The Men’s Beach Volleyball Uniforms Need an Overhaul

[redqueen]

http://jezebel.com/5929655/the-mens-beach-volleyball-uniforms-need-an-overhaul?tag=olympics

With every Olympic Games, the skimpy uniforms worn by the Women's Beach Volleyball teams grab attention. According to the Huffington Post, there was a press conference on Wednesday, and player Phil Dalhausser discussed the fact that the ladies wear teeny two-pieces while the men wear tops and shorts. "I'm OK with this. They're way prettier than us," he said. Todd Rogers, a medalist in 2008, agreed:

"It just doesn't look as beautiful. The reality is men are driven more by their vision and women are not, so I just don't think it would help. I've practiced in Brazil where the Brazilians are wearing Speedos and it just doesn't look good. To see a guy's package is just not the same."

Dude. First of all, it is the same. We've been conditioned to think it is not the same, but it is. You wanna see ladyparts? You should see manparts too. Second of all, let's forget about the package. Let's just focus on the fact that while the women are diving into the sand with exposed bellies, you guys are wearing shirts. What the fuck. Take your shirts off. TAKE YOUR SHIRTS OFF. Some Olympians agree:

(snip)

The point is: If the ladies are going to get objectified, so should the men. Show us some pecs and abs, get sand in your belly button. If the ladies can do it, so can you. Plus, I will be more likely to watch you play. And if you feel like I'm just watching to check out your body, well, now you know how the women's team feels.

[CrispyQ]

1. This:

Dude. First of all, it is the same. We've been conditioned to think it is not the same, but it is.

[redqueen]

3. Right?

And he spouts off that 'men are more visual' nonsense too... LOL.

[rhett o rick]

9. Sorry. I guess I accidently got in your forum. Wow.

[seabeyond]

10. ya know....

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. Dude it's the Olympics, why are you wearing clothes?

Did you miss the part where the Original games in Greece were all conducted with athletes in the buff?

[seabeyond]

5. i am so fuckin tired of the old, men more visual, womens body pretty, not men... bullshit.

like, that does not fly anymore.

i have always considered the male body a zillion time more attractive. yet, here i am continually told by men that i do not think so

[redqueen]

11. It's propaganda.

But zealously defended propaganda, like with the "evolutionary basis" for women "naturally" preferring pink.

The pretzel logic used to defend and maintain gender conditioning is both hilarious and sad.

[seabeyond]

12. you are right on redq. and in our face obvious. yet it is argued so seriously. nt

[seabeyond]

6. you just gotta read this reply. first one.

This is pure bullshit. What anyone is really saying when they say something stupid like "A woman's body is a work of art! Men's bodies just aren't as good looking as women's bodies." is this:

"Women's bodies signify sex because women are the sex class. Women's bodies exist within a framework of misogyny that universally defines women in terms of male desire, male fantasy, and male power, and yes, the male gaze. Both men and women participate in and perpetuate this frame work. Men are not the sex class, and men's bodies do not signify sex. Men as a class have the privilege of appearing nude, not nude, or partially nude while still being complete human beings. When we suggest that men should appear nude or partially nude for aesthetic purposes, we feminize them in the sense of disrupting their class privilege. In a patriarchy, it is nonsensical to suggest that men should play the feminine, sexualized role, and so we reject it as absurd or undesirable. Thus the status quo where men are covered and women are uncovered is as it should be. Anyway, this stuff is hard, and I don't want to think about it, and I'm a woman and I like wearing skimpy stuff in public, so what's the big deal, anyway?"

[redqueen]

8. LOL, I love the last part...

and this:

Both men and women participate in and perpetuate this frame work.

So don't blame men! You mean hairy bitter humorless feminist Nazis!

[mzteris]

13. I still can't believe that someone

hasn't stood up and said NO!! I will NOT wear a skimpy damn bikini!

I"M AN ATHLETE AND I WILL BE TREATED LIKE ONE! NOt some GD entertainment stripper.

If I were there (which I would never be 'cause i'm a klutz) - but I would organize all the women to SECRETLY bring in shorts and t's - emblazoned with the American flag, eagle, olympic logo whatever - and wear them out on the court. What would they do? STOP THE DAMN TOURNAMENT? No. And it would send a freaking message!

Who else remembers the Black Power on the Olympic Stands. I always will. it meant something. It pissed some people off, but it empowered untold numbers.

[seabeyond]

14. making it onto the olympic team is a pretty big deal. i would imagine there is pressure

and they do not want to make waves.

[petronius]

15. It's easy to find quotes from the women that the tankini uniform is comfortable

and doesn't accumulate sand like shorts and a tank top would. But, I don't really see the men shaking out sand or constantly readjusting between points, and they're not demanding to go shirtless to avoid all that sand... :sarcastic-shrug:

At that level of competition, where every aspect of nutrition, training, and rest is so carefully calculated, it's impossible to believe that men versus women would perform better in different sorts of garb/equipment. It really speaks to the entrenchment of the attitude that women are valued by appearance that uniform differences (all of which seem to lean in the same direction of displaying female bodies) exist at that level.

I'd be curious to see a breakdown of sports comparing the outfits worn by competitors. It seems to me that in track, soccer, swimming the men and women dress the same. In volleyball, a big difference. I won't watch enough of the Olympics to do a study, but a table (maybe) would be informative...

[seabeyond]

16. i was talking on another thread about the track. the uniforms are not the same, though high

competition the men wear that tight one piece. the women are in a bikini outfit. and it is the same, pulling it out of the butt. (actually, thinking about it, i have not seen track in the olynpics, just other competitions, so i am not sure)

i was a swimmer so i know this well, though during competition, we really had to let it go. but....

i was at a sons track race this spring. the guys in tanks and short shorts. the girls in bikini things. this was to make it to state. a big race with top performers. i watched one girl run, continually reaching back to adjust. that is ALL wrong. looses time in her run. because of her damn outfit and not being able to let it go.

yes, the women say that about the outfits, it is also crap reasoning. they are willing to be sexualized to get viewership for their sport. as you say, the reasoning makes no sense.

[mzteris]

19. I've always been a wave maker.

Like I said, if they walked out like that for their tournament, they're certainly not going to stop them at that point.

Will they be chastised? Will the men in charge threaten those "little girls" for daring to defy? Will (some of) the press excoriate them for breaking the rules and depriving all those men that little thrill?

Of course.

But by then, the message would have been sent and the WOMEN of the world would be cheering.

[seabeyond]

20. true all that. i too, have always been vocal. these are high stakes. a lifetime of hard work

athletes are pretty comforted with body and use to the outfits they have to wear, accepting. and there is not a whole lot of thought put into feminism and the inherit sexism in this ruling.

i like your post, though. it would be grand to hear. to hear stupid men make comments like that says a hell of a lot and brings attention to the sexism. more conversation is being had about he sexism thru out which is good.

[Tumbulu]

17. I'm with you on this

and I think that the teams should do just what you suggest.

We did this in our time (I am talking about the 80/70's) called the powers that be on this sexist stuff and this generation needs to do it again, UNFORTUNATELY!!!!!! We almost got rid of these horrendous things like beauty contests, etc.

I think that the athletes need to stand up for themselves and that is that.

[redqueen]

18. Few female boxers even put up a fight about being told they had to wear skirts.

And this is a sport that's played on a beach. These women grew up seeing all these imbalances, most women perceive it as normal and reasonable. Just like so many other double standards, which have been accepted and not rejected by generation after generation of women, this one is no different and it is just treated like 'the way things are'... and then there are the positive reinforcements (e.g. sexy is empowering!) and the desire to be accepted, to not be the one who 'spoils the fun'... there are a myriad of reasons why most people would rather go along to get along.

It really puts it into perspective to think that only one boxer stood up and refused to wear a skirt. A beach volleyball player on a whole team....she'd first have to convince everyone else on her team to go along with her. Try finding that many women willing to stand up against one of these more insidious, especially the 'sexy and empowering' sexist double standards in one room (outside a women's studies class ). I would wager good money most of the women in any group will rattle off all the usual rationalizations.