gymnastics, floor

[PassiveAgressiveQueen]

I have been watching the gymnastics on telly. Last night was the mens, the floor routine was impressive, no element of choreography at all, just strong men bouncing around.
Whereas the women's is dancing,music and damn strong women bouncing around the floor.

Is this sexist?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I am watching the gymnastics too, and was wondering why the women must include elements of dance on the floor and the beam, but the men don't.

[CocktailQueen]

Men and women gymnasts do different disciplines - rings, pommel, parallel bars for men, asymmetric bars, beam for women. What's the problem?

[Shutthatdoor]

Men don't do beam

[NorthernLurker]

I think it might be about the basic aim of the gymnastics exercises - I think the primary aim of mens gymnastics is supposed to be to show strength. Womens has to show strength and grace - hence the different presentation and disciplines.
So yes it is a difference based on sex but given the difference in physical strength between men and women I don't think it's a difference which disadvantages women as such.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Bugger - that was a stupid mistake for me to make, Shutthatdoor!

It does seem a bit 'Men get to show off strength, power and skill, but women have to do it prettily'.

It is all bloody fantastic to watch, though - I tried to get tickets, but they were sold out.

[pippitysqueakity]

The men are choreographed, just in a different way. Did you not see the jumps they do to join set of movements? The floor spins? And the incredibly impressive hand stand from straddle balances. Not sure what else that is than choreographed.

[NorthernLurker]

I can't bear to watch beam. It must HURT so much when they fall off. Especially if they hit the beam on the way down.

[PassiveAgressiveQueen]

I have no terminology for gymnastics, yes the men's was choreographed but there wasn't any of the 'pretty' arm waving, it was all demonstrations of strength and skill.

[IndomitabIe]

I was wondering this too, OP.

And all the cutesy flourishes, the crouch-and-stick-your-arse-out one, and the hand thing. The men don't do that. Do they get points for that?

There was one fairly masculine looking competitor, she appeared just as I was wondering how a less feminine competitor would cope with the glitter spray and full-face make-up look that seems to be required. Could they wear shorts with their leotards if they wanted to? Or is that not allowed? (You know, in case I find myself becoming a professional gymnast at 35).

I love gymnastics but the huge difference in expectation between men's & women's baffles me.

[Shutthatdoor]

it was all demonstrations of strength and skill.

As is the women's.

men also do 'wave arms around at end of and beginning of tumble runs etc

[IndomitabIe]

The men finish with standing fairly normally and a nod to the judges, instead of the arms back tits out thing. (Which looks odd).

[PassiveAgressiveQueen]

Slugs and lettuce,

How long do you need?

[IndomitabIe]

Not criticising the athletes, they have done brilliantly this week!

It's the institution that I'm questioning. Why does the women's competition need to be that much more (I don't know if sexualised is what I mean here) flamboyant than the men's?

I'd like to see more parity between the expectations. Add some music and flappy hands to the men's competition, let the women wear shorts and prioritise strong over pretty.

[PassiveAgressiveQueen]

Loving the terminology, "more flappy hands"

[IndomitabIe]

I agree Slugs, they rip! But why does it need to be dressed up in the "flappy hands" etc (what is that called?!). And if it is necessary, let's see it applied equally.

[PassiveAgressiveQueen]

That is a much bigger problem than men not doing flappy hands

[TheImminentGin]

Ive been watching it, I love the women's gymnastics. But I started wondering about the pretty superfluous fluttery and bum sticky outy bits too.
I was admiring how strong and muscled the women looked, how beautiful in their strength and how amazing the things they could do with their bodies. But the modern floor routine is really about the tumbling. Come on, ditch the stilted 'dance' bits.

[TheImminentGin]

Also wondered why the men can wear shorts over what appears to be a full leotard but not the women.

[IndomitabIe]

Not debating the athletes skill & strength, they were awesome.

I'm questioning the whole requirement for the women's performances to be flouncy, dancey, and more sexualised than the men's. All that stuff actively detracts from the demonstration of strength & skill.