What do you think of the mandated uniforms for Beach Volleyball?

Question

http://www.cnn.com/STYLE/9901/13/vollyball.bikini/

What is your opinion on the situation?

Should they be allowed to wear shorts?

Are the women being exploited?

Or are you okay with the difference between the indoor/beach uniforms, as its just fitting in with the "environment" of the match?

Answer 1

I think the men should be required to wear the very same uniforms.

Answer 2

They're required to wear bikinis because it brings in the male audience.  Yes, these women look great, but there's no reason why they can't wear uniforms that are comfortable, modest and allow for easy movement.  Like track uniforms, or shorts.  There was a big flak during the Athens Olympics about this, and that's when it came out about these teeny "uniforms."  

Nothing wrong with appreciating a beautiful body but these women are athletes and champions first.  They can be s*x objects if they want away from the game and on their own time.  The beach volleyball federation would never burden their male players this way.

Answer 3

It actually pains me to see these young women ruining their skin this way. I don't believe they use any sunscreen because none of the sand sticks to them when they fall down on it to get at the ball. By the time they're my age, they will have leathery, wrinkly skin with huge black freckles.

Answer 4

I think it's completely sexist and exploitative. If the men were wearing swim shorts, it would be different. But the men wear shorts and t-shirts. Why can't the women wear shorts and t-shirts? It's ridiculous.

Answer 5

That they must come with mandatory bikini waxing!  

If I was uncomfortable with them and I would be - I would wear the men's version.    

edit:

I don't know if any women have rocked the boat and wore them- but I saw one photo as a woman was taking a shot the bottoms of her suit gaped- you got the whole view.   I think putting genitals on display is sexist.  I remember why mens basketball trucks got longer.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing...

Answer 6

I just caught a bit of that on TV.  I think it's unfair if they mandate skimpy uniforms for women but not for men.  

But while I'm at it, let me also say they look fantastic in their unfairly mandated bikinis on top of being amazing athletes.  That put every volleyball game I've ever played in or watched to shame.

Answer 7

Chances are that your cultural expectations will prejudice your answer. For example, I came from a very conservative social background, so the idea of female Olympic athletes being "required" to wear bikinis would be most offensive to the people I hung out with most. However, I chose to be a lifeguard through high school and college, so the standard "uniform" of my clients was skimpy. I got used to it, so seeing bikinis on female Olympic athletes just makes sense given its social history (coming from the beaches of southern California). This is what I mean when I say that your cultural expectations will prejudice your answer.

Also, have you thought about how the first Olympians dressed back in the original Olympic games? Since the classical Greeks adored the human body, it was standard practice for athletes not to wear clothes in the events. Comparing this "controversial" dress code issue to that, it appears we're more prudish than the original Olympians!

Answer 8

Whenever someone is participating in something athletic, clothing should be optimized for performance. It seems, as evident by the quote from Gabrielle Reese, that the uniforms somewhat hinder the players' ability due to concerns over modesty, so I am curious as to the motivation behind this mandate.

Answer 9

I just cringe at the idea of the wedgies that would ensue.

Answer 10

I fail to understand how this was made a sport at the olympic level.  It seems pretty odd in this day and age that it is televised and taken seriously.

Answer 11

When will feminists figure out that equal does not mean identical.

Answer 12

I would support Professor's option

But thats mostly because the men's versions don't have shirts

Edit- oh wait, on further review the mens uniforms do have shirts

Who would watch womens volleyball if they all wore burkas?

Answer 13

Ugh. Completely ludicrous uniform stipulations. I sure hope the girls involved are more than "kind of bummed" about this injustice.

On the beach you see girls in shorts and other bottoms, so why are they trying to force girls doing very active sports into little bikini bottoms which obviously ride up?

I'm usually pretty slow to say something is sexist, because it's such a loaded term, but this sure seems like it's toeing the line of acceptable regulations.

As for the hand signals thing, it's a bit sketchy to me but could also be interpreted as totally valid.

Answer 14

Well, I really think the beach volleyball players look great in the uniforms they have now (what do you expect -- I'm a guy), but I don't see any problem in allowing the women to wear shorts and tank tops for beach volleyball.  What's the big deal?  Tanks and shorts cover the bare essentials much better than the bikinis they wear now, and if they're more comfortable wearing tanks and shorts what's the problem?

Answer 15

If there was some advantage given in beach volleyball by smaller uniforms that don't cover much, why aren't the men' s beach volleyball uniforms smaller?