What was just another fun family outing turned out to be something entirely different. The whole ordeal was surprising and cause shame and anger all at once. This woman’s issue wasn’t the children playing nearby or how expensive the waterpark tickets and food were. It was something more serious. She’d only been inside the park for a few minutes before she was told to leave. She refused to let it go.
Woman Outraged As She Was Escorted Out of Water Park Because Of Her Bathing Suit
Her Name Is Madelyn Scheaffer
A devoted mother from Odessa, Missouri, Madelyn Sheaffer always does everything in her power to ensure her family is happy and taken care of. However, one day, when she was 30-something, something happened. It changed her entire life.
Her Name Is Madelyn Scheaffer
Hard Work
Seven years after the incident, the water park employees tried to erase all her hard work. She genuinely has been through it all, so it was a difficult time, to say the least. To make matters worse, it was a water park that affected her this way. What happened?
Hard Work
It Was Time To Make A Decision
In 2005, Madelyn discovered something about herself that made her rethink her entire life’s choices. She slipped and fell into her bathtub. This resulted in a slipped disc in her spine. That wasn’t all, however.
It Was Time To Make A Decision
A Change
Her lifestyle choices didn’t help all that much either. She decided right then and there that enough was enough. She knew she needed to make a big change. There was simply too much pain and she felt like she suffered so much from her accident.
A Change
It Was A Sign
The minute the accident happened, the paramedics were called and they came to her aid quickly. However, Madelyn was in such horrific pain that she didn’t want to move. She sent the paramedics away and just laid in the bathtub – for days.
It Was A Sign
A Sense Of Calm
In the time she spent lying in the tub, she felt a sense of tranquility come over her entire body. This definitely wasn’t part of her plan, but she took it as a sign that she really had been neglecting herself. She always put her family first before her.
A Sense Of Calm
She Was Determined To Change
Madelyn said: “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.” Something incredible happened when she gathered the strength to get up.
She Was Determined To Change
Best Shape Of Her Life
Just two years later, she was able to lose 100 pounds. She made a huge life change. Five years later, she was still in great shape. She didn’t know, however, that she was about to land in one of the most significant conflicts of her life.
Best Shape Of Her Life
Mustering The Bravery To Do It
At age 43, weighing 170 pounds is fantastic. Madelyn was in the best shape of her life and felt more confident than ever before. She decided to try something new, something she’d never tried before. Of course, she was aware that her body wasn’t perfect. All the same, it was such a hot day that she decided to wear her new black bikini and set off to Adventure Oasis Water Park with her family. From the moment she entered the park, things took a turn for the worse, and fast.
Mustering The Bravery To Do It
Someone Was Watching Her
Madelyn took a quick look around the overcrowded water park. It was filled with people, both young and old. By no means was she feeling jealous – she was happy with the way she looked. She’d worked too hard for her body to be ashamed of it. Little did she know that there was someone there who was watching her intently.
Someone Was Watching Her
Confidence is Key
Lots of people know how difficult it is to lose weight, not to mention, build up the confidence to pull off a bikini after being overweight. Believe it or not, but confidence isn’t an automatic thing that happens when you lose weight. It’s more of a work in progress. Madelyn felt good about her appearance, but that would soon change.
Confidence Is Key
She Could Not Believe It
After sitting down for a bit, she put her towel away and decided to take a cold dip in the water. Just a few minutes after being in the water, two female staff members approached her. She couldn’t believe what they were telling her.
She Could Not Believe It
Employees Say What
She squinted up at the employees and asked them to repeat what they had said to her. Maybe she misheard them? Either way, she was absolutely shocked at the things they were saying to her at that moment.
Employees Say What
Her “Inappropriate” Outfit
One of the employees sighed and repeated what she had said. She told Madelyn that her bikini bottoms were “too small” and “Inappropriate”. “This is a family park” she explained. Were they in the wrong?
Her “Inappropriate” Outfit
According To Who’s Standards?
Despite all that, she had “full” bikini bottoms on. She was puzzled as she looked at all the other women who were at the water park. Plenty of them were wearing very revealing swimwear. Clearly, something was seriously wrong here.
According To Who’s Standards
She Felt Violated
Her face must have shown what she was feeling at the time. She was so embarrassed and ashamed after the employees commented on her body and her bathing suit. She felt extremely violated. Not to mention, frustrated.
She Felt Violated
Taking A Stand
After this mix of emotions, she was overcome with absolute rage. “I was embarrassed for a second, and then it was no, no way,” she said. She’d put so much effort into her body. She couldn’t just let these strangers tear her down like that.
Taking A Stand
They Singled Her Out
“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?” Madelyn said. She continued, “I am comfortable in my bikini. I am happy with who I am.”
They Singled Her Out
Embracing Your Body
“My initial response was, “why are you singling me out? They said that my bottoms were inappropriate. To me that was hilarious because they are full-size bottoms.” Women of all shapes and sizes should be allowed to flaunt their bodies and not feel ashamed.
Embracing Your Body
Time To Take A Stand
She looked over at the staff members and saw them still trying to scrutinize her body. Maybe if this had happened several years ago, before her transformation, she wouldn’t have had the courage to stand up for herself. Well, this is now.
Time To Take A Stand
Standing Up For Herself
She was sure that at any second, she would speak her mind and assert herself. After all, it was clear that they were singling her out for no real reason. Her self assurance couldn’t easily be crushed. It took her too long to build it up.
Standing Up For Herself
They Gave Her Two Options
The two women did not seem like they would accept letting go of the situation – they were determined to see it through. They rudely explained to Madelyn that she had to pick one of two options. She could either put on a pair of shorts over her bikini bottoms or leave the park altogether. She was completely enraged by that point and said she wanted to talk to their supervisor.
They Gave Her Two Options
Choosing
“Well I am not covering up,” she said angrily. She went on, “And if you expect me to leave, you had better call the police and have them escort me out.” Aside from being totally embarrassed by the way they were treating her, she felt like she was standing up for so many other women who have been wronged in the same way.
Choosing
She Was Booted Out
To her dismay, police officers really did arrive soon after to escort her out. “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 looks on our faces you can understand how we really feel.”
She Was Booted Out
Even The Police Agreed
Immediately, Madelyn took to Facebook and posted about her awful experience. Her post soon went viral. She went on, “They were compassionate. They, too, though it was unbelievable.” The police should know what should and shouldn’t be allowed nowadays, no?
Even The Police Agreed
Looking Too Good In A Bikini
“I am a 43-year-old woman who previously didn’t own the confidence of the body, to put on a bikini until [I was] 40 years old,” Madelyn repeated in her post. She said, “I will not be victimized because I look too good in one.”
Looking Too Good In A Bikini
Wearing A Bikini At Any Age
She went on to describe the bathing suit she had worn, “It 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.” No matter what her body type is, if someone else would have worn the same thing, they wouldn’t have been treated the same way she was.
Wearing A Bikini At Any Age
It Was Completely Unfair
“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 discriminated against or told to put on clothes or leave,” she said in her anger. What could she have possibly done about the situation?
It Was Completely Unfair
It Went Viral On Facebook
Once Madelyn shared her story on Facebook, people from all over the world couldn’t help but read it all. Lots of people came to her defense and were in total shock about the way she was treated by the staff members at the water park. This wasn’t the end of the story, however.
It Went Viral On Facebook
Spreading The Word
Madelyn was aware of the fact that they weren’t going to see their mistakes if it was just online. It wasn’t a fair shaming game to her. She was determined to get payback. What else was she able to do about it? She decided to take a stand. This wasn’t just for her – it was for every single woman out there who had been treated the same way.
Spreading The Word
She Received Local Support
“Long story short, I called the media and will be on tonight’s local 41 news. Many people walked out while I waited outside for the newsman, and told me how absurd this all was, and then complimented me on my swimsuit,” she said. We’re thrilled that her post gained all the attention it did!
She Received Local Support
Supporters From All Over The World
After that, she went back on Facebook to express her appreciation and admiration for all those who were supportive of her and her post. It’s amazing to see just how many strangers were supportive of her. “In addition to other countries already mentioned, I have now heard from Greece, China, Hong Kong…and received over 500 heartwarming letters from Brazil. I have been wanting to see the world, and now the world is coming to me, and sending much love.”
Supporters From All Over The World
Appreciation For The Human Body
“One thing I figured out so far is that there is a much greater outlook and perspective of the human body than what is to be found in Independence, Missouri worldwide… and I thank and appreciate you for that!” Madelyn shared.
Appreciation For The Human Body
Appreciating What We Have
She also said, “Much Love to those who express respect over shame for all shapes, sizes, as well as to different ages and stages, of this beautiful human body we occupy during our time on earth.” What was she actually expecting to accomplish by shedding a light on the unfair policies of the water park?
Appreciating What We Have
Money Is Not Going To Fix The Problem
“While I stand by my complaints about being discriminated against at Adventure Oasis Water Park, and I do not believe this should happen again,” she said, “It is not money that is going to fix the problem, but a shift in the swimming park’s “appropriate swimming attire” policy, and also an improvement along with better education and orientation of their park management.”
Money Is Not Going To Fix The Problem
Change In Policy
We’ll admit that this is the only way to strengthen matters over there. We can only hope that her wise words will be heard and taken in sooner rather than later. Or, if those are the set standards of the park, they should be enforced in an equal manner. Nowadays, body positivity is on the rise along with exposing some more skin. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time a story like this took place, it’s happening all over. This next story is even more bizarre.
Change In Policy
Unwelcome
A student at the College of Charleston, Sarah Villafane is one who often works out in the student gym. She was always enthusiastic about going to the gym and never had any problems with it before. One day, when she was finished with her classes, she headed to the gym. What happened next was really not okay.
Unwelcome
Her Gym Top
That day, Sarah had attended 3 classes and wore her gym clothes to them to save herself some time later on. In today’s age, it’s a rather common thing to do. People often wear gym clothes on busy days or if they know they’re ending their day with a workout.
Her Gym Top
A Matching Set
Sarah was wearing black leggings and a black matching cropped sleeveless shirt. The shirt was only slightly cropped. It didn’t show too much skin. Not to mention, her leggings were high-waisted. This is a standard gym combination, really.
A Matching Set
Approached Her
Sarah went on with her workout when she was suddenly approached by a gym employee. The employee told her that she had to change her shirt since it was inappropriate. Sarah was shocked. She couldn’t believe what the employee was telling her. What did she do?
Approached Her
No Other Option
In her amazement, Sarah simply told the employee that she didn’t have another shirt to change into. And so, she continued with her workout as if nothing really happened. Aside from being slightly embarrassed, she knew this wasn’t going to be the end of it.
No Other Option
The Conversation
As she was preparing to work on her abs, she moved to the back corner of the gym. To her horror, a different member of the staff came up to her this time. Sarah remembers the employee asking her to put her shirt back on and she replied, “I have a shirt on.”
The Conversation
The Staff Member Argued
The staff member replied, “no that’s not a shirt. You have to wear a whole shirt.” Sarah responded and asked, “how is this not a shirt?” The employee went on to explain that she needs full coverage.
The Staff Member Argued
Continued On
The employee explained that their “boss” was often on the premises and didn’t have an issue calling him for help. Sarah just laughed and told them she had no problem for him to talk to her if they were being serious.
Continued On
The Manager
Not long after that, she was approached by the manager of the gym who said if she didn’t change her shirt, she would be forced to leave. This was also happening in front of all the other students who were at the gym. Sarah was completely embarrassed.
The Manager
Referred To As Boss
The manager then told Sarah harshly, “I need you to put on a shirt or I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.” Sarah was getting frustrated. She said, “But I have a shirt on.” He answered, “Are you gonna put a shirt on?”
Referred To As Boss
Gym Clothes
Gym clothes are meant to be comfortable, and yes, sometimes people show some skin. At any gym throughout the years, clothes have typically been tight and even a little revealing. What Sarah was wearing was most likely perfectly fine.
Gym Clothes
Conducted Wrong
Sarah was then forced to leave. She felt so ashamed. The entire situation should have been handled so differently from the get-go. The employees really could have been more pleasant and explained the issue regarding their policy. They were just enforcing it. Well, that wasn’t the case here.
Conducted Wrong
Taking It To Media
Sarah then decided to share her experience on Facebook and explain her situation. She wrote all about her frustrations and disappointments along with her anger. She said that even if her top was a sports bra, it was still athletic wear, which is permitted. No disapproval should have taken place.
Taking It To Media