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?

Talk to me about how the judges need to be able to see women's iliac bones in order to judge their vault.......

And while it might be the media's problem would you seriously expect any woman to weather that particular storm.....

'As long as they are hairless and wearing a full face of makeup'

I doubt anyone actually gives a shit about their make up or hair-free bikini line.

We're too busy admiring them sticking their amanar vault.
Which incidentally a lot men won't even attempt.
If it's completed in pink sequins, bare faced or high heels I dont actually give a fuck.
Just give women the credit they deserve without taking it away because they like to dress up whilst doing it.

The costume should NOT be higher then the iliac bone, so they'd be told off for non regulation kit. The kit should be "modest" not too high cut, no low V necks in the front or back.

But the full leg should be seen, so that straigthnes and form can be marked, from toe to thigh. That's why you need to see the full leg. a higher cut also gives the illusion of a longer elongated leg than if you were to cut it off mid thigh with shorts making their muscular legs look a bit stumpy in the shorter gymnasts.

But again this will be dismissed as fucking bull shit.

And men's 'straightness and line" doesn't count in floor work? Or vault? Or pommel horse?

"But again this will be dismissed as fucking bull shit."

I am not dismissing anything as "fucking bullshit"

The only people doing any dismissing are those that think there is no issue at all with women having to present a stylized view of hairless, painted femininity when performing amazing feats of training, strength and skill. With people who aren't even prepared to consider the messages this sends to thousands of girls starting out in gymnastics.

Not to the same extent, hence the longer trousers or shorts, they will be looking at power height and technical difficulty more. Mens femurs are also longer meaning they can wear a short without cutting the leg, you will notice the shorts are loose and will often show full thigh in inverted postions. The pomel horse whilst generaly they want the leg straight position and poise and control of not touching the horse is where the marks are.

On the rings you will notice they perform bare armed to show the all important lines.

They wear shorts on the bar or trousers as they rarely if not never make contact with the hips/abdomen unlike the women on the uneaven bars where it would be dangerous to have loose clothing.

Exactly Jiggly.

No Bert, we don't give a shit about women gymnasts' make-up and hair-free bikini lines.
We're too busy admiring them sticking their Amanar vault.

If you want to question women on their motives for waxing their bikini or wearing makeup, go to your local swimming pools. Not people on tv in front of several million people.

"you want to question women on their motives for waxing their bikini or wearing makeup, go to your local swimming pools. Not people on tv in front of several million people."

What does that even mean??????

Anyway, I am not questioning women on their decision to remove their pubic hair.

I am questioning the choice of an Olympic kit that makes it a requirement.

And I'm sure the sport has survived after a handful of girls decided the costume wasn't for them, like in many other sports, because its a personal choice what we are happy to wear, and if you are not happy to wear regulation kit with or without regulation leggings then you can't compete, but again I know this argument won't be accepted and its the pressure of the patriarchy forcing young girls out of gymnastics

I wonder if the applications for public funding for gymnasts and gymnastics, both at international and lower levels, have such a careless attitude to inclusion.

I'll explain more clearly.

Why is it so difficult to understand why an athlete on tv in front of millions would want to wax or wear make up.

There are many other women who want to do the same when merely visiting their local pools.

Do you feel the need to query their reasoning behind revealing swimwear and waxed bikini line?

"Why is it so difficult to understand why an athlete on tv in front of millions would want to wax or wear make up."
Why is it so difficult to understand that designing a kit that makes waxing obligatory takes away women's choices?

Tara what would be the point in funding an athlete that does not wish to partake in a sport because they are unhappy with the regulation kit, which offers a wide choice for modesty

Funding also does not begin till senior level for individual athletes, also you'd be expected to be winning a lot to gain funding.

Local gyms don't run on govermwnt body funding, they run off their income from parents who bring their young children in droves to the sport, and most give up around early teens for various reasons.

Coaches are self employed in my sport and pay rent to coach and their income is from pupils. We don't receive any funding the athlete does should they get to high level.

Development squads for Team GB is where the funding is and these will be high level senior gymnasts and low level that show promise. For every girl that drops out their are ten gurning for her place on the squad.

MrsLion

Crikey. Do you even read posts?

We know exactly why an athlete would want to wax. Because she's in a high-cut leotard and doesn't want to be ridiculed for not having done so. I haven't forgotten the attack on Gabby Douglas in 2012 for her hair.

No-one is demanding that the gymnasts take this opportunity to publicly rebel against social mores on pubic hair!

People are wondering whether the individual gymnasts had a choice in the style of leotard, and its attendant level of upkeep, or whether they just got given a style without consultation.

Bert why is it so hard to understand that the kit is designed to actually be functional for the sport.

Jigglypuff, you misunderstand the point; which is that when event organisers and national squads are asked why they should receive grants, they always say something about maintaining profile of the sport will attracting new participants to the sport and have a knock-on positive effect on individual health and public health. Etc.

Tara yea that's what they say, but really they just want it so Sally and Jane can win more medals till their knees are bust up, and that Zoe and Rebecca are poised to take their place with working knees 😂

Personally I think the reason so many girls are attracted to it at a young age is precisely because its feminine and they like the leotards. Seriously, me DD and her friends are obsessed with them. Now it is obviously difficult to disentangle a human attraction to bright sparkly colours (which I think boys are socialised out of more than girls socialised into) from a patriarchal model of acceptable femininity. I will say it again though - women wearing make up and form hugging revealing clothes for sport is in no way restricted to gymnastics.
Bert the mens gym trousers are also regulation and also designed to show leg extension. Maybe men and women could dress identically. Its small beer time, I'd rather see girls excelling at sport.

Fuck off with the "pink stinks" nonsense, please.

There is nothing intrinsically bad about wearing skimpy clothing or clothes covered in rhinestones, or in, shock horror, pink. Sexualisation is in the eye of the beholder.

itsmine maybe women who have worked their socks off for athletic fit bodies want to show them off with confidence

itsmine what sports do you do and what do you wear?
I do running and trampolining, I do both in short shorts and a vest. I'd much rather wear a leotard for trampolining as they don't ride up when you stretch upwards and they are cool. However I feel like I'm too old for it and I don't want to feel embarassed so I wear standard sports gear.
When I was younger I preferred a high cut leg because they don't ride up and get trapped in the crease at the top of your thigh. That's really uncomfortable.
I think comfort is different for men because there are danglies to contend with so their leotards are cut slightly lower.

Actually thinking about it I bet that's why men wear gym trousers. They kind of smooth out the line in the groin area without compressing iyswim. Its that clean line yoda was talking about.