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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

794 replies

ThatsWotSheSaid · 16/08/2016 09:49

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?

OP posts:
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JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:27

than whinge at my coach about how the boys don't have to wear such costumes and one of the other girls gets to compete and take the glory instead of me

Don't you see that it shouldn't be that choice? You shouldn't have to put up and shut up for fear of losing your place on a team or of losing points in a competition. The choice should be "wear the godawful leotard whilst competing" or "wear something else and still get to compete with no penalties for having a preferred choice of clothing that has no impact at all on your performance"

SpeakNoWords · 16/08/2016 15:28

I can't imagine the expense and the effort to remain completely hair free, especially as in your second survey 80% reported incidences of "genital itching" as a result, and for 45% it was associated with a genital rash.

milkyface · 16/08/2016 15:28

Really they should have a choice to wear what they want and wax what they want and don't want. Shouldn't everyone?

But saying that some things do require a uniform. I wouldn't get involved with a sport if i wasn't comfortable with the uniform.

Also why do people have to get so pissy over other people's pubes ffs.

Why do we give a shit about anyone else's but our own?

veryproudvolleyballmum · 16/08/2016 15:30

This reply has been deleted

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TaraCarter · 16/08/2016 15:31

I'm not saying that's right (and what I'm about to say is incredibly shallow but it's the truth!) but in such a brutal, competitive sport, winning feels so much better than a comfortable costume.

I don't think that's shallow, in the least. The issue is not young athletes sacrificing sartorial comfort for success, the issue is that others are imposing that choice. Why should it be either/or?

milkyface · 16/08/2016 15:31

I can't imagine the expense and the effort to remain completely hair free, especially as in your second survey 80% reported incidences of "genital itching" as a result, and for 45% it was associated with a genital rash

I'm contradicting my last post here but to be honest I find it zero effort to remain hair free. It doesn't cost more than a few razors or getting waxed once every so many weeks. It's not exactly expensive.

Also, I have never had either of the issues mentioned.

Why are we so anti 'getting rid of hair' here. Surely if you want to, you should? If you don't want to, don't!

Kmoggy · 16/08/2016 15:33

Aren't all female gymnasts really young anyway like teenagers? I'm sure I read the intense training interferes with puberty so perhaps they don't have any hair skyways

MyBreadIsEggy · 16/08/2016 15:33

Jen I get what you're saying, but the way I see it, and as others have said, it's a uniform. You know when you enter into the sport that it's a uniform and you'll be expected to wear it.
And it's not nevesarily a fear f losing the chance to compete because I might not want to wear a particular leotard....it was personal pride. I trained my arse off - literally blood, sweat and tears for that competition. There was no way I was going to let someone else compete instead of me after all that work just because the leotard was ugly and required me to wax off my pubes!

MapleandPear · 16/08/2016 15:33

They don't have to wax all the hair anyway. I just shave round the sides in the shower, no rash or itching and it would pass muster in a skimpy leotard!

As far as I know male cyclists shave/wax some of their body hair for streamlining, as do divers.

veryproudvolleyballmum · 16/08/2016 15:33

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JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:35

but the way I see it, and as others have said, it's a uniform. You know when you enter into the sport that it's a uniform and you'll be expected to wear it.

My issue is that that is the uniform.

JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:37

And it's not nevesarily a fear f losing the chance to compete because I might not want to wear a particular leotard....it was personal pride. I trained my arse off - literally blood, sweat and tears for that competition. There was no way I was going to let someone else compete instead of me after all that work just because the leotard was ugly and required me to wax off my pubes!

So it is the fear of losing the chance to compete then! Grin

veryproudvolleyballmum · 16/08/2016 15:37

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SpeakNoWords · 16/08/2016 15:37

Do what you like with your pubic hair of course, no one cares what each individual chooses to do.

I think it's interesting to discuss the change and the trend towards the majority being hairless, and old fogies like me being considered unusual (or even odd/unclean/messy/untidy) for not removing any hair. Something is causing younger women to want to remove all their pubic hair, that wasn't an issue when I was in my 20s. I wonder what that is, and whether it is a positive thing for women or whether it has negative connotations. I also wouldn't like to think of young women being pressurised through peer pressure or by their partners to remove their pubic hair if they wouldn't otherwise.

veryproudvolleyballmum · 16/08/2016 15:39

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JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:40

Then chose another sport.

I have.

but criticising those who conform

I haven't.

I have criticised the rule. Not any athetes nor your daughter.

MyBreadIsEggy · 16/08/2016 15:41

Jen to a certain extent...but as I said, personal pride more than anything.
And the trophy/medal gleaming in the cabinet, and having my name on a plaque on the wall in my old gym forever was well worth the uncomfortable, ugly leotard and a bikini wax!

veryproudvolleyballmum · 16/08/2016 15:41

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JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:41

The clothes just aren't relevant.

Well the Op was discussing gymnastics not volleyball but clearly the clothes are relevant to whoever decides they're worth deducting points for.

JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:43

but as I said, personal pride more than anything.
And the trophy/medal gleaming in the cabinet, and having my name on a plaque on the wall in my old gym forever

Yes which is lost if you don't compete! So fear of not getting all that by not competing.

veryproudvolleyballmum · 16/08/2016 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Helmetbymidnight · 16/08/2016 15:44

The clothes just aren't relevant.

They aren't relevant to you. Some of us find discussion about trends and fashions for women quite interesting.

JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:44

Okay clearly lots of point missing going on here. I can't be arsed saying it over and over.

FruitCider · 16/08/2016 15:44

Anyway, is pubic hair the most important thing about these atheletes? Why not just celebrate their brilliance anyway?

JenLindley · 16/08/2016 15:45

Oh fgs! Goading you? Hmm