In 2004, Sepp Blatter, the then-president of FIFA, made the controversial suggestion that women soccer players should wear “tighter shorts”. Similarly, in 2011, the boxing association AIBA proposed that female boxers compete in skirts. Although these ideas were quickly rejected, it is still evident that many sports have uniform guidelines that only enforce exposed skin and formfitting silhouettes for women, while men don’t face the same restrictions. Additionally, these ideals of femininity and professionalism have been internalized by female athletes themselves. Growing up, if you see champions wearing certain clothing, you perceive that as the norm. This phenomenon is referred to as the “athletic-feminine identity paradox,” according to Ms. Howard.
However, as Ms. Fleshman pointed out, this paradox persists until someone questions it. Until someone takes a step back and asks, “Why are we doing it this way?”
Wait. Why Are We Doing It This Way?
Why are athletes concerned about the color of their shorts, wondering if spectators can tell they are menstruating, instead of focusing on their performance? Why do field hockey players practice in shorts but compete in skorts, and wear low-cut compression tops that emphasize their cleavage? Why do men wear shorts while running or playing volleyball, while women wear tiny bottoms that make them worry about their appearance? Why do basketball jerseys have enormous armholes that expose the sports bra? And why is the smallest garment considered the default option instead of the most neutral one?
Clothing serves as a form of encoded messaging between our minds and bodies. It influences how we feel about ourselves and subsequently affects our actions and performance. A study conducted by organizational psychologist Hajo Adam and Adam D. Galinsky in 2012, titled “Enclothed Cognition,” examined the impact of white lab coats on wearers. They found that individuals in lab coats behaved more like doctors and paid greater attention because the attire made them feel like doctors.
The same principle applies to athletes. Just as clothing can enhance performance, it can also have the opposite effect. Ms. Howard’s research on the relationship between sports uniforms and girls dropping out of sports revealed that 70% of the girls who quit cited concerns about uniforms and body image. This finding was a significant realization for her.
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