To think beach volleyball is just an excuse for folk to perv at athletes in skimpy gear

[voluptuagoodshag]

I don't understand why it is even a distinct sport from normal volleyball. Surely it came about just because some folk were playing it on a beach? Why not then have beach gymnastics, or beach football or beach archery?

Because the sport evolved from wearing bikinis. That's the tradition.

So what? Women's tennis evolved from people wearing long dresses. It doesn't stop anyone wearing shorts and shirts now.

It is always always wrong to belittle the effort of someone who has made it to the pinnacle of their sport.

When has anyone done that in this thread? Questioning why a sport should be an Olympic sport isn't belittling the efforts of people following that sport. By that token, people who get to the pinnacle of sports that aren't in the Olympics at all have a much greater right to feel hurt and offended.

I am not going to talk about beach volleyball, but for the love of God, why are the divers' costumes (women) and trunks (men), so skimpy?

Women with costumes up their arses, men with bum crack showing.

It doesn't look very practical at all

Only (ironically) the Brazillian male sychro divers had big enough trunks

IMVHO

Women should be able to wear what they want - especially in sport - without their appearance being the main point of discussion. Women don't have to meet men's standards in order to be considered valid human beings and that includes in clothing. When running I don't wear pants up my arse (mainly as I had to at school but that's another story!) but if someone finds that more comfortable/streamlined that's up to them. What I don't want is to dress in the same way as a man, thanks. My body doesn't look like a man's and I don't want to wear a loose t-shirt and baggy shorts - I used to wear men's clothes for running as that was all that was available in breathable sports wear. Now I wear form fitting clothes that I find comfortable.

Sexualisation is in the eye of the beholder. I've been cat called while running while wearing men's sports wear and it happened all the time when I was a teenager in the early 90s and used to wear very baggy, androgynous clothing. All this discussion of sexualisation in women's clothing comes close to victim-blaming and excusing men's behaviour, and I won't hold any truck with it.

i have now gone back to RTFT, and see others have commented on the diving. Phew

itsmine Tue 09-Aug-16 16:45:55

I am reminded of Erin Brockovich. "While I have one ass, not two, I'll wear what I like."

Change the attitudes, not via changing the clothing.

A lot of men see all women's sporting efforts as "lightweight" and some women do too.

It seems to be that women's sport is more about admiring the physique, than admiring the performance and this can only be to the detriment of women's sport

Agree here with ItsAllGoingToBeFine. I am a bit about some of the skimpy sports outfits women wear, especially when compared to men in the same sports who are are wearing shorts and full t-shirt or vest. The beach volleyball is a bit of a well-worn joke for this so doesn't really bother me so much funnily enough - but what is more surprising is how much it is the case across all sports.

I used to wonder the same thing looking at presenters and newsreaders. The men had their suit jackets on in all weathers, and the women often had little tops and short-sleeved blouses (no jacket). Not sure why as there is no rationale behind the difference.

I can't post it, but interestingly I just came across a photo of the 2012 Brazil women's team practising. What were they wearing? Why, shorts and T shirts. Which definitely gives the lie to the whole thing about sand in the cracks.

I've not liked the trend for years of the skimpy bikini for VB or running. I've often thought if I was competing (fat chance) I'd be wearing something more modest and would ask the designers for it too.

I think the outfits have gone hand in hand with the oversexualisation of things in society in general - what was not acceptable years ago seems to be now - bikini tops with underneath breast showing or just above the nipple, very high cut and narrow gusseted bottoms that practically show the start of the vulva, thongs used to be underwear they're now commonly bikini bottoms, not to mention the sexual pouting by just about every celeb, the exaggerated body poses to look sexy etc I'm not actually that old but I find it a worrying trend.

I don't think VB players should be at the status of gymnastics as mentioned upthread, the latter having extraordinary skill and have trained beyond what I imagine a VB player has to. On a par with rowers perhaps. I've no problem with it as an Olympic sport.

Everyone who think swoons' sport is lightweight should watch Rugby Sevens. Amazing fitness, power, aggression and strategy. And no shorts up arse-cracks or midriffs in sight

"swoons"? - I meant womens

Judy

Good point

Clothes are skimpy because the competitors are closer in ability and times are measured in milliseconds so they have to be as aerodynamic as possible.

Well, that and having to sell a sport to the sponsors.

I have just come back from a holiday and there were loads of teenagers and people in their 20s. No-one was wearing anything more skimpy than I'd have worn at their age. In fact the older guys tended to wear the budgie smugglers, and the one person I saw wearing a thong bikini and massive heels was probably in her 50s.

Mind you, that's not beach volleyball.

I would have thought more fabric there would be helpful for not getting sand where no sand ought o be.

Shakey I wondered that too - either both should have to perform to music and 'tell a story' through the floor routine or neither should.

This is quoted from a very interesting podcast on this issue (focusing on gymnastics) by Stuff Mom Never Told You called Gymnastics Gold. It deals with sexist and racist coverage of gymnastics.

'A University of North Carolina study found that during the Beijing Olympics 60% of prime time coverage of women's sport was exclusively gymnastics, swimming and diving. Then if you add in beach volleyball and any other sport where women compete in leotards or swimsuits it went up to 97%.'

Anyone who thinks there isn't an issue here is deluded.

My dad used to play a lot of beach volleyball but he never wore a bikini.

The skimpy costumes distract from their sporting achievements.
Is it spectacle or is it sport?

Like this Judy?

The thing is the female form is beautiful in a way and I see that, but its quite oppressive when a certain formula is always shoved in your face all the time (sports, news presenting, tv programmes generally - I mean have you ever seen a size 14 presenter except maybe that Fern Britton and she's gone) its actually quite annoying. They got rid of that perfectly fine middle-aged Countryfile presenter so that a more youthful Julia Forget-her-name could march about the countryside in her stretch jeans and tight leather boots. I was watching a historical documentary the other day, and the size 10 female Professor presenter was wearing such tight trousers and tiny short jacket you could see the V in her crotch.

Sorry, rant over.

Agree 100% it's just an excuse for dirty old (or not so old) men.

Hmm interesting.

OP, you've really shifted your position here. The title of the thread totally disparages the sport, which you've said you agent doing. It's only later in the thread after objections you've taken the 'it deserves more recognition' line, because earlier you were saying it just wasn't a sport and that shooting archery etc when either. I think you should hold your hands up to that.

Agree completely about the sexist and sexualisation of women's sport. But there are two issues here.