The sexualization of female athletes.

[pinto]

I mean, there's spandex, and then there's a bikini ...

 

[bounceswoosh]

I see your point (but I do not see how that's comfortable!).

 

[Jenny]

They weren't that small when I ran college track. And we still got to wear shirts, not just sports bras.

 

[bounceswoosh]

They weren't that small when I ran college track. And we still got to wear shirts, not just sports bras.

I mean, honestly, if I were that sweaty and overheated, I don't think I'd want to wear a shirt. And perhaps the same goes for clingy shorts, and that's why they prefer the brief bottoms?

 

[pinto]

I mean, honestly, if I were that sweaty and overheated, I don't think I'd want to wear a shirt. And perhaps the same goes for clingy shorts, and that's why they prefer the brief bottoms?

Exactly, that's what I mean. I do think there is a lot of comfort and practicality going on here, and with human bodies not being so "scary and immoral" anymore. Remember, ancient Greek athletes competed in the nude. Digging a little sand out of a little bit of shorts is better than dealing with lots of it in lots of shorts.

Note: this is not the same as sexy poses in bikinis, which is where we started here, although I imagine it doesn't often make that much difference to the viewer.

 

[bounceswoosh]

Remember, ancient Greek athletes competed in the nude. Digging a little sand out of a little bit of shorts is better than dealing with lots of it in lots of shorts.

That is also crazy to me. Dangly bits + wrestling, running ... oooh, this one:

JUMPING
Athletes used stone or lead weights called halteres to increase the distance of a jump. They held onto the weights until the end of their flight, and then jettisoned them backwards.

 

[altagirl]

Exactly, that's what I mean. I do think there is a lot of comfort and practicality going on here, and with human bodies not being so "scary and immoral" anymore. Remember, ancient Greek athletes competed in the nude. Digging a little sand out of a little bit of shorts is better than dealing with lots of it in lots of shorts.

Note: this is not the same as sexy poses in bikinis, which is where we started here, although I imagine it doesn't often make that much difference to the viewer.

While I totally agree with wearing whatever is comfortable and practical, regardless of anyone's modesty standards...
With the beach volleyball, I guess what I don't get is why men wear long shorts and t-shirts if it's a matter of less clothing equals less sand suck in your clothes.

 

[bounceswoosh]

While I totally agree with wearing whatever is comfortable and practical, regardless of anyone's modesty standards...
With the beach volleyball, I guess what I don't get is why men wear long shorts and t-shirts if it's a matter of less clothing equals less sand suck in your clothes.

Although - this could also be an example of gender policing on the flip side. Men wearing sleek clothing for aero/water dynamics: acceptable. Men wearing sleek clothing when not absolutely required for performance: ewww, gay! Gross! (Not what I'm saying, certainly not about athletic men!)

 

[Jenny]

That is also crazy to me. Dangly bits + wrestling, running ... oooh, this one:

JUMPING
Athletes used stone or lead weights called halteres to increase the distance of a jump. They held onto the weights until the end of their flight, and then jettisoned them backwards.

I cannot imagine being coordinated enough to pull that off without injury!

 

[Jenny]

I mean, honestly, if I were that sweaty and overheated, I don't think I'd want to wear a shirt. And perhaps the same goes for clingy shorts, and that's why they prefer the brief bottoms?

I actually liked the bloomers but would not have been comfortable in just the sports bra. But the bloomers meant I was big time, now, because we wore shorts in high school. (And, my butt and legs looked just awesome in them, back then.)

 

[bounceswoosh]

I actually liked the bloomers but would not have been comfortable in just the sports bra. But the bloomers meant I was big time, now, because we wore shorts in high school. (And, my butt and legs looked just awesome in them, back then.)

Yeah, if only I had the legs now that I thought were so big back then ...

I spent a lot of my life in just a sports bra in college. Freaking Virginia summers.

 

[pinto]

While I totally agree with wearing whatever is comfortable and practical, regardless of anyone's modesty standards...
With the beach volleyball, I guess what I don't get is why men wear long shorts and t-shirts if it's a matter of less clothing equals less sand suck in your clothes.

I think this falls under "what they are accustomed to wearing at the beach." And one of the articles said the men wear shirts because they need identification/numbers on them.