This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34278988

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Plump' runner on magazine cover 'Plump' runner on magazine cover
(about 2 hours later)
A woman has become the cover star of a running magazine after her open letter to a van driver who heckled her about her weight while she jogged went viral.A woman has become the cover star of a running magazine after her open letter to a van driver who heckled her about her weight while she jogged went viral.
Lindsey Swift, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, appears on the front of Women's Running.Lindsey Swift, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, appears on the front of Women's Running.
She made the Facebook post after the man sang a "sarcastic" rendition of pop song Big Girl (You Are Beautiful).She made the Facebook post after the man sang a "sarcastic" rendition of pop song Big Girl (You Are Beautiful).
She wanted to assert that "it's my body and it's done amazing things for me, whether it's fat or it's thin".She wanted to assert that "it's my body and it's done amazing things for me, whether it's fat or it's thin".
Swift's story has struck a chord with runners. In particular, other female joggers compared their experiences of being heckled while out running.Swift's story has struck a chord with runners. In particular, other female joggers compared their experiences of being heckled while out running.
As well as the unpleasantness of the abuse, there's an obvious public health issue. Sport England recently launched its This Girl Can campaign. Its aim is "to get women and girls moving, regardless of shape, size and ability".As well as the unpleasantness of the abuse, there's an obvious public health issue. Sport England recently launched its This Girl Can campaign. Its aim is "to get women and girls moving, regardless of shape, size and ability".
According to the campaign, millions of women and girls fear exercise because they're afraid of being judged. It says two million fewer women than men aged 14 to 40 play sport regularly.
Only 31% of 14-year-old girls regularly exercise, compared with half of boys the same age, says the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation.
These figures are little wonder given that so many women who run outdoors run a gauntlet of "leering, lewd comments and worse", according to Laura Bates of Everyday Sexism. Bates says thousands of women had shared accounts with the project of harassment as they exercised. Some said they had experienced this two or three times a week.
The harassment included verbal abuse about their appearance, unwanted sexual advances, having their paths blocked, as well as being groped and followed. "There's this sense of entitlement to women's bodies in public spaces," says Bates. "Many women write to say they've given up exercise as a result."
Elizabeth Hufton, editor of Women's Running, said women should be able to enjoy jogging without feeling they were being harassed.
"Lindsey's story and the response she's had from women around the world shows that women are tired of being judged by their shape and speed when they're out doing the sport they love," she adds.
Swift, who is training for a 10km run, said she was heckled near Barnsley on 6 August.Swift, who is training for a 10km run, said she was heckled near Barnsley on 6 August.
Her subsequent post, which has been shared more than 25,000 times, said the drivers' behaviour could put someone less confident off running altogether. She advised him that if the sight of her jogging offended him, "try driving with your eyes closed, into a lamppost".Her subsequent post, which has been shared more than 25,000 times, said the drivers' behaviour could put someone less confident off running altogether. She advised him that if the sight of her jogging offended him, "try driving with your eyes closed, into a lamppost".
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Swift said the post was only ever intended for her friends and "was just a way of taking control back for myself just by writing something a little bit funny".Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Swift said the post was only ever intended for her friends and "was just a way of taking control back for myself just by writing something a little bit funny".
She said her body had done "amazing things" irrespective of whether she was fat or thin and "I should be allowed to do what I want with it, whether that's running, and if it offends anybody then they should check their priorities".She said her body had done "amazing things" irrespective of whether she was fat or thin and "I should be allowed to do what I want with it, whether that's running, and if it offends anybody then they should check their priorities".
Elizabeth Hufton, editor of Women's Running, said women should be able to enjoy jogging without feeling they were being judged. Swift said she was getting much fitter since she began running.
"I'm a UK size 18 so I'm fairly plump," she adds. "My shape is changing but I haven't lost a dress size and I don't particularly want to.
"It's just about being fit enough to do activities so now I have started running I can get out there in the countryside, I can play tennis, I can swim - it's a more active and enjoyable lifestyle."
The huge reaction to Swift's post suggests suggests she speaks for many women. However, Bates says there needs to be "a shift in social and cultural norms" if female joggers are to feel safe from harassment.
Hufton says her magazine had put Swift on the cover because a "one-size-fits-all" approach is no longer appropriate.
"It's time real female runners were given proper representation in the media," she said."It's time real female runners were given proper representation in the media," she said.
"Lindsey's story and the response she's had from women around the world shows that women are tired of being judged by their shape and speed when they're out doing the sport they love. The running community is extremely welcoming of people of all sizes and abilities, she says, but many people were put off taking it up because they felt self-conscious jogging for the first time.
Now, however, "there's a bit of a shift happening - there's greater acceptance of different shapes and sizes and people aren't going to hide away any more", she adds.
Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.
Have you been harassed while exercising? Send us your comments using the form below.