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Posted
Thursday, August 21, 2008 2:29 PM
| By
Nayeli Rodriguez
Real considerate, ITTF. Being Olympians and all, I’m sure the lady table tennis players don’t have any more important things to worry about or stress over than their appearances! This scenario reminds me of a scene from A League of Their Own, in which Geena Davis’ character, Dottie Hinson, sees the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League uniform for the first time. Recognizing its counterintuitive design, Dottie points out that (beyond being exploitive of her body) the garment stands to significantly hinder her athletic performance exclaiming, “I have to squat in that?”
What would Dottie Hinson say to the ITTF if she knew that so little has changed for female athletes since the AAGPBL forced her to bunt and slide in a poorly disguised cocktail dress?
One of the most inspiring aspects of seeing women compete in the Olympics is watching the stereotypically separate spheres of femininity and athleticism collide. From Dara Torres to Natalie du Toit, the lady Olympians’ blend of determination, strength, and elegance consistently rises above public preconceptions, continually redefining the archetype of an athletic woman. Requiring female athletes to look hot for their onlookers would detract from the athletic and social advancements these women are making.
Don’t get me wrong. I see nothing wrong with Olympians, male or female, choosing to flaunt their flawless bodies for my viewing pleasure. Props to Japan’s Naomi Yotsumoto for vamping it up of her own volition. Michael Phelps also seems to love the glint of his hairless body in the spotlight, and you won’t hear me complaining. But the ITTF’s request for skimpier female uniforms is pretty sexist, particularly when the request admittedly serves no functional purpose. These athletes are in Beijing to compete in the name of national pride and international community, for a shot at distinction in their impossibly competitive field. We shouldn’t be concerned about what they wear. (And frankly, if they want to make the case for shock value, perhaps the ITTF would prefer to revert back to the uniform worn by the original Olympians.)
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