In many aspects of our society, nothing is equal when it comes to gender and gender identity. And this depressing fact extends to sports as well. While I could discuss the inequity in the pay and wages gap between male and female athletes, another inequality plagues sports: uniforms.
Take a look at the male uniforms for the U.S. Olympic male gymnastics team. While the uniforms are form-fitting and a little shorter for flexibility and ease of mobility, the uniforms still offer modesty and privacy for the male performers. However, when looking at the female uniforms for the U.S. female gymnastics team, their uniforms are much shorter and more revealing. Showing more skin, especially of the legs, the female uniforms offer little protection and privacy when compared to the male athletes, despite competing in the same sport.
And the same fact echoes in the U.S. Olympic volleyball male and female teams. Once again, while the male uniform is shorter and tighter for the flexibility and comfort of the athletes, the same cannot be said for the female volleyball team. While the male uniform is shorter but modest and professional, the female uniform is just a bikini. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts to be interjected to counter this claim. The female athletes are literally wearing shorts with a thin cloth covering their breasts.
But why is this true? Well, it all points back to the male gaze. When female athletes are competing, they are not just preforming for a score, but additionally for the approval of the judges, which is still a male dominated field. Performing for the male approval that still plagues our society to this day.
