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Showing Original Post only (View all)Cries of Sexism Greet a Nike Olympic Reveal [View all]
Ever since the Norwegian womens beach handball team made it known that they were required to wear teeny-tiny bikini bottoms for competition into a cause célèbre, a quiet revolution has been brewing throughout womens sports. Its one that questions received conventions about what female athletes do or dont have to wear to perform at their very best.
It has touched womens soccer (why white shorts?), gymnastics (why not a unitard rather than a leotard?), field hockey (why a low-cut tank top?) and many more, including running.
So it probably should not have come as a shock to Nike that when it offered a sneak peek of the Team U.S.A. track and field unies during a Nike Air event in Paris celebrating its Air technology on Thursday (which also included looks for other Olympic athletes, like Kenyas track and field team, Frances basketball team and Koreas break dancing delegation), they were met with some less-than-enthusiastic reactions.
See, the two uniforms Nike chose to single out on the mannequins included a mens compression tank top and mid-thigh-length compression shorts and a womans bodysuit, cut notably high on the hip. It looked sort of like a sporty version of a 1980s workout leotard. As it was displayed, the bodysuit seemed as if it would demand some complicated intimate grooming.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/style/sexism-nike-olympic-track-and-field-uniforms.html
It has touched womens soccer (why white shorts?), gymnastics (why not a unitard rather than a leotard?), field hockey (why a low-cut tank top?) and many more, including running.
So it probably should not have come as a shock to Nike that when it offered a sneak peek of the Team U.S.A. track and field unies during a Nike Air event in Paris celebrating its Air technology on Thursday (which also included looks for other Olympic athletes, like Kenyas track and field team, Frances basketball team and Koreas break dancing delegation), they were met with some less-than-enthusiastic reactions.
See, the two uniforms Nike chose to single out on the mannequins included a mens compression tank top and mid-thigh-length compression shorts and a womans bodysuit, cut notably high on the hip. It looked sort of like a sporty version of a 1980s workout leotard. As it was displayed, the bodysuit seemed as if it would demand some complicated intimate grooming.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/12/style/sexism-nike-olympic-track-and-field-uniforms.html
...
Lauren Fleshman, a retired U.S. world champion runner, had some harsher criticism to share. In an Instagram post, Fleshman wrote, Im sorry, but show me one WNBA or NWSL team who would enthusiastically support this kit. This is for Olympic Track and Field. Professional athletes should be able to compete without dedicating brain space to constant pube vigilance or the mental gymnastics of having every vulnerable piece of your body on display. Womens kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it.
She added, This is not an elite athletic kit for track and field. This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on womens sports. ... Stop making it harder for half the population @nike @teamusa @usatf.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/nike-ripped-for-risque-womens-track-olympic-uniforms
Lauren Fleshman, a retired U.S. world champion runner, had some harsher criticism to share. In an Instagram post, Fleshman wrote, Im sorry, but show me one WNBA or NWSL team who would enthusiastically support this kit. This is for Olympic Track and Field. Professional athletes should be able to compete without dedicating brain space to constant pube vigilance or the mental gymnastics of having every vulnerable piece of your body on display. Womens kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it.
She added, This is not an elite athletic kit for track and field. This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on womens sports. ... Stop making it harder for half the population @nike @teamusa @usatf.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/nike-ripped-for-risque-womens-track-olympic-uniforms
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According to the article the athletes will have a choice, and there are women's uniforms
petronius
Apr 2024
#16
Screw the Olympics. It's a toxic cesspool of corruption, nationalism, and abuse.
hunter
Apr 2024
#24