In the final minutes of the NCAA National Championship game, LSU star Angel Reese pointed to her ring finger while staring Iowa's Caitlin Clark down and using the "you can't see me" gesture that was made famous by WWE wrestler John Cena. The gesture is one that Clark used against Louisville in the Elite Eight just a week earlier and was widely celebrated for.
When Reese, who had a double-double in both Final Four games and had 15 points and 10 rebounds in LSU's 102-85 win over Iowa (the program's first national title) did it, she received criticism on social media.
Reese and Clark were two of the most highlighted trash talkers this season, however, Reese has often been the one to face criticism.
ANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK 😳 pic.twitter.com/2NY0CEzwJ3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2023
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"I have all the screenshots of what everybody has said about me all season," Reese said. "What are you going to say now?"
Although many people have had a lot to say about Reese's trash-talking on the court, the national champion doesn't let it get to her.
"I don't care about anybody else and what they have to say about me," Reese said. "That's the difference between me and a lot of people. I don't. The biggest goal for me is the national championship. I don't care to be All-American. I don't care to be defensive player of the year, player of the year. The biggest goal is to be a national champion, and that's what I did."
During a press conference after the game, Reese also called out the media for its double standards shedding light on other players who did similar celebrations without criticism.
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"I'm too hood, I'm too ghetto. Y'all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y'all don't say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me."
Angel Reese is unapologetically her 👏 @Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/9cuCWwayhA
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 2, 2023
"I’m happy. All year, I was critiqued about who I was. The narrative – I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit the box you all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. You told me that all year," Reese said.
"But when other people do it – you all don’t say nothing. So, this is for the girls that look like me. That’s going to speak up for what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you and that’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. It was bigger than me. Twitter is going to go in a rage every time. And, I mean, I’m happy. I feel like I helped grow women’s basketball this year. I’m super happy and excited. I’m looking forward to celebrating and then next season."
Dealing with double standards and bias
A double standard occurs when there is unjustified unequal treatment.
If you believe that you've been a victim of double standards, there are two things you should consider:
- Are two (or more) things being treated differently?
- If there is a different treatment, is there a valid reason for it?
Here are some tips on how to address double standards and bias:
- Think through what you will say: Have examples of the double standards that they’ve given you. Having your thoughts organized can help make the conversation less volatile as you feel more comfortable and prepared to express yourself.
- Manage your emotions: Stay calm and speak in a normal tone while focusing on conveying your own feelings.
- Set clear boundaries: Be assertive, clear and direct so they understand your boundaries.
It’s important to recognize double standards because they can be detrimental and harmful. At the extreme, they can be a form of emotional abuse.
