So has your DVR received a workout rewinding moments in women's beach volleyball? Especially, the repeated NBC replays (YouTube) of the American women celebrating their gold last Olympics. Maybe it's just my husband who does that.
King Kaufman at Salon wondered why the women wear bikinis and the men wear shirts. I came across a genius
Basically, the short answer can be found on not-as-gratuitous picture on page 6. Beach volleyball Olympian Holly McPeak explains that though men typically train wearing board shorts and no shirt, for competition,
"[T]he governing international body for the sport prefers a cleaner look with their country, names, and numbers on their shirt."
What no Speedos? I would think there would be plenty of room for country and name information on board shorts.
I guess male Olympians are getting more clothed in various events, like the full body suits for swimming events. Though I suppose diving is still a place to see scantily clothed mens.
Personally, as someone who played quite a lot of beach volleyball, I don't see how the women dive in the sand and not lose their bottoms. But then again, I also wonder how the men don't lose their trunks in the swimming and diving events because they seemed to be perched rather er precariously low.
I really shouldn't worry so much about athletes losing their smallish outfits, I suppose, as the original Olympics were a celebration of the human form and the events were performed in the nude.
And if you think that the picture I used with this story was gratuitous, well it is. It's the non-cropped picture straight from Getty Images. The Sydney Morning Herald didn't think their pictures were sexed-up enough, so they cropped their volleyball booty picture especially close as illustrated by the blog article "Women still the sex class in international elite sports."
Next, maybe I can learn why the Chinese feel compelled to play tons of music from the 80's during the beach volleyball competition. Perhaps it is in homage to the iconic 80's movie, Top Gun. (YouTube below for those who are unfamiliar with my reference or perhaps are into reliving moments of ultimate 80's cheese)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-14-2008 @ 11:35PM
MervthePerv said...
Stephanie:
You either ened counceling or some porn and some new batteries!
Reply
8-15-2008 @ 12:43AM
Emily said...
I can see where you are coming from, but i also think that even though the women volleyball uniforms are bikinis and seen as more of a sexy look than sportswear, they are most likely worn as the ultimate tool of comfort fo the players. Sine they cover so little, they allow easier movement and the other optoins for uniorms would weigh them down along with keeping them hotter and sweatier. Because a bikini is the smartest optoin, why use anything else? It is immature people who view womens volleyball based soley on the fact of seeing them in their bikinis.
Reply
8-15-2008 @ 12:47AM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Emily-
Okay, if comfort and practicality happen just to end up being less, then why do the men wear no shirts?
Probably because the governing body for volleyball isn't pimping the mens players. Just sayin'.
Thanks for reading and commenting,
Steph
Reply
8-15-2008 @ 1:02AM
Emily said...
You know, i askd my brothers if it was moe comfortable wearing a shirt or not while playing sports and why, and the said that its much more comfortable wearing no shirt because of sweat and heat. No one wants to be hot while trying to play their best
8-15-2008 @ 1:42AM
George B Vieto said...
The reason that women volleyball players wear bikinis is to get the humanoids to watch the show. Sex sells but in my case one piece bathing suits are better.
Reply
8-15-2008 @ 12:12PM
meg said...
Dress the guys in skimpy shorts and spray-paint flags or whatever on their chests, and I'd be a lot more interested in watching. Soccer, even. Yeah, I'd watch them "celebrate" on repeat...
What irks me is that men wanting to ogle "girls" makes it a matter of course that professional elite athletes must undress. To attract viewers and money.
And still people, even women, try to find some other logic behind this? Oh please...
The other way around (boys being ogled) is too unthinkable (degrading?) to even factor in.
Reply
8-22-2008 @ 11:55AM
ML said...
I don't think anyone objects to comfort and ease of movement, but it's just so pathetic to have such a blatent skin show, without any redeeming reason for the strip. In almost every sport from golf to skiing, women wear more revealing clothing than do men. I personally ascribe this to men being in charge of design, manufacture and purchasing in most of the larger sporting good/clothing companies.
As women continue to assume a larger proportion of leadership roles in sports and other businesses, I'm sure there will be changes. Remember, the athletes are working hard to have perfectly tuned bodies, and probably don't mind showing them off.
Reply
8-29-2008 @ 8:57AM
Wiz said...
If you play any sports you'd know that women need breast support.... having a bratop and t-shirt is too hot when playing beachvolley, the top is NOT a bikini top it's a two piece.. and looks just fine. You have to be comfortable when doing your sport.. rest assured that if it weren't the most comfortable outfit they wouldn't wear it.
Reply