of women.
Choosing
She Was Booted Out
Police officers eventually came to the waterpark in order to kick her out, much to her dismay. Madelyn recalled, “Fifteen minutes later the police did arrive and said that while they did not agree, they had to do their job. ‘We can’t actually say anything,’ they said as we walked outside… but I hope from the expressions on our face you can tell how we feel.”
She Was Booted Out
Even The Police Agreed
She included that in her post on Facebook. It went viral. She added, “They were compassionate. They, too, though it was ridiculous.” Surely, the police would know what things would be allowed in the world today.
Even The Police Agreed
Looking Too Good In A Bikini
Madelyn continued in her post, “I am a 43-year-old woman who did not have the confidence or the body, to put on a bikini until [I was] 40 years old.” She expressed, “I will not be discriminated against because I look too good in one.”
Looking Too Good In A Bikini
Wearing A Bikini At Any Age
“This was not a thong. It was a standard, summertime, two-piece, string bikini… the same as everyone else, who felt confident enough in their body to wear one,” she described. Regardless of body type, she should not have gotten such unfair treatment if other individuals were wearing the same thing.
Wearing A Bikini At Any Age
It Was Completely Unfair
In her anger, she said, “I felt like it was both age and body discrimination and I felt like I could look around me and I could see a handful of other girls half my age, wearing the same size swimming suit and not being singled out and told to put on clothes or leave.” However, what could she do about this?
It Was Completely Unfair
It Went Viral On Facebook
Madelyn’s Facebook post explained the discrimination that she experienced at the waterpark. The post went viral and people all over the world found out about what happened to her. They could not believe the Adventure Oasis Water Park staff members would treat her that way. However, Madelyn did not stop there…
It Went Viral On Facebook
Spreading The Word
She knew that the staff members were not going to learn their lesson with just the name and shame game online, but what else could Madelyn do? She decided to blow things up even more. She did it not for herself. She did it the other women out there that did not have the courage.
Spreading The Word
She Received Local Support
Madelyn said, “Long story short, I called the media and will be on tonight’s local 41 news. Several people walked out while I waited outside for the newsman, and told me how ridiculous this all was, and complimented me on my swimsuit.” We are glad the post received more traction!
She Received Local Support
Supporters From All Over The World
Taking to Facebook, she expressed her surprise and gratitude at how the post was received. To her, it was shocking that a lot of strangers supported her! “In addition to other countries already mentioned, I have now heard from Greece, China, Hong Kong…and received over 500 beautiful letters from Brazil. I have been wanting to see the world, and now the world is coming to me, and sending much Love,” Madelyn said.
Supporters From All Over The World
Appreciation For The Human Body
Madelyn shared, “One thing I have learned so far is that there is a much greater viewpoint and perspective of the human body than what is to be found in Independence, Missouri worldwide… and I thank and appreciate you for that!”
Appreciation For The Human Body
Appreciating What We Have
She added, “Much Love to those who express pride over shame for all shapes, sizes, in addition to various ages and stages, of this beautiful human body we inhabit our time on earth.” However, the question is what did Madelyn hope to achieve by highlighting the waterpark’s unfair policies ?
Appreciating What We Have
Money Is Not Going To Fix The Problem
Madelyn said, “While I stand by my grievance that I was discriminated against at Adventure Oasis Water Park, and I do not believe it should happen again.” She continued, “It is not money that is going to correct the issue, but a change in the swimming park’s “appropriate swimming attire” policy, and also an improvement involving better education and orientation of their park management.”
Money Is Not Going To Fix The Problem
Change In Policy
We definitely agree that there should be some improvement in the matter of things at the waterpark! Hopefully, they will listen to Madelyn’s wise words as soon as possible. However, if they have no intention of changing their standards, then employees should understand the standards and enforce them equally and fairly. In this day and age, embracing body positivity is on the rise, though. Unfortunately, this kind of thing is still happening everywhere and you might find the next story even crazier…
Change In Policy
Unwelcome
College of Charleston student Sarah Villafane frequently goes to the student gym located in her college to work out. An avid goer of the gym, Sarah had never had previous issues there. One day, she went to the gym after she attended her classes. However, what they told her was not okay.
Unwelcome
Her Gym Top
That day, Sarah had attended three classes in the outfit that she was wearing. It was common for her to wear gym clothes and we know it is common for many of us as well. We often go for gym clothes on days that are filled with errands or when we want to work out at the end of the day.
Her Gym Top
A Matching Set
Sarah’s outfit that day was black leggings with a matching black cropped sleeveless shirt. Her leggings were high-waisted and the shirt was slightly cropped but not showing too much belly. This is a combination that is common at gyms or on the feed of gym influencers.
A Matching Set
Approached Her
Sarah started doing her workout when a gym employee approached her. She was told that she needed to change her shirt since it was inappropriate. She was stunned. Sarah could not believe what the employee had just said, so what did she do?
Approached Her
No Other Option
She told the employee that she did not bring another shirt. Sarah continued with her workout and tried to go about her session as if nothing had happened even though she felt a little embarrassed. However, things did not end here.
No Other Option
The Conversation
She then moved to one corner of the gym to do abs on the floor. To her dismay, another staff member approached her. This gym employee asked Sarah to put on her shirt again. Sarah replied, “I have a shirt on.”
The Conversation
The Staff Member Argued
“No, that’s not a shirt. You have to wear a whole shirt,” the staff member told Sarah, who responded with: “How is this not a shirt?” The staff member then went on to explain to Sarah about her needing full coverage.
The Staff Member Argued
Continued On
This staff member then said that if Sarah had a problem, their “boss” was always on the premises. Sarah simply laughed and said they could feel free to ask him to talk to her if they are really being serious.
Continued On
The Manager
The gym’s manager then approached Sarah and told her that if she refused to change her shirt, she actually has to leave the gym. This was more embarrassing for Sarah as this took place in front of the other students who were in the gym.
The Manager
Referred To As Boss
The staff called the manager the “boss” and he informed Sarah, “I need you to put on a shirt or I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.” She responded, “But I have a shirt on.” However, his response was “Are you gonna put a shirt on?”
Referred To As Boss
Gym Clothes
Comfortable and wearable are just two things that gym clothes should be. Gym clothes may also show a bit of skin. Throughout the decades, gym clothes have been tight but flexible and they can be a little showy – showier than what Sarah wore that day, we think.
Gym Clothes
Conducted Wrong
Sarah was embarrassed and forced to leave. Clearly, there was a better way the situation could have been handled. With more kindness, the employees could have explained to Sarah that it was the policy of the gym and they were just enforcing it. However, this did not happen.
Conducted Wrong
Taking It To Media
Sarah narrated in a Facebook post what happened. She then expressed her frustrations and she wrote that she was infuriated. Even though her top was considered to be a sports bra, it was athletic wear and should have been allowed, she thought. No condemnation should have taken place.
Taking It To Media
People Reacted
There were two kinds of responses. Some agreed with Sarah while others agreed with the gym. There were even comments on the fact that Sarah would wear the same outfit to classes. ” I would question how appropriate they are for class or lectures or discussions with your professors,” Caryl Hogan said.
People Reacted
Another Reason
The gym reached out later. They said they had good reason for handling the situation that way. This reason makes us think the situation was just mishandled. They should have explained everything from the get-go. The question now is what was their reasoning?
Another Reason
Sanitation
According to the gym, vests or covered t-shirts are part of the dress code and expected because of sanitary reasons. The dress code is posted at the gym and it says “Athletic wear must be worn.” However, Sarah’s coverage was only thing the employees discussed. They never mentioned sanitization.
Sanitation
Additional Responses
There were comments on Sarah’s post which said the same thing – students are required by their college gyms to wear shirts which do not crop or cut-off to keep skin contact with equipment and machines to a minimum.
Additional Responses
Valid
It seems the reasoning is valid and we think they should have just explained this from the start. In addition, the employees should have had a friendlier approach and they should have been more helpful in explaining to Sarah what the standards are and the reason for them.
Valid