This is because, unlike men’s sportswear, only women’s sportswear is exposed too much.
Nike unveiled Tuesday the uniform that the U.S. national track and field team will wear for the Paris Olympics in July. Men’s uniform covers the thighs, while women’s uniform was a form of a swimsuit. As the design is similar to the high-cut swimsuit that reveals the entire legs and pelvis, it was difficult to wear underwear.
The athletes expressed their dissatisfaction. Colin Quigley, a long-distance hurdle runner, criticized the news agency, saying, “The uniform was never made for performance.” Lauren Plesseman, a former long-distance runner, pointed out on Instagram that “athletes should be able to concentrate on their performance without worrying about exposing sensitive body parts. If the clothing is really functional, men should wear it, too.”
There has been a flurry of criticism online as well. Netizens around the world have shown reactions such as “Swimsuit is less revealing than this,” “Players who need to concentrate on competitions should not be worried about hair removal,” and “Designers should wear their own clothes and run in front of 100,000 spectators.”
“Players can choose whatever they want to wear,” Nike said. “In the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, we only provided shorts, but this time we have a lot of options,” Nike told the New York Times. Female athletes are given shorts, a crop top or a tank top, and a shorts-type bodysuit, which is one of them. The New York Times criticized Nike for choosing the two outfits as previews, increasing inequality over time in the sports world.
Recently, there has been a movement in the sports world to replace sports costumes that force female athletes to expose themselves. Female athletes should be able to focus on the game.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
