Women's Uniforms vs. Men's Uniforms

Here's a thread that might help.

I have to agree with you. As a coach I haven't bought spankies for my girls teams. It's not as bad, but similar to beach volleyball. Why aren't the men wearing speedos and no tops?

I definitely see a problem with women racing in their underwear. I know that girls and women come on here all the time and say that it makes them feel more professional, whatever, but in my opinion it only makes them feel more professional b/c that's what they see professionals wearing, not b/c it makes any difference whatsoever in the race. If butthuggers and sportsbras made you faster, men would wear them. I have no problem with spandex and shimmels but running in your underwear is silly. It was obviously some guy somewhere who came up with that idea.

you're an idiot

I don't see the uniform difference as a big problem- when I wore buns I didn't think about how I looked. And the girls on my team all liked them or came to like them because it made the racing outfit different than just a normal workout outfit. I personally don't like the tight-fitting tops because I think they're hotter than singlets and I like to feel more air flow.

But I don't think that high school girls should be made to feel uncomfortable if they don't want to wear buns.

It's really the same difference to me as guys wearing swim trunks and girls wearing bathing suits. And in high school, some of the guys felt uncomfortable wearing such short shorts.

Just anohter way women are sexuaized unnecessarily. I'm a guy and far from a feminist, but I have always thought those bun huggers looked ridiculous. If I was a girl and my coach tried having me wear something like that I'd tell him to give me a pair of shorts. Just like if a coach tried to give me a speedo to wear now I'd tell him to give me some shorts.

What about all the brothers in the sprints that wear the skin tight spandex? My wife's favorite sporting event to watch on TV by far is a men's 100 meter final. Talk about a sausage fest! Nothing is left to the imagination!

Why be insecure? If anyone says anything about how you look, tell them to f*** off.

thanks

One kind is for men, the other is for women.

I really dislike the fact that these the bun huggers obviously serve no purpose other than to be sexy on a woman, but I admit that I actually like wearing them. As much as I value myself as an athlete and try to be all business on the track (no hair ribbons, no makeup, none of that s***), I feel empowered wearing something sexy and competing at the same time. It's funny...I spend so much time training and sweating and wearing t shirts and shorts to class because I have practice afterwards, and looking unlike my girlfriends b/c I'm not curvy...that looking good while I compete is a little bit satisfying. I'd die before I'd admit this to anyone in person, but I don't have a problem with my uniform, and I know a lot of other women like to wear them too.

Maybe because loose fitting men's shorts are hiding men's junk from buldging. Some people may find a clearly defined genitals to be offensive. Plus, if men wore racing "speedos," there is always the chance with something popping out. Yes, more men are starting to wear compression shorts, and some people to find them gross, but at least nothing will fall out.

Women, on the other hand, don't have to worry so much about something "portruding" and nothing will to pop out, so they can wear the racing briefs.

As for the tops, I think woman's tops are tight because it negates the reason to wear a sports bra. Look at pro runners, for instance. Many woman's tops ARE just sports bras. I think woman's shimlets are longer just to be more modest.

too ashamed to say wrote:

I feel empowered wearing something sexy and competing at the same time.

You feel empowered because you are getting people to judge you on a sexual level? I hate to tell you, but that's the opposite of empowerment (unless your idea of empowerment is getting someone to buy you dinner a couple times and say nice things to you so they can get in your pants).

You have to be kidding me! For girls to look sexy? Butt huggers make the best looking girls look kind of nasty. I don't understand how you can say they "sexuasize" women. They are disgusting. I don't want to see your nasty shave burns and peeking out pubic hair and nasty upper hamstrings. So unnecessary. I am a guy, and I love women, but butt huggers are nasty and unnecessary. Don't flatter yourself and say they make you look sexy.

Just something to think about:

It is acceptable to use your brain to get ahead. If you are smarter than others you can use it to your advantage to get ahead in life. Brains come naturally, to some extent. Some people are just smarter than others- maybe in different areas, people have aptitudes for different things.

But it is not acceptable to use physical beauty to get ahead. Some people have good looks, some don't. You still have to work at refining and keeping your physical beauty, just like you have to continue to "excercise" your mind to stay intelligent.

If a woman looks good in bun huggers and is comfortable combining her physical beauty with athletic talent- more power to her.

And, if that means she gets a bigger appearance fee- good for her, she is using her natural qualities to get ahead.

Presumably, a business will hire the person they feel will help them progress- you need an acountant, you hire the best person you interview. If you want yor receptionist to look good, that's your business.

If you put on a track meet or road race and you want great looking women in bunhuggers, that's your choice.

Personally, I think talent is more important and I think it is crazy how a woman is almost always judged by her looks in addition to her talent.

i totally agree. why would any coach force their athletes to wear something that is going to make them feel uncomfortable? i told my HS coach many times that the bun-huggers made me embarrassed/anxious and he continued to make me wear them, when obviously peak-performance requires an athlete to feel as self-confident as possible. i don't believe they make you faster. it's all about "looking professional". ridiculous.

I would file this discussion under "don't give a sh*t about what other people think." It's a sports uniform. Women always think they are being viewed as sex object and are the center of attention. Guess what? The world doesn't revolve around you, toots. Us guys have own problems.

Self confidence isn't about "feeling good." Self confidence is knowing that, no matter what happens, you will be able to give your task, no matter what it is, all of your effort. If you're worried that what you're wearing is affecting you, you weren't going to win anyways because your mind is too cluttered with useless crap. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT FOR YOU TO RACE YOUR BEST. What if it rains? What if a coyote comes out of the hills and attacks you on the second water pit? If you're having self doubts because you don't have an extra inch and a half of fabric on your butt, you're beat from the get-go.

If you're running the 10,000, you're only going to be out there (hopefully) for no more than 40 minutes. And guess what...no one watches the 10,000, so you'll be fine if you're worried about guys gawking. No, that's not a knock on women's sports, I'm a guy who ran the 10,000 and am fully aware that everyone's goes and gets a snack or takes a nap during the 25 lapper. When a girl runs, she thinks every pair of eyes in the stadium is looking at her. When a guy runs, he runs.

But that's not too fair of a description. Back when I was in college, there were two types of girls on our team. One group was made up of the dedicated athletes. They would be the ones who did morning runs, long runs on Sundays, watched what they ate, won races, made nationals, and wore bunhuggers without comment. They could've worn pink frilly tutus when they raced because they were confident in their ability and realized that the uniform you wear for 2-40 minutes a week MAKES NO DIFFERENCE on how fast or slow you are. The other group was there for the social aspect. These were the folks who may have been in the top half of their state in high school, but were not winners. They would miss practice, party too much, gain the freshman 15, and usually not make it three consecutive seasons. From day one, they always had problems with the bunhuggers. They always thought the coach was trying to sexualize things even though the coach was female and the uniforms had been the same design for over 20 years.

In college we always wore tight shorts for our men's DMR. These expose a whole lot more of the guy's anatomy than bunhuggers do for girls. Did we care? No, we went out, got the job done, and qualified for nationals.

Again, I'll repeat this for emphasis. It can also be used in other aspects of life: DON'T GIVE A SH*T ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.

So where do the new "running skirts" come into play?

I'm curious what competitive women saying and thinking about them.