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?

I find them very skimpy and am not impressed.

And will the shotputters be wearing this? The discus and javelin throwers?

No. They will wear one of the other options that everyone is ignoring.

Even if women have other choices in what to wear - good. But the fact it exists at all is fundamentally sexist. These elite athletes, top of their game and the best in the world, are still being told they are only there to be ogled, and their talents and abilities and hard work are secondary.

So sick of this still happening in 2024.

Completely agree Midnight Patrol. It’s the only other area of clothing for women which comes close to being as sexist and stereotypical in colour choices as clothes for young girls/babies.

I don’t want to look like Hiking Barbie.

Where do the pubes go?

I haven't read all the comments, but why is the men's outfit in patriotic red and blue while the woman's is pink? 😡

I don't think that's the point though. Yes great there are other options to choose from (although we do know women are often pressurised behind the scenes to conform so who knows if they have complete autonomy) but how is it still OK in 2024 to design women's elite performance clothing like this? Why do the women have to wear bikinis for volleyball but the men don't? Why is it OK to expect women to wear skimpy clothes but not men? Where are the manikinis for men?

If wearing something that was cool in the heat was really the underlying rationale for this then men's sports uniforms would look like this...

@MidnightPatrol @Yorkshireknitter

But it isnt the only option for you. There is plenty of hiking/outdoor clothes that aren't pink trimmed- I have plenty. But I also do sometimes like to look like camp fire Barbie! So why can't we have pink trimmed hiking boots for the women who do like pink.

The options are varied and available. To stop pink just because it's a sexist/stereotype colour means you are removing my choice.

I like pink and want to wear pink! You don't like pink so don't buy or wear pink trimmed hiking boots.

That's fine if it's one of many options. I like pink too. But just go and look at the girls' section versus boys' section in a clothes shop. If a girl doesn't like pink she doesn't get much choice as 80% of the clothes are pink. They also say things like "Smile" "Be happy" and "Dreaming of unicorns" while the boys' clothes are actually designed for playing in and say things like "Explorer" "Adventurer" and "Dinosaurs are cool".

Yes, don’t get why male gymnasts get to wear unitards or shorts and vest while women have to wear leotards without knickers or tights. It’s gross.

@Boombatty

But women do NOT need to wear bikinis.

Women don't have to wear bikinis — the uniform guidelines from the Federation of International Volleyball, the governing body of all international competition, allow for many different options. “The athletes are allowed to wear long sleeves, they're allowed to wear shorts, tank tops.

I'm just pointing out that people are forgetting there are different options. Women have the freedom to choose! So designs are varied and yes, still steeped in tradition to an extent but again- women are free to choose!!

Top U.S. duo April Ross and Alix Klineman said they prefer the smaller bikinis and could have worn shorts if they had chosen to.
“For me personally, I think everyone should be able to wear what they’re comfortable in,” Ross said. “I think for us, this is what feels the most comfortable. Sometimes wearing more clothing in really hot weather, getting sand stuck in places is not fun.”
Added Klineman, “It’s not the most practical. But I totally respect other people wanting to be more covered if that’s how they feel most comfortable.”

I mean this is hardly new. Female athletics athletes have been wearing this kind of stuff for years.

It's a horrible design and colour though. The second zoomed in pic looks like it's a candy stripe design - awful!

It's not actually pink. The stripes are so narrow it looks pink, same as the GB kit looks purple. See also Southampton Football Club (if you squint).

Someone mentioned long jump - I've been saying for years they need to sort it especially as the post-jump shot is always of their overly exposed arse.

If there's a wide range of outfits to choose from, why did they showcase the stupidest-looking one for the women? I mean, they saw it on the mannequin and still thought that photo was fine to release?

Exactly! Why make this seem like the main design and the others variations of

If they want. It's their choice

Yeah that's my beef with this

I get that but the US flag isn't pink

Yes those rules were eventually changed in 2021. TWENTY TWENTY-ONE!!!

But that's still not the point. Women are objectified every single day and Nike coming out with these sexist uniforms in 2024 shows that there is still a long way to go in terms of objectifying women.

I'd also like to say their imagery in that picture makes me think they have headaches

@Basilthymerosemary I’m sorry if my phrasing made it sound like I view pink as inferior, I don’t. What I dislike is having the colours I can choose from so often restricted to “traditionally” feminine colours.

My personal experience has been that often when I try to buy a cagoule for example, the bright primary colours I want are only available in men’s, whereas women’s has pink, purple, teal, cream and black. I own a lot of black because of this! I know some companies do offer a much wider range, but it’s definitely not across the board and is something that a lot of women I have met through outdoor activities complain about too.

I very much hope a woman goes for it and styles it out with a full bush.

I assume they'd be given a choice out of all the options?

Here’s the one that I don’t get, why do our female Divers wear a swimming costume that goes up the crack of thier arse ? The men seem to manage to dive with a large percentage of their arse cheeks covered, why not the women ?