The Woman Athlete Revealed
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women do attract media attention it is often for reasons other than pure interest
in their game. Thus, although women athletes have demonstrated the
constructedness of gendered ideas about masculine and feminine athletic ability,
it is certainly the case that sex differentiation persists in sport, especially in the
Olympic Games: women have separate events, separate criteria for winning, and
separate expectations for appearance than men in many cases.
Of course, it is important to acknowledge that appearance and the
choice of what to wear in Olympic or international competition is not solely
defined by gender conventions. In fact, the lack of concern with appearance in
so many events makes those few where it seems primary stand out all the more
strikingly. For example, in equestrian events or rowing, the choice of what to
wear is determined by tradition and function, rather than gender. Long pants,
high boots and a helmet make sense for straddling the back of a large animal, the
jumps of which can take a rider several dangerous feet off the ground;
equestrian sports have been quite egalitarian in participation and attire
throughout their history in the Olympics. Similarly, in rowing, while men and
women do not compete against one another, they are at least equal in terms of
how they perform their sports and dress for them. In the hot weather of a typical
summer Games, tank tops and shorts are good choices for mobility and comfort
for both sexes.
In many sports, the body is certainly on display, but mostly for the
simple reason that too much clothing can get in the way: it can be hot, and
excess material soaked in sweat from heat and exertion can be uncomfortable
and add weight. Moreover, with today’s technology, athletic clothes are often
designed to be tight and form-fitting, not for the sake of sexiness (or not
primarily so), but so that the material can provide support to muscles and
delicate areas, or enhance speed by reducing friction or drag. It is for this reason
that swimmers have actually started to wear more clothing rather than less: the
new unitards or leggings are supposed to make the swimmer faster than the
skimpier Speedos of the past. Display of the body is also undoubtedly a
legitimate psychological strategy, to intimidate the opponent and build
confidence within the athlete’s mind. A body that looks invincible, through the
choice of how to cover it, may actually be so; a player who wears a small
amount of clothing, or clothing or accessories that attract attention for their own
sake, may give an impression of confidence, insouciance, or irreverence that
may effectively rattle an opponent.
Beyond the value of possible psychological advantage, there is the
value to the player of publicity—and here is where appearance can start to have
political or ideological ramifications. An athlete who seems arrogant or
aggressive both athletically and sexually, especially if she makes striking
choices about her appearance, may attract endorsements and sponsorships.
When a tennis player like Serena Williams wears boots or a cat-suit on the court,
she might be challenging the rules about competition attire but does so by
drawing more attention to her sexuality rather than less. She may be attempting