Men who constantly objectify sports athletes

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I have noticed this more and more the last 2 weeks and have seen quite a lot about it online also. To preface, I see nothing whatsoever wrong in watching sports and admiring someones sporting ability and skill but the amount of misogynistic comments I've heard have been vile.

One particular guy I'm friends with texted me one evening and said he was "being a pig" and not just enjoying watching volleyball but also admiring the "beautiful derriers", he continuously makes objectifying comments about body parts of women, but would blatantly deny it all the time. I used to do gymnastics in my younger days and he has said that he would never objectify me in that way because it's "me" and he respects me and my body, but the whole conversation just gave me the ick to be honest.

Has anyone else noticed this since the Olympics began ?

I'm a little surprised that you're shocked at men making comments about women's bodies. I haven't heard any comments but I wouldn't be happy if a friend was texting me things like that. Just tell him that you're not interested.

Is this your first day being a woman on planet Earth? Men have always been like that.

Yep men are pervs, the 'nice' ones just hide it better

I have heard lots of comments from women about what male athletes look like and their shaggable rating out of 10 and other less classy comments

In fairness a lot of women objectify male athletes.

In the Linford Christie documentary on iplayer he talks v movingly about appalling female behaviour towards him.

Anyone else remember Linford's Lunchbox?

Also a lot of chat this week about the pole vaulter who knocked the bar off with his 'bulge"

I've been pretty disgusted with the memes and constant videos about the pole vaulter.

I also stopped following the opening ceremony thread when it turned into an objectification of one of the olympic officials (male).

It isn't the same as the objectification of women due to history and a power difference, but it does go in both directions in a way I'm uncomfortable with.

As others have pointed out it goes both ways and to be honest I can't get het up about it - athletes have beautiful bodies. The beauty of the athletic form has been a constant through human art and history since Ancient Greece.

I don't know many women who watch rugby for anything else other than the 'fit men'.

There have been loads on threads on here talking about how attractive the athletes are.

It's hard to ignore all the bums on show during the Olympics. Okay, female bums. I don't think they should have to wear such revealing clothing but they do and I've spent a lot of time being envious of their bodies, including their bums!

Have a look at some of the elite athletes' Insta feeds. They show a lot of bottom and boob. Some of them are quite young as well - they might be over the age of consent but it makes me a bit queasy.

I don't think they are (generally) posting those photos for female attention.

I’m getting a lot of social media videos about male swimmers being treated like that by female spectators.

I teach in a school.
About 8 years ago a footballer came in to demonstrate skills to the kids. He was about 22.

Many female members of staff over 40 made some very crude sexual comments about him in the staffroom after he'd gone.

I think that is disgusting what you describe. I can totally see finding some of them very attractive (and I include the male athletes in this, I mean some of their physiques are just exemplary and I am not gay or bi) but those comments just reveal his character. Not just that he feels there is nothing wrong with it, but in how he includes you in the whole thing. As in, you can just keep quiet, or you can talk like that to someone you know well and who shares those views and then there is just blabbering on about it. Maybe even intentionally to some people.

If he's constantly doing this, and giving you the ick, then I respectfully suggest you end the friendship with him.

Internet user shocked to discover that olympic athletes have bodies considered attractive by the general public.