Sportswomen compared to actors: The ongoing Tokyo Olympics have opened an ugly gateway into sexist commentary that involves pitting women against women.
Painting women as rivals or judging their worth relative to others around them is not uncommon, rather fairly overused. The trope of infighting and catfighting has served as a stimulus for arousal to men and opportunities for grandstanding as the 'superior sex' over generations.
A rather peculiar brand of misogyny has, however, taken stronghold surrounding sportswomen in particular. Holding them up as the "real feminists" who are achieving things of "real value" in life, trolls are aggressively bringing down women working in other professions as entertainment, writing or journalism.
This for instance is the reaction of a certain section of people to archery sensation Deepika Kumari's breathtaking progress at the Olympics, as she inches closer towards a medal. Her namesake back home is being pulled down for her victories there. Photos of Deepika Padukone are being shown simultaneously to highlight the alleged differences between them.