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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be offended at beach volleyball outfits

165 replies

Cheria · 10/08/2011 10:21

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.

OP posts:
UKSky · 10/08/2011 22:03

But these are NOT volleyball players. It does say quite clearly they are cheerleaders, so YABU for not reading the article and jumping to conclusions.

catgirl1976 · 10/08/2011 22:16

Linford was always packing his shorts lola

TillyIpswitch · 10/08/2011 22:31

UKSky - you did scroll down beyond the photos at the top to read the actual article, right?

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 10/08/2011 23:30

If I had an arse like those girls then I would be wearing the most skimpiest bikini bottoms I could find, and flaunting myself on the beach too. As it happens, I no longer have the smooth, taute, cellulite-free skin I once had pre-children so I cover up with baggy shorts so blah, but you sound jealous OP so yes YABU!

NetworkGuy · 11/08/2011 00:07

Presumably the ways to overcome the 'flaunting of flesh' for men's entertainment, would be for the women's volleyball teams to all (a) refuse to participate, or (b) wear shorts, and be disqualified en masse

It would be embarrassing for the IOC and whichever country was hosting the games, to justify the strictness applied to costumes for women, while men can have long shorts (to 15cm above knee).

SiamoFottuti · 11/08/2011 00:18

yeah, jealously, that must be the only reason any women objects to female athletes being objectified and exploited. Obvious. Hmm

TillyIpswitch · 11/08/2011 00:50

Ohh, the jealousy argument is cringe-worthy....! Boasting isn't an attractive quality in anyone Wink but at 5'9" and being a size 10 I have no problem with bikini-wearing myself.

If you have to assume that those who object are sitting there weaving their chin hair, then your argument is dead in the water before you've begun, surely?

Assuming at least some of those who oppose the status quo of kit-off-for-women-but-not-for-men do have smokin' bodies, what then...?

Whatmeworry · 11/08/2011 07:53

Assuming at least some of those who oppose the status quo of kit-off-for-women-but-not-for-men do have smokin' bodies, what then...?

Dunno, but I do pick up an undercurrent of envy in quite a few of these posts.

But my major issue with all this is the attempt to mandate and control what others do, while appealing to some spurious higher moral authority.

TillyIpswitch · 11/08/2011 08:02

Who's trying to control what anyone does?

My question - why aren't male athletes rushing out to wear outfits which reveal their butt cheeks?

upahill · 11/08/2011 08:02

whatmeworry

I'll admit I'm envious!!!!

Original poster
Cheria · 11/08/2011 08:03

Jealous? Moi? I think I have said somewhere on here that I am comfortable with bikinis and nudity, and am happy to go topless or more on the beach or in my own garden.

I could give you my stats but really don't see the need to prove my point.

It is the fact that the sport isn't, and cannot be taken seriously with outfits like this, when men buy the tickets with the sole intention of leering. For me that's not what sport is all about. Nothing to do with a "spurious higher moral authority".

Anyway, some really interesting viewpoints on here, thanks.

OP posts:
PonceyMcPonce · 11/08/2011 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whatmeworry · 11/08/2011 08:26

It is the fact that the sport isn't, and cannot be taken seriously with outfits like this, when men buy the tickets with the sole intention of leering. For me that's not what sport is all about. Nothing to do with a "spurious higher moral authority"

You are welcome to your view, but then why try and impose it on people who are willing to play the sport as it is? Ie why do you think you are "right" and that what these women are doing is " wrong"

To justify that is when the "spurious higher moral authority" is typically invoked.

Original poster
Cheria · 11/08/2011 08:43

I'm not trying to impose it on the volleyball players. I'm debating it on MN.

And I certainly do not think that what these women are doing is wrong. They are trained, dedicated athletes, committed to their sport and playing for their country. I am absolutely in admiration of what they do. My problem is with them having to wear skimpy clothes and therefore having their sport turned into something sleazy. Which shouldn't be the case for an Olympic sport that should be taken seriously.

Someone earlier on said that they are therefore drawing our attention and sponsorship to a sport which was little known before, and that that is a good thing. I agree with that argument too, to a certain extent.

OP posts:
Ariesgirl · 11/08/2011 09:17

Personally I think the London 2012 beach volleyball comp should take place on some sand-blasted, gale-ridden North Sea beach. Then we'll see if they wear their silly little bikinis. And that'll sort out the proper fans from the leerers :)

Ariesgirl · 11/08/2011 09:19

And actually this reminds me of a recent story of the English Badminton Association wanting to force top competitors (the women naturally) to wear teeny weeny skirts rather than shorts in order to attract more audiences and sell more tickets. I glad to say that the women said "no way."

Whatmeworry · 11/08/2011 09:24

My problem is with them having to wear skimpy clothes and therefore having their sport turned into something sleazy. Which shouldn't be the case for an Olympic sport that should be taken seriously

Doubt it would have got near the olympics if it wasn't for the bikinis, which of course are the traditional dress for the sport.

But the " sleazy" bit is the moral judgement where you are using your spurious higher moral authority to make the call about what is wrong and right.

Why is this sleazy exactly?

TillyIpswitch · 11/08/2011 09:30

Who's trying to impose anything on anyone?

Just commenting on the continuing inequalities between men and women.

Anyone got any theories about why men aren't jumping on the bandwagon to get their kit off for the leerers?

Tanso · 11/08/2011 09:46

Its not the same as scantily clad girls at the car races. Who wears a bikini while driving their car?? or while walking down the road?

On the beach young men normally wear shorts and young women wear bikinis (i am obviously generalising) Beach volleyball originated in California so the clothing traditions reflect the traditions of the place. If it had originated somewhere such as the middle east another clothing tradition may ave filtered down with the sport.

Team sports have team uniforms, it looks good when all of the team are wearing the same thing ( rather than having choice as individuals as someone suggested) In many team sports they are essential to tell who to trow the ball to in a pressure situation!

I do think the 6cm rule if it is true is not ideal. It should be open to what ever each team wants to wear as a team. I think we would find that most athletic ladies might stick with the bikinis as that is what they feel comfortable on the beach. The men would probable stick with shorts.

Tanso · 11/08/2011 09:50

seems these Indian ladies got away with not wearing bikinis.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/2433483/Indian-beach-volleyball-players-refuse-to-wear-bikinis.html

Maybe the rules are also relaxed for the olympics in cultual/religious circumstances

Whatmeworry · 11/08/2011 09:52

Who's trying to impose anything on anyone?

Just commenting on the continuing inequalities between men and women.

Anyone got any theories about why men aren't jumping on the bandwagon to get their kit off for the leerers

I think women leer differently :o.

I'm not hugely turned on by budgie smugglers or mankinis, (or even nekkid floppy bits - look like dead chickens to me).

But a nicely cut pair of shorts or tight leggings does it very well. And I doubt I'm alone, if men thought they could pull better on the beach with thongs or mankinis or whatever they would all wear them.

So arguably men in shorts are our equivalent of babes in bikinis?

Tanso · 11/08/2011 09:54

www.fivb.ch/en/beachvolleyball/Competitions/olympics/WATH2004/2004%20Specific%20Events%20Regulations.pdf

page 37 has the rules for Athens which was copies from Sydney olympics.

Seems quite flexible to me

CamperFan · 11/08/2011 10:01

TheBreastMilk, really? So if your body was better you would want to parade it around? I don't really understand this. And why assume people are jealous? As it's beach volleyball, I think bikinis are right to play in, but they should really be sporty surely? The top halves are sporty and supportive, the bottoms just look ridiculous to play an Olympic sport in, imo. I think the bottoms arevery distracting for either sex to watch, with all that arse on show, albeit for different reasons. I am sure DH will take great interest in beach volleyball next year, and it will become a little joke between us. But at the end of the day, personally I think it's step backwards for the portrayal of women in sport.

CamperFan · 11/08/2011 10:03

Argh, the article even managed to mention Pippa Middleton - that woman pops up everywhere!!

TheMonster · 11/08/2011 10:03

YANBU.
And yes, I am jealous.