That having a bikini wax shouldn't be a necessary part of any job?

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

I've been watching the amazing gymnastics at the olympics and every time I can't help but wonder if they are all happy to have such revealing gym costumes. I would hate to have a camera doing a slow mo when I'm legs akimbo in the air wearing so little even if the camera angles seem to be discrete.

I have tried to look up if there is a rule about the cut and if they wanted could they wear little shorts but I can't find anything. I did read if they remove a wedgie they get marked down?!

AIBU to think that in this day and age it seems a bit odd that these elite athletes need to be so scantily clad and that they probably have more to worry about than waxing, ingrowing hairs and itchiness in the run up to the games?

Such as what? If a gymnast wears the regulation leggings she's technically covered from her wrists to her ankles.

What else would be appropriate without causing danger to the athlete or Possibly obscure form and line?

Yes, maybe it's a preference. Key word - maybe

Oh yes I get that. Nothing which women choose which is feminine is ever a genuine preference; any one who "chooses" anything feminine is just too dim to realise how conditioned she is.

It was perfectly obvious what Yoda meant by a clean line.

Just find it odd that people who proclaim themselves feminists want to deny that these pressures exist

Well I don't proclaim myself as a feminist. I've asked before but it would be useful to have a handy cut out and keep guide on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being Stepford automaton and 10 being a real feminist making up her own mind and socking it to the patriarchy) so I can identify if I pass on whether or not I'm making a genuine preference on any particular issue.

Why do most young women look the same? Fashion.

Sports have fashion too, they go through repeated trends like shiny lycra, crushed velvet, sparkles, plain. It's an ever revolving door.

Let me put it another way.

If you're a young, brilliant gynmast with a generous helping of body hair who doesn't want to wax , should you have to?

Currently, if you are in that situation, it seems that you may have to make the choice between dressing very differently from the 'norm' to cover up, or showing off body hair. Either choice is going to attract attention at the Olympics and probably result in some Inverdale-type character commenting that you're 'not much of a looker'. How many young teenagers feel up to that? They just want to be accepted.

My argument is that the sport as a whole (and this has to come from the top) actively tries to widen the range of outfits that are actually worn (not just written in the guidelines).

That way more girls, not just the ones who are already catered for, can be happy.

Why is that bad?

also maybe (if they have pubic hair which many probably don't) they shave/wax because they personally don't want a photo of themselves doing a stag jump with some bush sticking out on the internet for all time or it gets caught in the leotard elastic and rips out when they do a layout and they don't want to be distracted by that as they are doing a vault.

Again hypothesis I'm sure you'll say but no more than your opinion is... and I'm saying this as someone who only rarely shaves anywhere. There are many good reasons that aren't sexist why you might be an elite gymnast and want to shave/wax.

LassWi

Seriously? You think I'm suggesting that there should be fewer choices for women's appearances? ? Please show me where I suggested that.

I'm saying, yep, the current look is great if you like it.

I have categorically stated that I think MOST OF THE GIRLS LIKE IT.

FFS.

It is a popular look. Girls often do choose little sparkly outfits and waxing.

That is FINE.

Why is it that if I ask 'what about the others though, the ones who dont choose the more high maintenance look?' no one can heae me?

Saying 'let's include other women too' is the very opposite of saying 'let's exclude the existing group. '

Leggins are worn in high level competition though and no comments or deductions are made.

The problem with "widening" the choice is some attire is not suitable, so skirts would be dangerous, shorts would impede on the leg length and line when pointing, tracksuit bottoms would be too baggy.

As far as I can see the regulatory body has done all it can within the realms of safety and crucially marking of the sport and the performance to give the widest choice it can.

Think many of the athletes won't have problems with waxing and regrowth as they will have laser treatment!

Figure skating is similar, women can wear a dress or a catsuit. The skirt however must be of regulation length to avoid catching in the blade. Figure skating has the shortest skirt whilst ice dance allows a longer skirt. All for safety reasons and to ensure the athletes legs and extensions can be clearly seen.

Ok, so leggings can be worn, but no one seems to do this in the Olympics?

Look, I'm no expert on gymnastics. I'm just reacting to the issue raised by the OP.

But I'll say again that the alacrity with which some people will pounce on the idea of something being sexist and start frothing about pseudo-feminists is truly depressing.

JenLindley loving your work here.

I'm sure I saw someone wearing them, either this year or in the world championships, I can't remember which, but then without asking each athlete I couldn't tell you why none of the qualifyers wore leggings.

We have all agreed we can't know 100% but all I am saying is, the gymnastic regulatory body really has done all it can to offer a fair and balanced choice of attire that is safe and practical for the sport. They understandably can not enforce a choice, so we will jus have to leave it at that.

The feminism "issue" I can not be arsed to talk about, it gives me a headache 😂

banging head on wall here. If it's a truly free choice why don't more women choose tight shorts/leggings?

Just as it's not our truly free choice to shave armpits and legs: not doing so means social disapproval.

One of the reasons girls and women do less sport than boys and men is body anxiety, and skimpy outfits and having to remove pubes etc add to that.

One of the Chinese team was wearing flesh coloured leggings in the Olympics.
People who are arguing about leotards potentially being sexist, have you done gymnastics or a similar acrobatic sport? Because I have and I wouldn't want to wear looser trousers, t shirt or leggings. Too hot. T shirts and looser clothes flap about and up in your face when you are spinning making it harder to spot the landing.
There is nothing in the rules about deducting for pubes (I am a qualified judge) but I guess most girls will keep their bikini line tidy in the same way most women do if they swim regularly. Because societal pressure is to be hairless. We could talk about that in a wider context but I honestly don't think gym is a special case.
Oh and FYI lion you aren't the judge of "proper feminism". How arrogant!

What's a pseudo-feminist, Merchant of Venuce?

Oops! I meant what's a pseudo-feminist, MrsLion?

I made it up for this thread.

In this context, what I mean is posters trying to enforce the view that women only want to remove their pubic hair because of some male domination /sexism agenda. Simply because it doesn't fit in with their own personal view.

Dozer - but at the same time lots of teenage girls don't want to get muddy or be agressive...thinking rugby, footy etc. I know I felt ridiculous making the 'ugh' noise the teacher encouraged while throwing stuff in school athletics lesson. And I HATED the term of rugby we did.

In that sense I think gymnastics, dance, even cheerleading are good ways to keep the girls that want to be 'pretty' active.

Also as someone who spent the ackward teenage years in a leotard I think it's made me much more body confident as an adult.

dozer if you go to a training session/non competitive gym class most of the girls do wear gym shorts. They also wear crop tops or sports bras rather than leotards often. I think most girls find it comfy to wear a minimum of tight fitting stuff.
Competition leotards are usually dictated by the club but it's just standard wear. In the same way as a swimming costume for diving or a running vest

At least a full length outfit in the beach volleyball would keep the sand out of nether regions
and I think helmet the earlier poster who said a "clean bikini line" would mean clean line as in tidy, not meaning clean as opposed to dirty.That's what I read from it.

As a man i can teel you tgeyre not waxing for me.

The op should know that neatly all young women are removing their pubic hair and they do say they do it for health and cleanliness. Thst of course is nonsense because the prime use of hair is better airflow in tight places. So its not.

Women are doing it because thats what celebs and0 models are doing.

So whichever: trimmed or natural

I have been to training sessions. Many girls drop out of the sport because they lack body confidence.

There was a piece in The Guardian about how the British Cyclists now don't shave pubes on team orders because the hair protects from pressure sores and wicks away sweat. The women have been faster since!

My daughter never wore underwear for exams or performance in ballet. Hairspray prevented wedgies. Oh and she started aged five...

Clothing that needs to be stuck on.to avoid it disappearing up your backside is faulty clothing.

Slightly bigger shorts (i e more coverage, not baggier) solve this problem. Sports clothing should be fit and forget.