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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Girls trampolining and leotard glue AIBU to be shocked

152 replies

rookiemere · 19/03/2017 21:56

So my friends 10 yr old DD has taken up trampolining. she's showing great promise and is competing already. However I was totally shocked when she told me that they aren't allowed to wear pants and therefore have to use leotard glue to keep it in place. They are also not allowed to wear bras. Boys who do the same routines wear tracksuit bottoms.

AIBU to think this is a sexist outmoded practice and actually a bit creepy?

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 19/03/2017 22:20

Male dancers wear leotards too (& tights) but they have to wear a dance belt underneath for support.

1horatio · 19/03/2017 22:21

My little cousin does.

THey're allowed to wear bras but if it peeks points are deducted...

cheesuskriste · 19/03/2017 22:21

Depending on the style of leotard worn they may be a bit low cut, but that's essentially what dance pants look like

Original poster
rookiemere · 19/03/2017 22:21

YY to the hair style thing as well. She did gymnastics before and had to have her hair done in a certain way which she hates as quite a tomboy. Just seems ridiculous in this day and age to have weird restrictions on how female competitors dress and style themselves. Surely possible for the judges to see the movements if they have a longer leotard on that say was thigh length.

OP posts:
ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 19/03/2017 22:22

But why is it necessary that the thigh muscles can be seen? The male gymnasts' thigh muscles are concealed under those trews things they wear. It's the sane with swimmers - the costumes have become more skimpy around the arse - tanga shape maybe?

IDSNeighbour · 19/03/2017 22:24

I have a relative on the GB trampolining squad. She's more of the view that it's a disadvantage to her male team members to be wearing so much rather than a bad thing that she has to wear so little.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 19/03/2017 22:24

How do these girls/women cope when they have oeriods?

QueenOlivine · 19/03/2017 22:24

In gymnastics the leotards are high cut to show the leg shape and muscle shape when completing moves.

If that was actually necessary, boys/men would have to wear the exact same type of thing. But any male I have ever seen doing gymnastic was wearing either full-length trouser things or loose shorts.

There is absolutely zero excuse for women to be required to wear or not wear any particular item or style, if that doesn't also apply to men. If men can do gymnastics in trousers or shorts and a vest, then so can women.

isthishouseamidden · 19/03/2017 22:24

What I don't understand is that if it is important to see the muscle shape etc. Then why is it not deemed important to see this on a male gymnast/trampolinist?

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 19/03/2017 22:26

Crossed posts x 3!

isthishouseamidden · 19/03/2017 22:27

Sorry x post

QueenOlivine · 19/03/2017 22:27

(Not that women should have to wear shorts and vest - but they should definitely be allowed to - and men should be allowed to wear a leotard if they want. Otherwise it's totally unfair because any given individual might be disadvantaged by the sexist rules.)

Only1scoop · 19/03/2017 22:28

What on earth is 'leotard glue'Confused

cheesuskriste · 19/03/2017 22:29

For general practice dds club accept hair in any style as long as it's tied up out of her face with a plain hairband- no plastic embellishments for it.

For competitions it has to be in a bun with a scrunchie matching the leotard. Plaited buns are acceptable but hair out of place isn't.

Brush out the hair first and then use about half a tube of 'be glued' hair gel. Run through hair, and plait hair. Twist into a bun, put a few more hairbands on it and hairspray the hell out of it. Then top with scrunchie.

steff13 · 19/03/2017 22:29

How do these girls/women cope when they have oeriods?

Tampons or menstrual cups, I assume. A lot of gymnasts don't have periods because they have so little body fat.

slkk · 19/03/2017 22:29

I didn't know that Alexander. No, they don't need a belt. Ds wears pants sometimes, but doesn't usually.

AlexanderHamilton · 19/03/2017 22:30

Dd has tried knickers in the style username gone posted & didn't like them as you can't pull them up enough.

She wears these dancewear.co.uk/low-rise-brief-3.html

Or some from m & s

She suffers from mennorragea & takes medication for it. Knickers are a must for her.

Original poster
rookiemere · 19/03/2017 22:31

only it's to keep their leotard in place as they aren't allowed to wear pants. I only learnt of it's existence yesterday.

OP posts:
Llanali · 19/03/2017 22:32

Travelledtheworld

You shouldn't wear an underwire whilst riding. They can be dangerous should a wire pop out.

Trust me, as an F cup who competes in all three main disciplines, im familiar with the entire range of suitable sports bras.

My comment about other sports bras, was that many have zips; I have two like this- or still have strap adjusters, or standard fastenings. If any of these became exposed they could get caught in the trampoline bed, like earring studs could and are hence banned:

I wondered if it was easier to ban bras than to ban underwires, clip fastenings, zip fastenings etc.

cheesuskriste · 19/03/2017 22:32

Leotard glue- a cross between a roll on deodorant and a bottle of glue. Sticks the leotard to the skin stopping it riding up when bouncing.

However despite the claims that it washes out easily, it only does in a washing machine. Along with the sequins on the leotard hence the wig tape instead.

The girls at dds club wear trampoline shorts which are like black velvet cycling short type things

RocketPockets · 19/03/2017 22:32

I competed trampolining to a national level so fairly high and I always wore a bra in competition and as long as they weren't showing pants were fine as well. If I remember correctly just before I quit the rules changed so ladies could wear shorts to compete as well just small ones but covered the top of the thigh. No idea if this has changed recently as I haven't competed for a few years now

AlexanderHamilton · 19/03/2017 22:33

Dance belts

dancewear.co.uk/capezio?dir=asc&order=position

You have to scroll down.

RandomMess · 19/03/2017 22:34

They lose points of the leotard creeps up and ends up in their bum crack!

Italiangreyhound · 19/03/2017 22:35

Yes, i think it is outdated and shite. There are plenty of bras that do not have underwire and if boys can wear track suit bottoms so should girls. I think more parents and children just need to question this.

Why do you want me to bounce about on a trampoline in a leotard and no pants? There is only one answer possible and it is shit, it looks 'better'.

cheesuskriste "Having even a flash of pants visible when trampolining is a massive no and you will either lose marks/be disqualified depending on on the club. This also includes the outline of pants showing through leotards." So how does it work for boys if they are in track suit bottoms?

QueenOlivine · 19/03/2017 22:37

For general practice dds club accept hair in any style as long as it's tied up out of her face with a plain hairband- no plastic embellishments for it. For competitions it has to be in a bun with a scrunchie matching the leotard. Plaited buns are acceptable but hair out of place isn't.

What so a female gymnast cannot have short hair!!!???

What a load of misogynist bollocks.