Gender equality in sport and more specifically the Olympics, has been an issue ever since women athletes were allowed to participate in the 1900 Olympics in Paris. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has battled the gender equality problem by slowly increasing the number of women athletes and further encouraging women to compete. There are still many problems though, and the Norwegian beach handball team highlighted one such issue relating to women’s clothing in sport.
The Norwegian beach handball team was fined €1,500 by the European Handball Federation last month for not following the rules and wearing shorts instead of bikini shorts. This was met with outrage on social media with even famous singer Pink citing her approval of the Norwegian women’s beach handball team. She also added that she would happily pay the fine.
I’m VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR “uniform”. The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.
— P!nk (@Pink) July 25, 2021
This issue has also been present in the Olympics. The German women’s gymnastics team also protested sexualization in sport, by wearing full body leotards instead of the usual leotards used. The IOC did not fine the women, unlike the EHF, but the problem with women’s clothing was still there. Alice Dearing, the first ever black swimmer to represent Great Britain, also felt hard done by, when the International Swimming Federation (FINA) didn’t allow her to use a special cap made for her by the company Soul Cap. Soul Cap created a swimming cap which makes Alice more comfortable because of her natural black hair. Many people felt that was backwards step for FINA as it further encouraged disbelief into young black girls instead of promoting swimming to them.
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Many strides have taken place for women in Olympics this year, such as the addition of the 1500 m swimming race in which Maltese Olympian Sasha Gatt took part. There are still many problems and issues left and the excess sexualization of women in sports is something that all sporting governing bodies should take action on
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