Dress code wears thin
Canadian women are doing the country proud in Tokyo. As of this writing, they’ve won eight Olympic medals in swimming, diving, judo, softball and weightlifting.
Their achievements are to be celebrated, for sure, but there’s an issue involving women in sport that’s casting a pall over the podium.
Once again, dress code rules that are different for women than men have become a topic of controversy.
As National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States noted, “It’s 2021, but the policing of female athletes’ bodies is a practice that continues to thrive.”
Earlier this month at the European Beach Handball Championship, the Norwegian women’s beach handball team was fined 1,500 euros (C$2,225) for refusing to wear the bikini briefs required of female players. Male players can wear shorts.
Pop star P!nk has offered to pay the fine, tweeting, “The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.”
Meanwhile, back at the Olympics, some members of the German women’s gymnastics team eschewed the standard bikini-cut leotards in favour of a full-body design that covers the arms and legs, similar to the men’s uniform. They made the choice as a way of pushing back against the sexualization of women in sport.
Let’s be clear: these women are all powerful athletes who have spent years in rigorous training. Having dress codes that emphasize femininity and sexiness is anachronistic, sexist and patronizing.
The 19th*, an independent, non-profit newsroom that reports on gender, politics and policy from Austin, Tex., says women athletes already face greater scrutiny than men, and are often publicly critiqued on their hair and clothing. Dress codes that prescribe revealing or more feminine uniforms serve no practical purpose.
Katie Sveinson, an assistant professor in the School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management at Temple University told the 19th*, “It’s really a policing of certain bodies. It’s people in power who are deciding what is acceptable for athletes to wear, or it is a perception of outsiders saying what certain bodies should be wearing.”
Women need to keep demanding the right to wear uniforms that allow them to demonstrate their skills without having to worry about wardrobe malfunctions.
Sports governing bodies need to revisit their rulebooks and bring their dress codes into the 21st century.
German gymnast Sarah Voss told the BBC why she opted to wear a full-body suit at a European championship in April.
“Some girls quit this beautiful sport (because of having to wear revealing leotards), so that is why this is a great option for everyone to stay in the sport they love and don’t think about anything else about their body — just about their performance.”
Every girl with athletic ambitions deserves the right to a playing field that truly is level.