to be offended at beach volleyball outfits

[Cheria]

I have nothing against women wearing bikinis, or even wearing nothing if that's their thing. But beach volleyball is considered a serious enough sport to merit a place in the Olympics and I think that it can't be taken seriously when the players are required to wear skimpy little outfits.

Articles like this one seem to prove my point.

There is the argument that clothes don't make the sport, and I agree. But AIBU to think that this is degrading and more treated as eye candy by randy old men (and journalists)? My sister, who is much more feminist than me, disagrees, and thinks the outfits are a celebration of women's bodies.

It's the lack of choice that bothers me about beach volleyball attire. I don't care what sports people choose to wear - skimpy knickers or looser shorts or whatever - but it should be up to the individual.

For me it's not the clothes themselves, it's the context of the clothes. As I said on the beach or anywhere else am not bothered with wearing a bikini or even nothing. It's just this sport is trying to be taken seriously yet the outfits encourage leeriness and jokes.

Maybe IABU.

No problem with women's bodies here Xenia - regularly go topless or less on the beach or in my garden (in France)

I think a sport in which the women players have their clothes mandated by the sports governing body (the women are not allowed play unless they wear these clothes) is sexist and wrong.

I don't think you mean chauvinist in that context, do you?

I do akshully. Chauvinist just means someone with a very strong belief in the superiority of their own kind, in this context the unkind catsbumface women who hate to see other women looking good.

Doesn't particularly bother me, but it does make me wonder why the men don't play in skimpy speedos. Surely if "sex sells", then it works both ways?

Those male high divers have amazing bodies and look veeerry nice in speedos
Yer female swimmers wear "proper" costumes , not bikinis.

It is nice to see women with healthy, normal bodies though .

Exactly HellonHeels. A female competitors kit can't feature any more than 6cm of cloth at the hip.

I don't have a problem with women's bodies at all Xenia. I would be more than happy to walk around naked providing men would too and that they would see me as more than a sex object.

Lets face it most people who got tickets for beach volleyball aren't going for their ardent interest in the sport!

what's the big thrill with walking around naked? I don't want to particularly.

I don't understand the strict rules on what they wear. If they wanted to wear shorts and t-shirt why should it be an issue? And Bonsoir - if they wanted to wear a burkini - why shouldn't they?

Doesn't particularly bother me, but it does make me wonder why the men don't play in skimpy speedos

Urgh re Speedos - give me thin board shorts anyday [lust emoticon]

whatmeworry - it has nothing to do with not wanting to see other women who look good. It has everything to do with their lack of choice - they cannot play unless they wear skimpy bikinis (which are far skimpier than runners outfits). They should be able to choose from a range of suitable sports wear - they are athletes, not models and shouldn't have to dress like that if they don't want to.

According to an IOC official "....it's important that the Committee keeps on the program sports that are popular, attractive to young people, have an element of entertainment and are attractive to broadcasting,"

Says it all really.

whatmeworry nothing to do with hating seeing other women looking good, that's ridiculous. (You seem to have a low opinion of women). It is everything to do with objectifying the women and turning what should be considered a serious sport into a pervefest.

Malificence have you ever tried diving in a bikini? Let's just say you aren't still wearing both parts when you re-surface

YANBU I have no idea why such skimpy outfits are necessary, especially given what the men wear. People messing around playing it on a beach are one thing, professional sportswomen playing in specially designed arenas are another. Bikini bottoms that actually cover the entire butt-cheek aren't a big ask.

I actually think that its good, if the players get to choose. I was looking at the pictures with my 15 year old DD and her friends, and we were discussing how some of the players appear to have cellulite. So nothing to do with age, diet and exercise, then. As long as there is a ban on doctoring the pictues, i think that it is fine.

I never said I wanted to watch them play in speedos just , wondering why the blatant hypocrisy of the rules, I much prefer "surfer dude" style myself too.

There would be an awful lot of jiggling going on if they were leaping about in budgie smugglers!

I don't find the size of the outfits offensive. However, I'm most perturbed that they don't all match, neither with each other nor with the top part of the 'kit'. Specifically in that final photo.

Also since when did volley ball have cheerleaders?

I didn't dare mention the cellulite... but since you did, I thought that was actually more the cheerleaders. Some of the photos are of cheerleaders in turquoise bikinis , the others are of the actual volleyball players

Strangely enough, I have similar objection to female track athletes wearing 'bra and knickers'. Men cope perfectly well with shorts and a vest, why are women giving the option of running around with half of their arse on show?

It could actually look sexier if they cover up abit more.

Cheerleading is now seen as a athlectic sport, but cheerleaders cover up, (some nly abit more)
If young women play a sport, they are in danger of beeing watched for other enjoyment, rather than sporting prowness.

Perhaps as the sport ages, we can have honest interviews with ex players and take it from there?

I was thinking this morning how uncomfortable it looks when falling in the sand.

It was pretty disturbing this morning having Bill Turnbull declaring it "an excellent spectator sport"... I expect more of you William.

I agree with you, there is no necessity for it IMO and I said so on another thread a while back but I was berated for that because apparently it is a feminist issue that strong athletic women can wear anything for sport and the main thing is that they are strong women who our dds can look up to as role models etc and you are running down their achievements by focusing on their clothes and various things like that.

I still don't much like the look of it and the disjointed look to the volleyball outfits jars on me but I was told on the other thread that the athletes want to wear those bra/pant combinations

nothing to do with hating seeing other women looking good, that's ridiculous. (You seem to have a low opinion of women)

I have a low opinion of women who try and tell other women how to dress, behave, think etc and try and wrap their prejudices up in some sort of high moral ground claptrap, tis true.

I totally agree that the rules should be challenged, then leave it up to the players. It may be underfunded and they use their sexuality for funding. These things don't change over night and given that it is played outside the UK, mainly, we don't have that much influence.