Bias of bowls as women barred from wearing shorts

‘Antiquated’ federation sparks sexism row after enforcing separate dress code for female players

THE English Bowling Federation has become embroiled in a sexism row after a rule change allowed men to wear shorts but not women.

The decision by the country’s oldest national bowling organisation has been branded “sexist” after it updated its guidelines at an annual general meeting in November last year.

Under the guidelines, which came into effect in April, men now have the option to wear tailored shorts or trousers, while playing in inter-county association matches and national championships. In contrast female players may only wear cropped tailored trousers or a double-pleated skirt that covers the knees while competing.

A number of bowlers have criticised the ruling as discriminatory. One female Suffolk bowler, who asked not to be named, suggested a compromise could be made to allow skirts with shorts stitched inside.

“It is blatant sexism,” she said. “I have been playing bowls for 15 years, it is a fantastic game but it can be so antiquated. In other countries, women get to wear shorts of the brightest colours, and closer to home female golf players can wear shorts, so why should bowls players be any different?”.

Roy Oatham, the secretary of Castle Camps bowls in Cambridgeshire, told The Daily Telegraph that women should be allowed to dress as they desire.

“It is a good idea that there are certain restrictions on what people should wear but I can’t see that there should be a difference between what the men and women wear,” he said.

“If you are going to encourage young people to play they have to start taking the stuffiness out of it. When I first started you had to wear brown shoes and a tie but a lot of that has changed.”

Mr Oatham added that traditional bowls had “to change for modern times”.

John Calver, secretary of the California Bowls Club in Ipswich, said he was sure women “would appreciate the choice rather being dictated upon”.

“Many of our players are husband and wife teams, and I’m sure the husbands would like to see their wives allowed to wear what they wish,” he said.

“Sadly there are still some Victorians in the bowls world that are very old fashioned and stuck in their ways.”

However, The English Women’s Bowling Federation, which updated its rules as well, denied accusations of sexism.

Carole Swan, the federation’s national president, said to change the rules of women’s dress a female federation bowler would have to put forward a motion to be voted on at the annual meeting.

Ms Swan said: “There has not been any proposals by women from any clubs or counties to wear shorts. Until that happens, they won’t wear shorts.”