Why Forgot your Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital. "There are those societal expectations that fall in line with gender norms that are couched in patriarchy about how women should present themselves. WebOn the U.S. team, women make up a little less than 50 percent of the athletes. And as the girls up the glitter-factor the fabric budget seems to have suffered with more flesh on show than ever at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Thats because referees and judges need to be able to distinguish their name, the country code and their number, according to Corinne Calabro, communications director for USA Beach Volleyball. The mens beach handball teams have always been permitted to wear shorts. Case in point: the Norwegian beach handball team. Breen told reporters that she filed a complaint against the official who commented on her competition shorts and wants to see more education about why such remarks are not acceptable. And when it comes to 12-year-old volleyball players, can those girlseven legitimately make a choice? Follow her@julieallmighty. Theyre affectionately referred to as bun-huggers by the girls and women who play the sport. Although women's sporting performances have been historically hampered and sexualised, sportswomen are finally calling the shots in terms of how their bodies are regulated through what they wear. WebFrom the Norwegian beach handball team to the German gymnastics Olympic team, women athletes around the world are fighting the uniform status quo, choosing what they want We would like to emphasize that we are aware of the global discussion surrounding these uniforms and appreciate any feedback from the community, Rockstroh said. For its part, a spokeswoman for the International Handball Federation, Jessica Rockstroh, said this week that she did not know the reasoning behind the uniform rules, and that they would be looking into it internally.. Please contact us. Theuniform guidelinesfrom the Federation of International Volleyball, the governing body of all international competition, allow for many options, Calabro told USA TODAY in August. It has been a shock to many that women athletes are still having to fight such battles, but to some, it's no surprise at all. WebThe Norwegian women's beach handball team is in a battle with the sport's governing bodies to wear less-revealing uniforms. The sooner these rules disappear, the sooner female athletes can compete in an atmosphere where they feel both valued and secure something that their male peers have long been afforded. The Olympics represent a global standard. This years games will see a record number of women competing about 49 percent of all athletes. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. Historically, Black women athletes have faced pressure to look put together and respectable in order to mitigate potential distraction or external criticism, said Cat Ariail, a history instructor at Middle Tennessee State University who focuses on gender and sports. The 19th The full PUMP Act is now in effect. And the obvious question here is: Do men not get hot, or need to move around freely? We are very proud about making a statement in the bronze final by playing in shorts instead of required bikini bottoms! they said in a statement released through their official Instagram account. In 1908, the Danish gymnastics team sported some new 'leotards' athletic attire has come a long way since. Overt sexualization: Why Olympic women athletes ran into Over the years, bikinis in particular have become a source of contention among beach volleyball players and spectators. Breen and other women have been criticized for clothing deemed revealing or indecent, even though her shorts complied with regulations. The contrast between the 1988 USSR team and the Russian team from the Beijing Olympics is stark to say the least and the Chinese teams outfits from 2008 barely cover their modesty. We really hope this will result in a change of this nonsense rule!, And nonsense is right there is a blatant double standard in terms of what clothing women are expected to wear in the sport. So how did these rules come into effect in the first place, and whats the reasoning behind them? This year at the Olympics,Egypts team competed wearing long sleeves and pants. So far, German gymnasts, inspired by the Norwegian beach handball players, have led the way at these Games by scrapping their traditional and far more revealing uniforms in favor of more modest, and some say more comfortable, performance gear. (approx 1 - 2 per week). Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. I think girls uniforms are more skimpyto draw the male crowd in, she said, referring toall levels of athletics. But I stand with their decision to wear whatever they please and whatever makes them feel comfortable, she told The Associated Press. WebIf there was any kind of advantage, then men would be in Speedos, said a human kinetics professor Simone Biles and more athletes support sportswear thats So it was a small but significant victory for the Norway womens beach handball team this week when in an act of defiance, they chose to wear shorts instead of the standard bikini bottoms. WebBy 1932, women's Olympic uniforms employed less and less fabric and tightly hugged or emphasized female athletes' curves, like ones you'd see today. Biles, who shocked the Olympic world this week by opting not to defend her all-around gold medal after pulling out of the team gymnastics final, said she prefers them because they lengthen the leg and make her appear taller. 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