Olympic gymnastics humiliates and infantilises grown adult women

[Thebellofstclements]

The ridiculous leotards, the twee hairstyles. Having to do the ridiculous flicky "dance" moves (artistic expression, ha!) and grinning inanely (insanely) in between moves and when presenting...
Arguably the best athletes in the world but these grown adult women have to present themselves in a ridiculous, almost grotesquely infantile manner, looking fairy cheap and tacky.
The men do not.
My family argues that the gymnasts choose to do this.
We know that historically female gymnasts have been abused with no voice, so I'm not convinced this is all what they would necessarily choose given the option. AIBU?

The wearers of the most glamorous style of leotards certainly did choose them, and that culture of choice is being pushed hard across elite gymnastics

They are not judged on their appearances

This is total bollocks. Many (if not most) of the elite gymnasts have experienced body shaming. Chiles said she was constantly weighed and told she was too fat by coaches to the extent she nearly quit the sport. Biles said in an interview that every member of her team had experienced some sort of body shaming during their gymnastics career. They absolutely are judged on their appearance.

"semi-bare buttocks" = "glamorous"?

You really haven't explained why the prevalence of sexism and the power of the male gaze mean women shouldn't choose to present themselves as they do, in gymnastics.

I'm not sure that your point on gymnastics putting more pressure on women than men has much relevance. What's the solution? If any, letting women shape the sport for themselves, reducing pressure to conform to particular body types, and respecting athlete autonomy. That's what the women criticised here for tacky clothing, silly skills and flicky hand moves have been doing. Looking beyond the sequins would be the anti-sexist move here.

I'm thinking of the high crystal count (sparkles).

Maybe someone who objected to a leotard cut could indicate which country it was? I didn't see anything remarkable so I'm a bit in the dark. I don't object to a fully exposed leg and partly exposed buttock in a sportswoman, but that's not what I mean by glamour, no.

I'm referring to formal judging - points scored according to code, not to coaching culture.

Athletes are not judged on hair, makeup and leotard. Nor on weight, though there have been prejudices in this regard, certainly.

Attitudes to weight and body type have been shifting and the athletes criticised for tackiness, simpering etc on this thread have been leading the way.

A woman won't get anywhere in gymnastics if she wears a non- revealing or loose fitting costume.

Several German gymnasts wore non-revealing unitards @DeeCeeCherry . And no gymnast will get anywhere wearing a looser fitting costume, because it would be impossible for her to carry out those moves in one (and potentially dangerous for her to try).

Japan and Romania are the two youngest teams. I'm really not seeing the problem here. They look professional, athletic and relaxed to me. I too would like to see examples of what's bothering people. Olga Korbut seems to be the only named example anyone can offer, and she is in her mid 60s by now and did not compete yesterday.

(Sabrina Voinea middle for Romania likes her makeup. But she is like a nun on the podium compared with her social media pictures outside the gym, where she frolics around all glammed up like many a sixteen year old. There's clearly no party line on how to do your hair and makeup. Lots of variation).

How are you posting this from the 1970s?

They look professional, athletic and relaxed to me

The girls in the Japan team look professional and relaxed in that photo? In what other sport would you be expected to pose like that for a team photo?

This is what professional and relaxed looks like:

I think it would be obscene if men were to wear leotards like women hence their male anatomy 🙄

Oh fgs they're just doing a fun pose. What's wrong with that? Seems very typical of a group of youngish girls.

Upthread someone else was complaining about the 'miserable' soviet era gymnasts, so I'm not sure there's pleasing some people here.

The women look like professional athletes in that photo because that's exactly what they are. And the pride they have in their performance yesterday is clear. They should not need to emulate the men to be considered professional. Let women pose however they please at one of the biggest competitions of their lives.

Oh fgs they're just doing a fun pose. What's wrong with that? Seems very typical of a group of youngish girls. Upthread someone else was complaining about the 'miserable' soviet era gymnasts, so I'm not sure there's pleasing some people here.

Pretty much sums up being a woman, doesn't it?

Yup 🫠

They look happy and relaxed. They are there to do gymnastics which is about body shapes. A synchronised power pose is not unprofessional in that context.

If anyone seriously thinks there is a problem with the way these girls and women present themselves, I don't know how they cope with walking down the average high street in the UK.

Agree it’s awful

If anything the women are actually MORE covered since they don't have bare arms and shoulders which covers more than those tiny shorts

And their pose is just like many a young girl would do having fun

With additional showing off their amazing muscle tone in their legs required for their sport

And male athletes definitely never pose for photos...

Here are some more photos from yesterday. The three women in the group photo represent Germany. The youngest, a rising star called Helen Kevric, has chosen a leotard. She has put up with a lot of bullying on social media with grace and stoicism. She fought off all competition to win her place at the expense of every gymnast who was eligible before she turned 16 a few months ago. Nerves of steel. Austere affect. Rarely smiles. Her two older compatriots are wearing unitards, as they prefer.

In the other photo, the world's second best gymnast, Brazilian Rebeca Andrade. In her late 20s. Grew up in poverty as one of seven children. Has spoken about taking pleasure in preparing hair and makeup for competition. Is highly selective with her routines, favouring a long adult career over short term triumphs. Wearing a leotard designed by a teammate with a degree in product design.

The older gymnasts tend to look more elaborately styled, but I really don't see anything to object to here?

What’s the point of the flesh coloured panels in the leotard the girl on the right in the aGerman team photo is wearing? It looks more like something someone might wear for Strictly.

The women weren't "expected" to pose n the way they did! There have been any number of photos of the women's teams posing in the same way as the men. This bunch just happened to pose like young women often do. Not because it's 'expected'.

She presumably likes the way they look.

If you don't then I guess consider it a gift to people who can't help but incessantly criticize women's appearances 🙄

Those girls from Japan are aged between 16 and 19. They have grown up in a sport that is riddled with abuse, in a country that is known for mistreating athletes, in a misogynistic culture that routinely sexualises and objectifies underage girls.

And yet I'm supposed to believe these are empowered women who are making their own choices.

I've no doubt that in ten years' time we will have another round of gymnastics exposes and everyone will do the hand wringing thing and wonder what went wrong. Again.

Anyways I'm off to bed.

And the ones with the Swarovski partnership. Team USA. Have been asked about unitards. Don't want them. Have been asked about style. Want more sparkle. Have been vocal about mental health, strength and conditioning over slimming, mutual support. All but one in their twenties.

This is a high cut, sparkly leotard which the gymnasts have chosen to wear. It is not my favourite. I respect their choice.

How people look at these women in such a joyful moment and sneer tacky is beyond me. One or two bows, some visible makeup. The odd tattoo. Some sparkles, some patterns. Mostly bare legs, and some toned outer buttock flesh. No hint of genitals, cleavage, buttock crack.

I have tried to post a fair representation. If anyone has examples of the tackiness, depravity, sexualisation we are meant to be seeing, I'd like to know what to look at please.