Why is this ok?

[Caroline H]

The first picture is of a men's volleyball team, and the second picture is of a women's volleyball team. Why is it ok for the men to wear loose fitting, longer shorts, while the women wear really short, tight fitting shorts? They sell underwear for women cut just like that, they're called boy shorts or hot pants, so what's the difference between them wearing underwear to play in and those shorts?

The volleyball team at my Christian college wear the same outfit as those girls in the picture (we don't have a men's team), and it really bothers me to see it because the nature of the game requires the players to bend over a lot. If it were for the advantage of helping them to move around more freely I would understand a bit more, but that's not the case because men don't wear them... ever. So why is it that just because women are playing a sport we have to encourage them to be sexy whilst doing it? It's disgusting and it angers me

 

[Lance_Iguana]

You pretty much nailed it. Its a double standard. Its all about gender roles in our society. Men are supposed to be athletic and women are supposed to be pretty/sexy.

Its sexist, but its true. Woman's sports aren't supported as much as men's sports because of the athletic stereotype. So some areas adopt the sexy stereotype to get viewers.

Its sad. I agree.

 

[Caroline H]

Woman's sports aren't supported as much as men's sports because of the athletic stereotype. So some areas adopt the sexy stereotype to get viewers.

Its sad. I agree.

That's a good point, one I hadn't thought of. I wonder how many guys would bother going to their games if they dressed differently

 

[coffeeelover]

IMHO this is a big problem for high school and collegiate woman's sports. The coach of our girls volleyball team bought uniforms even skimpier than those in the pic. It caused a huge outrage. I was embarrassing for those girls. We did get uniforms that were exactly like the men's uniforms in the pic. Sexism is indeed alive and well. I don't think the male coach of the girls volley ball team has a contract extension in his future.

 

[Lance_Iguana]

That's a good point, one I hadn't thought of. I wonder how many guys would bother going to their games if they dressed differently

Woman's basketball has horrible ratings. They also wear the same uniforms as male teams. Its not a great comparison, but I think it fits. ;)

 

[Caroline H]

The odd thing is that it isn't consistent. If you think about it, women's soccer and basketball uniforms are much like men's, but softball, volleyball and gymnastics are very different. I wonder if that is because those sports are considered more girly sports than soccer or basketball? It's quite confusing.


*Edit: Lance, I didn't see your post until I had posted... this new site doesn't let you know someone has posted before you like the old one did.

 

[Lance_Iguana]

Its cool. Gender roles in this nation are screwy. We hold on to the feminine aspects of sexy and pretty out of tradition and they just aren't challenged, and when they are challenged , its demonized because its different and new.

Not to mention that any female that stands up for woman's rights or against subjugation are made out to be femnazis or lesbians.

I hate bringing it up again, but it relates to the LGBT movement because we where allies with Woman's rights and equality for a long time and still are.

People want to blame women and the entire movement for an obssesion with sex or being destroyers of civil morality and proper gender actions.

Has anyone actually seen a magazine rack? Its a bunch of fitness magazines with women in bikinis on it, music magazines with scantily clad women on it, car magazines covered in near nude women, and gun magazines, guess again, women on them.

Then there are the woman's magazines obsessed with weight loss and looking pretty.
Its aimed at men.

Who exactly is over sexed again?

 

[lovely]

Lust is an everybody issue. The question is, 'What sells?'.

Sports is male dominated, (Not as much as it once was, but still a lot) and ALL of the players are treated as a commodity, but for women in such a male dominated realm 'sexy' uniforms make it more appealing, and more easily sold. We also see commercials, like those with underware with Michael Jordan, where the men are expected to be more 'sexy'. I remember when I was in high school that the girls watched sports to please their boyfriends, but often talked about their tight pants...female sports teams were still virtually unnoticed back then.

My grandmother use to watch soap operas, and EVERYBODY in those things were acting, and dressing, immodestly. We caught a glimpse one on at the bowling alley last Friday afternoon...I was shocked!!!...they are so much worse now, or at least the scene that was on as we walked by was! Those are directed at mostly women who want to watch drama, and sex. I remember there were evening shows that were very similar back then...don't know about now, but I guess there are.

I am not trying to say that there isn't sexism, there is, and it's mostly still directed at women I believe (I agree with Lance about the magazines.), but I don't really see those women refusing to stop either...occasionally, but not regularly. It's just an unrestrained thirst for lust in our society, which because of demand, is now a big commodity for advertising and broadcastings of various types.

 

[Pard]

Everyone has nailed it on the head, it is just sexism and probably a bit about bringing in viewers. It is why woman's tennis players wear skirts that are shorter than some underwear.

It's wrong and should be addressed, but it won't be, because this is not how this culture works.

And Lance, I imagine woman's b-ball is pretty low in most places, but in CT it is pretty well watched, of course we do have the greatest college female b-ball team and our regular woman's b-ball team is the only state team we have (except for a TERRIBLE hockey team...)

Heck, first thing I did when I saw the image was block it from being viewed.

 

[GojuBrian]

I agree, this is a huge problem. I don't like it at all either.

 

[Gendou Ikari]

The first picture is of a men's volleyball team, and the second picture is of a women's volleyball team. Why is it ok for the men to wear loose fitting, longer shorts, while the women wear really short, tight fitting shorts? They sell underwear for women cut just like that, they're called boy shorts or hot pants, so what's the difference between them wearing underwear to play in and those shorts?

The volleyball team at my Christian college wear the same outfit as those girls in the picture (we don't have a men's team), and it really bothers me to see it because the nature of the game requires the players to bend over a lot. If it were for the advantage of helping them to move around more freely I would understand a bit more, but that's not the case because men don't wear them... ever. So why is it that just because women are playing a sport we have to encourage them to be sexy whilst doing it? It's disgusting and it angers me

We can eliminate the sexist element by either having girls wear baggier shorts, or have men wear tighter shorts.

 

[sherri2]

It bothers me too.

Women are inferior atheletes to men overall. God just didn't give us the muscle strength and co-ordination that they have. We dont' need it. They're the hunters, we're the gatherers.

I don't tend to watch much sport but when the girls come in I generally lose interest, like most people. And putting girls in skimpy clothes just makes it so much worse. If women want respect then they have to earn it, not try to manipulate it. Girls have got to get that through their heads.

Once women accept the fact that a) women arn't as naturally atheletic as men and never will be but deserve to enjoy sport as much as men do
b) that fact will always ensure that less people watch them because the men as simply better
c) that means less money
d) that's never going to change

perhaps they will be satisified with more respectable sports uniforms. although the male coachs and team owners ect have as much responsibility in that area as they do.

girls in immodest sports clothes just look cheap. if you're a female athelete looking for credability, that isn't a way to get it. And shoving it at the guys because you 'just don't care' and that 'isn't your problem' just makes it worse for everyone.

 

[Vic C.]

How Ironic. I'm reading this as I watch the woman's semi final US Open tennis match. But it doesn't bother me because I enjoy a high caliber tennis match, men or women. That is, as long as it isn't a 100 hour match.

 

[Sparkey]

Lust is an everybody issue. The question is, 'What sells?'.
[Quote truncated]
It's just an unrestrained thirst for lust in our society, which because of demand, is now a big commodity for advertising and broadcastings of various types.

The Lord gave my son a gift. He, while young, had a problem with behavioral outbursts and explained his "gift" this way:

"It's like there was a guy who would grab me and drag me into a room. The room was where any of the bad things would happen." My son want on to say, "What the Lord did was show me that I could NOT be grabbed unless I went along with it."​

Now, this would not be the case for those who can not avail themselves of the power that Jesus refers to when he says, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Jhn 16:28-29; 33 KJV - I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Our conversation here is yet another a call to holiness.

 

[Free]

That's a good point, one I hadn't thought of. I wonder how many guys would bother going to their games if they dressed differently

I wouldn't have bothered playing if I had to wear tights. lol I don't watch either men's or women's volleyball, unless it's Olympic, and like Vic and his tennis, I can enjoy a good game regardless of who is playing and what they are wearing. I can appreciate the athleticism and technical aspects of the game.

But, yes, I agree that the women wear what they do because sex sells--always has, almost always will.

 

[Theofilus]

Bikinis don't cover any more (in fact, often much less) than panties and a bra. Men's swim suits look like briefs. Even women's one-piece swim suits, which cover a lot more than bikinis, still look like some types of women's underware. Is it ok to wear "underware" in one sport, but not another? If it's wrong for women athletes to wear what looks like underware, then what type of uniform should the women's swim team wear?

 

[Pard]

Theo,

Though I tend to agree with you, swimming is a little different because various uniforms will give various results. Go try to swim as fast as you can in a pair of trunks, then try it in a speedo. The speedo time should be faster. Swim wear is designed to increase speed by decreasing drag. That is why they do not wear bikinis in swimming matches, bikinis have more catches, so more drag is to be had.

 

[Theofilus]

Theo,

Though I tend to agree with you, swimming is a little different because various uniforms will give various results. Go try to swim as fast as you can in a pair of trunks, then try it in a speedo. The speedo time should be faster. Swim wear is designed to increase speed by decreasing drag. That is why they do not wear bikinis in swimming matches, bikinis have more catches, so more drag is to be had.

Exactly. It's the same reason for other uniforms. In the early 20th century, women competed in skirts in many sports. The uniforms they have today are much more practical. As for them looking like underwear, that's in people's minds. When I see the girls in the picture in the OP, I don't think "those girls are wearing underwear", just like I don't think of underwear when I see a woman in a bikini.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Simple economics -

Women's sports events don't amount to spit in terms of their "Earning ability". On the other hand, Men's sports events typically make enough to SUPPORT Women's events.

Of course "Soccer" in the U.S. doesn't draw flies - regardless of who's playing.

If you can sell a few more tickets to something that nobody cares about to begin with by making a "change of dress" -

You do the math.