To think these Olympics uniforms are sexist and degrading?

[Boombatty]

Nike has revealed the US team's uniforms for their athletes. The men's one is knee length shorts and a vest. The women's is a high rise leotard that I can't imagine any woman being able to wear without her labia hanging out, let alone perform an Olympic sport in.

AIBU to think these uniforms are sexist and degrading to women?

That’s ridiculous!

The athletes normally get to pick from a range of outfits. So perhaps some women will choose the longer 'male' ones.

Wow I was all set to think you’d overreacted but those are ridiculous high leg pants! What’s wrong with Nike pro style short cycling shorts?

Here's a zoomed in picture of the crotch area. Even the mannequin's plastic labia are hanging out. Imagine that on a real woman whose body is moving and twisting!

Can’t believe this is even thought to be acceptable 🤷🏻‍♀️

Horrible - I hope the women's team say no.

Even if that's correct, why should women have to choose to wear clothing designed for men because the only other option is sexist and impractical? Why is it OK to design clothes for men that take their needs into account, but design clothes for women that are not only completely impractical and inappropriate but are clearly designed to objectify elite female athletes?

The one in the picture is plainly fucking ridiculous.

there are other, more sensible (less sexist!) options though.

@Boombatty you are completely correct ofcourse. There is an interesting backlash on Twitter from the female athletes.

Lauren Fleshman, who is a US distance runner has said:

"Professional athletes should be able to compete without dedicating brain space to constant pube vigilance or the mental gymnastics of having every vulnerable piece of your body on display. Women’s kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it,”

"This is not an elite athletic kit for track and field. This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports.”

What does the skimpiest men's option look like? Can we all expect to see some balls this Olympics?

Never understood why the men get to wear shorts and vest while women wear knickers and crop top or what's basically a sports bra.

Crikey!

They should all wear it but with full bush just to make a point.

That's a great comment from an actual athlete@Boombatty , I don't really watch sports, but when seeing the odd one I'm always tense. Can't bear gymnastics for this reason.

Dear god, why would you want to see one of those flapping its wrinkly self in the wind??! Unless for comedy reasons, of course! 😀

There will be a range of options not just two, let's hope they include more suitable women's clothing! I just don't think women should be forced into having a full wax before wearing the kit!

Woah! That's going to show a lot of pubic hair

They also look completely impractical. I’d have a constant wedgie if I tried to run (or move) in that

will M2F athletes wear them ?

I thought was a swimming costume or gymnastic leotard!

I posted a picture of a sprinter wearing one of the other items.

i can't imagine who would choose the floss one!

I have a similar lack of desire to see flaps and yet it seems here we are.

This is beyond ridiculous and I hope the female athletes boycott these costumes. Because they are 'costumes'. Nothing practical about them.

I always find it fascinating that in little more than a hundred years women have gone from ‘having’ to be covered in billowing neck to wrist and ankle clothes to play sport in to ‘having’ to basically take the majority of their clothes off and show off where their pubic hair (would) grow in front of a global televised audience.

How the hell did we get from a to b and how is either serving women’s athletic needs?

In that 100 years, men have gone from one largely comfortable and non revealing option to another.

It's Nike. The company who think female athletes have a penis - which let's face it, would probably fit a sight better in the crotch of that leotard than female anatomy would.

This is another example of their misogyny (it's a long list).