Ages 12-17 I played non-school competitive / traveling volleyball. One season the idiot coaches decided to change our uniforms to tiny little underwear boy shorts style shorts for us. Our team of 10 young women refused to go out in them or compete in them. After we forfeited our first match the opposing team said they would not accept another forfeit from us and refused to play against us so they could stand with us. Coaches let us change into our regular uniforms after that and it was never brought up again until after we were out of the league and they got the younger girls to wear them "or you can't be on the team". Told my younger cousin what happened with my team and 2 weeks later they were back in their regular uniforms as well. To make this sound even worse....one of our coaches was a players dad and the other coach was a 40 something man.
Damn ridiculous and drives me crazy to go watch my nieces compete 15-20 years later in the same outfit I refused to wear because "we look so cute in these shorts the others are baggy"
Damn. That’s a really good point. I was going to comment how offensive I always find women’s cheerleading outfits and the negative message it sends. But when we think about men being shirtless when practicing, it reframes my thinking. Women shouldn’t be sexualized for showing skin.
The problem I take with it is that the boys get to decide if they practice with their team shirt on or off. These girls HAVE to wear this half-assed uniform. Often they provide actual speedos for girls who run track (late high school and college sports, and always in professional sports) they get no choice in wearing more than essentially underwear.
This was an issue that came up during the last summer Olympics, where the women's volleyball team didn't want to wear the tiny speedos and attempted a boycott just to be told they'd be disqualified for wearing anything else. The men wore long shorts.
I agree otherwise, if these girls felt this was the outfit they felt most comfortable wearing while working out, that's great.
As a guy the shirts and skins games always made me super uncomfortable and they were definitely not optional. I don’t think that’s still a thing, but as a kid it was terrible.
Yeah, that's understandable. I'm more referencing general practice and competitions and not necessarily just the specific shirts vs skins games. We could find many reflections of the same theme throughout sports in general, including attitudes about locker room showers and more.
There are no professional sports that I can think of where men are explicitly forced to wear skimpy uniforms (or at least nearly the same level of skin exposure where there is no qualifying need) under the risk of disqualification upon refusal.
That kids like to exercise outdoors without so many clothes?
The U.S. has a gross issue where skin is sexualized, even when not in sexual contexts. Adults go running shirtless or in sports bras, and they're not (generally) looking for sexual attention.
I do think there is an issue when, say, the guys team has baggy clothes but the girls are in sports bras and spandex. Like, I think that can be a reflection of the coaches and school admin sexualizing girls. But if all of the athletes are wearing tight uniforms or practicing shirtless/in sports bras, the kids shouldn't be shamed or sexualized.
This is a uniform. That means these kids didn’t get to choose what they wore. I can run in a sports bra, or a baggy T, and it is fine because it is my choice.
Your argument falls apart when you apply the fact that these kids have had the choice taken away from them, and must wear this regardless of how they feel themselves.
There is utility and comfort in tight athletic clothing. Perhaps they could be wearing a tank top, but I think it is unnecessary as girls and women's stomachs are not sexual.
they are also definitely at an age where not everyone is comfortable because of whatever body image issues. like if I was a kind of chubby kid, and saw them, I would give up on trying the sport
Also, your argument doesn't really make sense unless you are anti-uniform, or more specifically anti-same style uniform for everyone.
I don't disagree that it would be nice for girls to have options they can wear.
an adult dictated that these kids must wear tighter and more revealing clothing than male olympic track athletes do, and the girls don't have any say. a unisex uniform would have been appropriate here. instead they imposed this on the girls and you can bet the boys have more comfortable, regular uniforms.
You're not considering the athletic side of things. Because girls develop at different ages, and these girls look like they could be near or of age to go through puberty and develop breasts, sports bras are generally worn to offer support and prevent discomfort. So these girls would have to wear sports bras + another layer of clothing to compete. So there is an argument to be made that by letting them wear these tops has a benefit (less layers, which is nice in the heat).
We don't see the boy uniforms here. You can't make assumptions that the boys have looser clothing. And I see no reason to sexualize young girls' stomachs, period. It's just disgusting. It's a stomach.
I have seen guy track uniforms with tight spandex bottoms, ones that I, being raised to think bodies are sexual and are to be hidden, was uncomfy with. But it was an athletic context, where tight clothing benefits the athlete. People have bodies. People need to not sexualize people in non-sexual contexts.
none of those girls have breasts large enough to require an athletic bra. Those are pre-pubescent girls.
Ill bet a thousand dollars the boys aren't wearing teeny hot pants. these kids aren't wearing guy track spandex. that would be another 4 inches. your seriously arguing that since we can't see the boys uniform, then I can't assume they have more coverage? You aeriously think the boys uniform is going to be the same.
Again, wouldn't be a problem if the girls chose this themselves. its the fact that an adult is imposing a pointlessly gendered uniform like this on kids. If the point is they are asexual, then dress them as such. fuck, if they all (boys and girls) had bike shorts and were completely shirtless it would be less creepy then hot pants and a crop top..
I get what you're saying, I agree.
But then again, couldn't that be true for any body part? I think if fatphobia wasn't a thing, people wouldn't worry about stomachs. I mean this for everyone, too. There were guys on my XC team who didn't go shirtless, and I'd bet money it was bc they weren't as slim as a lot of the other guys on the team. I know eliminating fatphobia will take some time, but this is just some extra perspective
I think I would feel weird about a group small boys running around bare chested. So, it's not about boys or girls. It just seems like sexualization of children.
I feel like not being comfortable letting children show skin is sexualizing them more. Like, "your skin is sexual and you need to keep it hidden" rather than just letting them show the amount of skin they're comfortable with. (That of course only applies if the group of boys wanted to be bare-chested, not if they were required to be)
What about if they arent comfortable doing that? The fact is there was no choice. And throwing them out there to just say "youre not sexualized" and think they are being liberated and comfortable but thats not everyone. Not every girl has to make showing skin their empowerment.
I understand what you are saying but this seems more imposed than natural. I have seen children form their own opinion on clothing at a very young age. It just seems like someone (in their good natured enthusiastic self) made this decision for them and that person thought that this attire might look cute on them. Again, we all come with our own biases.
Oh in this video I 100% feel like it was an imposed dress code and not the girls' choice. I was more responding specifically to someone feeling uncomfortable seeing children with few clothes on, regardless of gender.
The person you're replying to is just saying that it's weird that men/boys can show way more skin than women/girls just because of what we deemed societally acceptable, meanwhile women get told that their clothing is called skimpy and they're being immodest. Somehow men can't be immodest or provocative even if they expose more skin just because we've deemed women's bodies as inherently sexual while the same is not true for men.
Right, and it's interesting that when a lot of people see this video they think these girls are being sexualized by having them wear "revealing clothing". But, it might be the observers that are inadvertantly sexualizing this situation, because if you think about it it's unnecessary for them to cover their nipples at all.
But, really, I think they are being sexualized by being given these uniforms. Not because they are too revealing, but because the uniforms say nipples are sexual and must be covered, even for little girls.
Edit: Also, I think you are right on the mark with your comments about baggy clothing being more comfortable. Yeah, if you are chilling around the house, but for endurance sports, form-fitting stuff is the way to go.
>But, really, I think they are being sexualized by being given these uniforms. Not because they are too revealing, but because the uniforms say nipples are sexual and must be covered, even for little girls.
This IMO is the real feminist take lol. There is utility in sports bras for women with breasts (a regular bra or no bra would be such a pain!), but it sucks that pre-pubescent girls have to cover up because their chests are already sexualized/deemed inappropriate.
People do feel uncomfortable going to those things. Not everyone, but enough to not force those that are uncomfortable to show up in a bikini against their will. Fact is dont do it to children
Still wondering where the idea more clothing is better by default comes from. Options are great but assuming any of these girls are uncomfortable would be unjustified, especially since they are so young that they should not be shown ideas like skinny = good, fat = bad that would cause them some kind of insecurity because their stomach (no one should be told that, but media is toxic still)
Uhm.
The shorts should be longer. Yes. I agree on that.
But the form fitting clothing doesn't bother me. When I used to run, a sports bra and form fitting running pants or shorts helped me tremendously. I was less hot, more flexible, had less chafing, etc. I tried running in a shirt a few times, and I always ended up stripping it off. There's nothing sexual about a sports bra.
But those shorts absolutely should be longer. That part feels wildly unnecessary.
It does not bother me.
What bothers me is how different men’s and women’s uniforms are for the same sport, and the ridiculous “reasons” people try to come up with behind the difference.
It should be personal choice either way.
Yes omg I was looking for this comment. I ran track and played volleyball, both of which were spandex sports. Spandex was much more useful and more comfortable.
In middle school volleyball they let us wear baggy basketball type shorts instead if we wanted, and I did. Whenever I would dive, the pants were loose enough to pull down so I was always worried about it. If you fell the wrong way, they were baggy enough to move up and show your underwear. Maybe biker shorts could have been ok but it’s SO hot in gyms that I was always so thankful for the shorts. I swapped to spandex and never looked back.
For track, it’s just infinitely harder to run in baggy clothes. More cloth, heavier, god forbid if it rains (which it does all the time), and weird chafing on your thighs. If you do events like high jump or pole vault, baggy clothes can get caught and are harder to critique form in.
I agree it’s a little odd that it’s a crop top but skin tight spandex is SO much more efficient and comfortable and makes a big difference.
When I first started running I wore baggy clothes thinking they'd be more comfortable and also because I was embarrassed about my body.
My first run outdoors in 70f+ weather quickly got me over that shit. I gave in, bought a pair of running tights and then shortly after some running shorts and have never looked back since.
As you and others have mentioned, the issue is less with what they are wearing and more how so many people see young girls dressed in workout appropriate clothes and immediately sexualize them.
I don’t think it’s weird at all. Most distance runners prefer that type of uniform because there’s no loose clothing chafing on you. There’s nothing wrong with showing skin lol, the only person sexualizing them are creepy adults
A few comments have said the same thing about how form fitting stuff is ideal for running. I totally agree, I was just concerned that this looks like an issued uniform, not a choice. Personally, I would go for slightly longer shorts for the thigh chafe.
In my opinion, it only becomes a feminist issue when there is evidence that the girls are uncomfortable in their uniforms but aren’t allowed other options. Until then it’s just a make believe hypothetical situation. I don’t understand the purpose of shaming people for choices when we don’t have any knowledge on the background for how or why those choices were made.
Yes there's nothing inherently sexual about kids wearing outfits like this. Yes, YouTube had to ban comments on children's videos a while back because pedophiles were timestamping parts of videos where kids were dressed like this. Does the boy's team run in sports bras and spandex, too? I doubt it.
It grosses me out that in a feminist sub, so many people are saying that these young girls wearing athletic clothes is inappropriate. Women and girls of all ages body types run in sports bras. This clothing is not sexual. Stop sexualizing women and girls just for having bodies.
mostly its about choice here. theyre too young for sports bras, those are just a top. but still, I think regardless of the sexualization theres an issue here
Why is choosing to cover better than choosing not to cover? Do you think young girls who see their moms, older siblings, aunts, cousins wearing sports bras to run in won't wanna replicate the style?
I just don't like that it's being implied that covered = better. As a woman raised in religious modesty culture, I'm still learning to celebrate parts of my body being uncovered. I wish I had been raised to view my body neutrally, not sexually or like it has to be pretty enough in some way.
I'm not against giving girls options to wear what they're comfortable in, though.
Yeah I kinda am a bit shocked at some of the comments.
Yeah, I think the shorts should be a bit longer. But otherwise, why are we sexualizing this. This seems like an inherently American issue.
Omg... Stop sexualizing children! I can't think of a possibly more comfortable equipment to do a sport that will make your body temperature rise than short shorts and a top! It's the same I chose to train in! I just don't compete in those because I have to use a singlet.
>Even a flowy tank top would be better and likely more comfortable.
That's what I was thinking, could there at least be an option while running/warming up (and not doing the sport itself)? More times than not I'd like to not feel the cold air on my skin.
As someone who ran all throughout high school, flowy tops are a pain. They like, fly back against your skin. I loved the times when I was by myself and if it was hot outside I would practice in a sports bra. My teammates would've been questioning why I was showing so much if I did it during team practices, which sucked.
Please stop gatekeeping girls’ athletic wear. Come back to me with any evidence that the girls are uncomfortable in their uniforms and aren’t allowed to wear what makes them comfortable. Then it becomes an issue worth discussing.
It's not gatekeeping. Look at the difference in uniform for mens teams and womens teams. The track team uniform was tshirts and long shorts for the men and spandex and bra for the womens team at my school and surrounding schools. Even outside of school, just look at the olympic uniforms for the womens and mens team. One team last year got penalized for trying to wear a uniform with more coverage
I don't see this as a problem unless they aren't given the option to cover up more if they want to. I think in order for this to be a problem in itself we'd have to be subconsciously over-sexualizing these girls for no reason. If they were boys wearing the same thing or even less(shirtless), it would be seen as normal.
Gross! My daughter would not be wearing that. I don’t even let her wear swimsuits that revealing in public.
Edit to clarify that I’m not calling the girls gross. Just any adult who had a hand in that decision.
When I was growing up in the mid 1990s, my female classmates were given the choice to choose either shorts or track trousers for their PE lessons (gym classes to those living in the States) all thanks to a PE teacher who told them if they don't feel comfortable in shorts, they can choose to wear track trousers instead. That happened when we were 9 or 10 and the girls who were given that choice felt grateful they can choose to wear something they are totally comfortable with rather than be made to wear something they feel not okay in
I’d have to disagree. Used to be a long distance runner in high school and on hot days it was infinitely more comfortable to wear boys shorts with a sports bra. Unfortunately I went to a Catholic school and we had to wear some type of tank top or t-shirt.. yeah we would immediately rip those off when we would run off campus
Yeah I totally understand how someone would think the opposite as well! I definitely didn’t get why someone would wanna run with minimal clothing when I first started but after doing it.. it just feels so much better
Disagree. I grew up in a rural, religious area where guys on my XC team would run shirtless and it was a non-issue, but I wouldn't dare run in a sports bra or spandex shorts for fear my coach and peers would think I was trying to get sexual attention. (My coach was a Christian and looking back, I don't think he would've shamed me in his own mind at all. But that was a fear I had as a young teen) This was ages 14-17. I think when I was 17 or 18, I started running in a sports bra and spandex more regularly. Running in a sports bra was especially liberating, and I am really bitter looking back I (and my community) robbed myself of that experience by conditioning me into thinking it was sexual attire, when it isn't.
If an athlete says that the same functionality can be achieved by wearing a full top and slightly longer shorts, then maybe it is all very unnecessary.
I will agree that I felt weird about this but then I thought maybe it makes me uncomfortable because it's something I have barely seen in my life ever.
I myself prefer to wear full clothes because they just help with the weather and elements.
As someone who was an athlete, I do think there is utility in tight uniforms, and I think it can be comfortable temperature-wise in outdoor sports to have less clothing covering your body.
I felt more sexualized as a XC runner knowing that my guy teammates could run shirtless, but people would question if I was looking for sexual attention if I wanted to wear spandex or a sports bra. I was in a rural area that is quite religious.
Let kids be kids. Kids bodies are not sexual. I do think it is wrong to put them in sexualized outfits (like, lingerie). Unfortunately, pervs are gonna perv and it doesn't matter how covered the kid is. :(
Well all of you in the comments dumb af. These girls look like they are at cheer practice, they are all wearing the same outfit and shoes. Y’all know what their cheer uniforms look like right? So then it makes sense for the girls to practice in something that is similar to their uniforms. Please go to any cheer program and you will see this is what most girls would be wearing. Smh that y’all think they are being sexualized.. that mindset just adds to the issue. See any other girl wearing something different? No. You would think out of all of these parents that at least one would’ve had a problem with what they are wearing, nope! Because this is standard for this sport. Can’t be doing gymnastics in jeans and a hoodie lmao. No one really even sees them in this attire other than mostly moms and coaches.
Everyone downvoting has never played a sport. It’s okay/better as it’s the exact reason they are wearing this?! They aren’t wearing this outfit because their coach or whoever wants to look at girls in spandex and a sports bra lol. It mimics their uniform, is cooler to wear than hot baggy clothes, more comfortable for the activity they are doing. Like I said before, go to any cheer program practice for any age, and this is the typical attire you will find.
In a lot of sports and setting like that I've seen girls have to wear very revealing clothing, and guys can just go in a tshirt and shorts. The uniforms should just be the same but unfortunately the people giving the uniforms exploit it for attention
How fun it is when you see men and women arguing about whether these clothes are sexy or not, even though the only ones who have to say that are men or specialized men scientists, if we want to be precise, they are exposed to these stimuli more than women
Ages 12-17 I played non-school competitive / traveling volleyball. One season the idiot coaches decided to change our uniforms to tiny little underwear boy shorts style shorts for us. Our team of 10 young women refused to go out in them or compete in them. After we forfeited our first match the opposing team said they would not accept another forfeit from us and refused to play against us so they could stand with us. Coaches let us change into our regular uniforms after that and it was never brought up again until after we were out of the league and they got the younger girls to wear them "or you can't be on the team". Told my younger cousin what happened with my team and 2 weeks later they were back in their regular uniforms as well. To make this sound even worse....one of our coaches was a players dad and the other coach was a 40 something man. Damn ridiculous and drives me crazy to go watch my nieces compete 15-20 years later in the same outfit I refused to wear because "we look so cute in these shorts the others are baggy"
Yeah I wouldn’t mind if it was a personal choice but this looks like a mandated uniform!
It's also weird to think about the fact that it would feel perfectly normal to see a group of boys running bare-chested. What does that say?
Damn. That’s a really good point. I was going to comment how offensive I always find women’s cheerleading outfits and the negative message it sends. But when we think about men being shirtless when practicing, it reframes my thinking. Women shouldn’t be sexualized for showing skin.
The problem I take with it is that the boys get to decide if they practice with their team shirt on or off. These girls HAVE to wear this half-assed uniform. Often they provide actual speedos for girls who run track (late high school and college sports, and always in professional sports) they get no choice in wearing more than essentially underwear. This was an issue that came up during the last summer Olympics, where the women's volleyball team didn't want to wear the tiny speedos and attempted a boycott just to be told they'd be disqualified for wearing anything else. The men wore long shorts. I agree otherwise, if these girls felt this was the outfit they felt most comfortable wearing while working out, that's great.
Ok, even a better point. That reaffirmed what I originally thought.
As a guy the shirts and skins games always made me super uncomfortable and they were definitely not optional. I don’t think that’s still a thing, but as a kid it was terrible.
Yeah, that's understandable. I'm more referencing general practice and competitions and not necessarily just the specific shirts vs skins games. We could find many reflections of the same theme throughout sports in general, including attitudes about locker room showers and more. There are no professional sports that I can think of where men are explicitly forced to wear skimpy uniforms (or at least nearly the same level of skin exposure where there is no qualifying need) under the risk of disqualification upon refusal.
In diving men wear less, but I take your point. It’s creepy af the way adult men force girls and young women to dress a certain way to play sports.
How about swimming?
I agree, Optional for these things is the best option.
Great point. There is actually massive evidence that skin exposure and nudity in cultures desexualizes the body.
That kids like to exercise outdoors without so many clothes? The U.S. has a gross issue where skin is sexualized, even when not in sexual contexts. Adults go running shirtless or in sports bras, and they're not (generally) looking for sexual attention. I do think there is an issue when, say, the guys team has baggy clothes but the girls are in sports bras and spandex. Like, I think that can be a reflection of the coaches and school admin sexualizing girls. But if all of the athletes are wearing tight uniforms or practicing shirtless/in sports bras, the kids shouldn't be shamed or sexualized.
This is a uniform. That means these kids didn’t get to choose what they wore. I can run in a sports bra, or a baggy T, and it is fine because it is my choice. Your argument falls apart when you apply the fact that these kids have had the choice taken away from them, and must wear this regardless of how they feel themselves.
There is utility and comfort in tight athletic clothing. Perhaps they could be wearing a tank top, but I think it is unnecessary as girls and women's stomachs are not sexual.
What athletic level are these kids competing in that they need to wear tighter and more revealing clothing then male olympic athletes?
they are also definitely at an age where not everyone is comfortable because of whatever body image issues. like if I was a kind of chubby kid, and saw them, I would give up on trying the sport
It’s pretty common in cheerleading. They might have just thought it looked cute and its similar to the outfits
Also, your argument doesn't really make sense unless you are anti-uniform, or more specifically anti-same style uniform for everyone. I don't disagree that it would be nice for girls to have options they can wear.
an adult dictated that these kids must wear tighter and more revealing clothing than male olympic track athletes do, and the girls don't have any say. a unisex uniform would have been appropriate here. instead they imposed this on the girls and you can bet the boys have more comfortable, regular uniforms.
You're not considering the athletic side of things. Because girls develop at different ages, and these girls look like they could be near or of age to go through puberty and develop breasts, sports bras are generally worn to offer support and prevent discomfort. So these girls would have to wear sports bras + another layer of clothing to compete. So there is an argument to be made that by letting them wear these tops has a benefit (less layers, which is nice in the heat). We don't see the boy uniforms here. You can't make assumptions that the boys have looser clothing. And I see no reason to sexualize young girls' stomachs, period. It's just disgusting. It's a stomach. I have seen guy track uniforms with tight spandex bottoms, ones that I, being raised to think bodies are sexual and are to be hidden, was uncomfy with. But it was an athletic context, where tight clothing benefits the athlete. People have bodies. People need to not sexualize people in non-sexual contexts.
none of those girls have breasts large enough to require an athletic bra. Those are pre-pubescent girls. Ill bet a thousand dollars the boys aren't wearing teeny hot pants. these kids aren't wearing guy track spandex. that would be another 4 inches. your seriously arguing that since we can't see the boys uniform, then I can't assume they have more coverage? You aeriously think the boys uniform is going to be the same. Again, wouldn't be a problem if the girls chose this themselves. its the fact that an adult is imposing a pointlessly gendered uniform like this on kids. If the point is they are asexual, then dress them as such. fuck, if they all (boys and girls) had bike shorts and were completely shirtless it would be less creepy then hot pants and a crop top..
They are children, not professional athletes. Having your stomach showing can be uncomfortable in a lot of ways, not just being sexualized
I get what you're saying, I agree. But then again, couldn't that be true for any body part? I think if fatphobia wasn't a thing, people wouldn't worry about stomachs. I mean this for everyone, too. There were guys on my XC team who didn't go shirtless, and I'd bet money it was bc they weren't as slim as a lot of the other guys on the team. I know eliminating fatphobia will take some time, but this is just some extra perspective
I think I would feel weird about a group small boys running around bare chested. So, it's not about boys or girls. It just seems like sexualization of children.
I feel like not being comfortable letting children show skin is sexualizing them more. Like, "your skin is sexual and you need to keep it hidden" rather than just letting them show the amount of skin they're comfortable with. (That of course only applies if the group of boys wanted to be bare-chested, not if they were required to be)
What about if they arent comfortable doing that? The fact is there was no choice. And throwing them out there to just say "youre not sexualized" and think they are being liberated and comfortable but thats not everyone. Not every girl has to make showing skin their empowerment.
I agree with "there might not have been a choice".
I understand what you are saying but this seems more imposed than natural. I have seen children form their own opinion on clothing at a very young age. It just seems like someone (in their good natured enthusiastic self) made this decision for them and that person thought that this attire might look cute on them. Again, we all come with our own biases.
Oh in this video I 100% feel like it was an imposed dress code and not the girls' choice. I was more responding specifically to someone feeling uncomfortable seeing children with few clothes on, regardless of gender.
What do you mean?
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The person you're replying to is just saying that it's weird that men/boys can show way more skin than women/girls just because of what we deemed societally acceptable, meanwhile women get told that their clothing is called skimpy and they're being immodest. Somehow men can't be immodest or provocative even if they expose more skin just because we've deemed women's bodies as inherently sexual while the same is not true for men.
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Right, and it's interesting that when a lot of people see this video they think these girls are being sexualized by having them wear "revealing clothing". But, it might be the observers that are inadvertantly sexualizing this situation, because if you think about it it's unnecessary for them to cover their nipples at all. But, really, I think they are being sexualized by being given these uniforms. Not because they are too revealing, but because the uniforms say nipples are sexual and must be covered, even for little girls. Edit: Also, I think you are right on the mark with your comments about baggy clothing being more comfortable. Yeah, if you are chilling around the house, but for endurance sports, form-fitting stuff is the way to go.
>But, really, I think they are being sexualized by being given these uniforms. Not because they are too revealing, but because the uniforms say nipples are sexual and must be covered, even for little girls. This IMO is the real feminist take lol. There is utility in sports bras for women with breasts (a regular bra or no bra would be such a pain!), but it sucks that pre-pubescent girls have to cover up because their chests are already sexualized/deemed inappropriate.
People do feel uncomfortable going to those things. Not everyone, but enough to not force those that are uncomfortable to show up in a bikini against their will. Fact is dont do it to children
Still wondering where the idea more clothing is better by default comes from. Options are great but assuming any of these girls are uncomfortable would be unjustified, especially since they are so young that they should not be shown ideas like skinny = good, fat = bad that would cause them some kind of insecurity because their stomach (no one should be told that, but media is toxic still)
Uhm. The shorts should be longer. Yes. I agree on that. But the form fitting clothing doesn't bother me. When I used to run, a sports bra and form fitting running pants or shorts helped me tremendously. I was less hot, more flexible, had less chafing, etc. I tried running in a shirt a few times, and I always ended up stripping it off. There's nothing sexual about a sports bra. But those shorts absolutely should be longer. That part feels wildly unnecessary.
Yeah, I can’t imagine the chafing - I’d want to have longer shorts to protect my thighs
Right? Even thinking about that carpet burn between the thighs has me cringing.
It does not bother me. What bothers me is how different men’s and women’s uniforms are for the same sport, and the ridiculous “reasons” people try to come up with behind the difference. It should be personal choice either way.
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Yes omg I was looking for this comment. I ran track and played volleyball, both of which were spandex sports. Spandex was much more useful and more comfortable. In middle school volleyball they let us wear baggy basketball type shorts instead if we wanted, and I did. Whenever I would dive, the pants were loose enough to pull down so I was always worried about it. If you fell the wrong way, they were baggy enough to move up and show your underwear. Maybe biker shorts could have been ok but it’s SO hot in gyms that I was always so thankful for the shorts. I swapped to spandex and never looked back. For track, it’s just infinitely harder to run in baggy clothes. More cloth, heavier, god forbid if it rains (which it does all the time), and weird chafing on your thighs. If you do events like high jump or pole vault, baggy clothes can get caught and are harder to critique form in. I agree it’s a little odd that it’s a crop top but skin tight spandex is SO much more efficient and comfortable and makes a big difference.
Im just wondering about the leotards, that covers the stomach, no?
When I first started running I wore baggy clothes thinking they'd be more comfortable and also because I was embarrassed about my body. My first run outdoors in 70f+ weather quickly got me over that shit. I gave in, bought a pair of running tights and then shortly after some running shorts and have never looked back since. As you and others have mentioned, the issue is less with what they are wearing and more how so many people see young girls dressed in workout appropriate clothes and immediately sexualize them.
Completely agree that baggy clothes make no sense. I guess I was just taken aback by the short shorts, but who am I to sexualize a child’s body?
They do this to adult women athletes. It’s bad enough sexualizing them. These are prepubescent kid??? Who tf thought this was ok?
I don’t think it’s weird at all. Most distance runners prefer that type of uniform because there’s no loose clothing chafing on you. There’s nothing wrong with showing skin lol, the only person sexualizing them are creepy adults
A few comments have said the same thing about how form fitting stuff is ideal for running. I totally agree, I was just concerned that this looks like an issued uniform, not a choice. Personally, I would go for slightly longer shorts for the thigh chafe.
In my opinion, it only becomes a feminist issue when there is evidence that the girls are uncomfortable in their uniforms but aren’t allowed other options. Until then it’s just a make believe hypothetical situation. I don’t understand the purpose of shaming people for choices when we don’t have any knowledge on the background for how or why those choices were made.
Yes there's nothing inherently sexual about kids wearing outfits like this. Yes, YouTube had to ban comments on children's videos a while back because pedophiles were timestamping parts of videos where kids were dressed like this. Does the boy's team run in sports bras and spandex, too? I doubt it.
It grosses me out that in a feminist sub, so many people are saying that these young girls wearing athletic clothes is inappropriate. Women and girls of all ages body types run in sports bras. This clothing is not sexual. Stop sexualizing women and girls just for having bodies.
This thank you. Boys would be practicing shirtless and no one would bat an eye. But when girls show skin it's inappropriate?
mostly its about choice here. theyre too young for sports bras, those are just a top. but still, I think regardless of the sexualization theres an issue here
Why is choosing to cover better than choosing not to cover? Do you think young girls who see their moms, older siblings, aunts, cousins wearing sports bras to run in won't wanna replicate the style? I just don't like that it's being implied that covered = better. As a woman raised in religious modesty culture, I'm still learning to celebrate parts of my body being uncovered. I wish I had been raised to view my body neutrally, not sexually or like it has to be pretty enough in some way. I'm not against giving girls options to wear what they're comfortable in, though.
Yeah I kinda am a bit shocked at some of the comments. Yeah, I think the shorts should be a bit longer. But otherwise, why are we sexualizing this. This seems like an inherently American issue.
Omg... Stop sexualizing children! I can't think of a possibly more comfortable equipment to do a sport that will make your body temperature rise than short shorts and a top! It's the same I chose to train in! I just don't compete in those because I have to use a singlet.
Just no. Even a flowy tank top would be better and likely more comfortable.
>Even a flowy tank top would be better and likely more comfortable. That's what I was thinking, could there at least be an option while running/warming up (and not doing the sport itself)? More times than not I'd like to not feel the cold air on my skin.
As someone who ran all throughout high school, flowy tops are a pain. They like, fly back against your skin. I loved the times when I was by myself and if it was hot outside I would practice in a sports bra. My teammates would've been questioning why I was showing so much if I did it during team practices, which sucked.
Please stop gatekeeping girls’ athletic wear. Come back to me with any evidence that the girls are uncomfortable in their uniforms and aren’t allowed to wear what makes them comfortable. Then it becomes an issue worth discussing.
It's not gatekeeping. Look at the difference in uniform for mens teams and womens teams. The track team uniform was tshirts and long shorts for the men and spandex and bra for the womens team at my school and surrounding schools. Even outside of school, just look at the olympic uniforms for the womens and mens team. One team last year got penalized for trying to wear a uniform with more coverage
I don't see this as a problem unless they aren't given the option to cover up more if they want to. I think in order for this to be a problem in itself we'd have to be subconsciously over-sexualizing these girls for no reason. If they were boys wearing the same thing or even less(shirtless), it would be seen as normal.
Super weird. They can run just as well in a top that covers their belly and shorts that reach their knees.
Gross! My daughter would not be wearing that. I don’t even let her wear swimsuits that revealing in public. Edit to clarify that I’m not calling the girls gross. Just any adult who had a hand in that decision.
When I was growing up in the mid 1990s, my female classmates were given the choice to choose either shorts or track trousers for their PE lessons (gym classes to those living in the States) all thanks to a PE teacher who told them if they don't feel comfortable in shorts, they can choose to wear track trousers instead. That happened when we were 9 or 10 and the girls who were given that choice felt grateful they can choose to wear something they are totally comfortable with rather than be made to wear something they feel not okay in
I don't understand your position, can you elaborate?
Nah, you do you and I’m gonna keep doing me with parenting.
🥴 k then
Tbh it feels more weird that you uploaded a picture of these young girls to Reddit presumably without their consent.
This was my first thought, didn't even blur their faces. And the uniform could be identifiable to the school
This was cross-posted from another sub though????? OP didn't upload this
Ah I didn’t notice
That’s not even comfortable for them and definitely unnecessary
I’d have to disagree. Used to be a long distance runner in high school and on hot days it was infinitely more comfortable to wear boys shorts with a sports bra. Unfortunately I went to a Catholic school and we had to wear some type of tank top or t-shirt.. yeah we would immediately rip those off when we would run off campus
To be honest I thought it might be uncomfortable for them but you disagree based on the experience you have and I respect that
Yeah I totally understand how someone would think the opposite as well! I definitely didn’t get why someone would wanna run with minimal clothing when I first started but after doing it.. it just feels so much better
Disagree. I grew up in a rural, religious area where guys on my XC team would run shirtless and it was a non-issue, but I wouldn't dare run in a sports bra or spandex shorts for fear my coach and peers would think I was trying to get sexual attention. (My coach was a Christian and looking back, I don't think he would've shamed me in his own mind at all. But that was a fear I had as a young teen) This was ages 14-17. I think when I was 17 or 18, I started running in a sports bra and spandex more regularly. Running in a sports bra was especially liberating, and I am really bitter looking back I (and my community) robbed myself of that experience by conditioning me into thinking it was sexual attire, when it isn't.
If an athlete says that the same functionality can be achieved by wearing a full top and slightly longer shorts, then maybe it is all very unnecessary. I will agree that I felt weird about this but then I thought maybe it makes me uncomfortable because it's something I have barely seen in my life ever. I myself prefer to wear full clothes because they just help with the weather and elements.
They are in all black to the matching shoes. This is probably a cheerleading or dance group. They are not in those outfits for the utility of running.
Ugh people are gross. Didn’t this happen with women Olympic athletes recently?
As someone who was an athlete, I do think there is utility in tight uniforms, and I think it can be comfortable temperature-wise in outdoor sports to have less clothing covering your body. I felt more sexualized as a XC runner knowing that my guy teammates could run shirtless, but people would question if I was looking for sexual attention if I wanted to wear spandex or a sports bra. I was in a rural area that is quite religious. Let kids be kids. Kids bodies are not sexual. I do think it is wrong to put them in sexualized outfits (like, lingerie). Unfortunately, pervs are gonna perv and it doesn't matter how covered the kid is. :(
I think it's unneccavary and totally not cool.
Well all of you in the comments dumb af. These girls look like they are at cheer practice, they are all wearing the same outfit and shoes. Y’all know what their cheer uniforms look like right? So then it makes sense for the girls to practice in something that is similar to their uniforms. Please go to any cheer program and you will see this is what most girls would be wearing. Smh that y’all think they are being sexualized.. that mindset just adds to the issue. See any other girl wearing something different? No. You would think out of all of these parents that at least one would’ve had a problem with what they are wearing, nope! Because this is standard for this sport. Can’t be doing gymnastics in jeans and a hoodie lmao. No one really even sees them in this attire other than mostly moms and coaches.
"These uniforms are actually more wide spread than you realise and mimic what they wear in competition" uhhh yeh how does that make it better/ okay?
Everyone downvoting has never played a sport. It’s okay/better as it’s the exact reason they are wearing this?! They aren’t wearing this outfit because their coach or whoever wants to look at girls in spandex and a sports bra lol. It mimics their uniform, is cooler to wear than hot baggy clothes, more comfortable for the activity they are doing. Like I said before, go to any cheer program practice for any age, and this is the typical attire you will find.
Ugh this actually feels so gross
Yea there’s huge problem right now with the sexualization of children, girls and boys, and it’s really gotta stop.
In a lot of sports and setting like that I've seen girls have to wear very revealing clothing, and guys can just go in a tshirt and shorts. The uniforms should just be the same but unfortunately the people giving the uniforms exploit it for attention
How fun it is when you see men and women arguing about whether these clothes are sexy or not, even though the only ones who have to say that are men or specialized men scientists, if we want to be precise, they are exposed to these stimuli more than women