Paris Olympics 2024 Controversy Puts Focus on ‘Sexist’ Women’s Sports Kits

The official Nike kits for American women competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics have sparked a significant controversy. Criticized for their skimpy design, the outfits have been described by one track athlete as “a costume born of patriarchal forces” and by a commentator on Instagram as “treating women as second-class citizens.”

Nike Kits Under Fire

The backlash began when the kits for men and women were unveiled. While men’s attire consists of tank tops and shorts, women’s kits feature high-cut bikini lines. U.S. track and field athlete Lauren Freshmen publicly condemned the design, arguing that if such outfits were genuinely performance-enhancing, men would wear them too. Jaleen Roberts, a U.S. Paralympic athlete, highlighted the impracticality of the kits, noting how revealing they are even on static mannequins.

Despite these criticisms, some athletes pointed out that women have various designs to choose from, including the option to wear men’s kits. Olympic pole vaulter Katie Moon emphasized the range of uniforms available, defending the choices provided by Nike.

Nike responded by asserting that their goal was to offer options that met athletes’ desires for choice, comfort, and performance. The company described the kits as their most “athlete-informed, data-driven, and visually unified” designs to date.

France’s Hijab Ban

Adding to the controversy, France has banned its sportswomen from wearing the hijab during the Olympics, despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) permitting international athletes to wear it. French Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera justified the ban, citing opposition to religious symbols in the global event.

Activists argue that such directives infringe on women’s freedoms and needs. They believe women should be allowed to wear outfits they feel comfortable in, without facing institutional barriers.

Historical and Ongoing Battles

Female athletes have long contested restrictive and sexist dress codes in sports. From the England women’s cricket team transitioning from skirts to trousers in 1997 to Serena Williams’ full-body catsuit controversy at the 2018 French Open, the struggle for appropriate and respectful sports attire continues.

In 2021, Norway’s women’s beach handball team was fined for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms. Similarly, during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the German women’s gymnastics team opted for ankle-length body suits instead of bikini-cut unitards to protest overly revealing attire.

Impact on Female Participation

Research indicates that inappropriate sports kits can deter women from participating in sports. A study by New Zealand’s Massey University highlighted how sports uniform designs contribute to increased anxiety among female athletes, particularly concerning body image and visibility of menstrual blood.

Tess Howard, an English hockey player, also found that gendered sports kits like skirts cause teenage girls to drop out of sports. Her research, published in April, showed that 70% of women surveyed had witnessed girls quitting sports due to body image concerns related to uniforms.

A survey by Victoria University in Australia further supported these findings, with 65% of girls preferring not to wear skirts during school sports.

The Broader Issue

Experts suggest that the focus on women athletes’ attire and body shapes, rather than their abilities and performance, is a significant issue. Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation, emphasized that clothing should empower athletes and not overshadow their efforts or subject them to undue scrutiny.

Leighton called for more thoughtful and inclusive approaches from sport governing bodies and sponsors to ensure that athletes feel comfortable and empowered.

References

Shamim, S. (2024, July 28). Paris Olympics 2024 controversy puts focus on ‘sexist’ women’s sports kits. Retrieved from Al Jazeera.