• Warl0k3@lemmy.world
        74·
        8 days ago

        and denied them because it actually harmed their performance, compared to the current standard.

        The part I responded to by saying "Y’know if that were true and it actually did give an advantage, you’d think the men would be wearing something similar too. " Your link says absolutely nothing about it being a competitive advantage - did you respond to the wrong person?

        • cattywampas@lemmy.world
          124·
          8 days ago

          That’s irrelevant. The point is they have a choice, and many choose to wear two pieces. Whether it’s because they feel like they play better, or it’s comfort, or even if they simply just like how they look. They’re allowed to wear shorts and tank tops if they want.

          • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
            66·
            8 days ago

            That’s irrelevant.

            No it’s not. Especially when the initial topic was male gaze.

            • cattywampas@lemmy.world
              112·
              8 days ago

              As 2012 London beach volleyball silver medalist Jennifer Kessy explains it, the two-piece outfits make total sense from a performance perspective: “Our suits need to fit just right so they don’t move places we don’t want them to move. So how about this: Let’s call them competition suits or competition gear — then perhaps it won’t make people uncomfortable or there won’t be a stigma attached.”

              As a pro athlete, everyone has a different comfort level with either a bikini or one-piece bathing suit. Playing in a one-piece was never comfortable for me. It was restricting and limited my movements…

              It’s totally a personal choice. [A one piece] wasn’t comfortable for me. Way too sweaty and too much sand. But, in certain situations leggings could be a good option — just not in the heat. There are also certain times of the month that wearing a bikini isn’t always such a comfortable option, especially when you’re on TV. So it’s important to have the freedom to choose what works best for you. Players should be able to wear what they want and what makes them perform the best — and for me it was a bikini.

              Emphasis mine.

              https://www.today.com/news/why-do-women-s-beach-volleyball-players-wear-bikinis-today-t226134

              • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
                47·
                8 days ago

                I am aware they have options. That has never been in question. But, like your emphasis calls attention to, it’s important to have the freedom to choose what works best for you. So in the spirit of that, why are men not allowed the same freedom? Again, if it actually is a blanket improvement to a player’s performance like the above person implied, you’d think that men would have adopted a similar outfit.

                • cattywampas@lemmy.world
                  101·
                  8 days ago

                  I don’t know. You’d have to take that up with the IOC. Males and females have different body types and maybe it’s just not comfortable or practical for males to play volleyball in a banana hammock, or maybe they’d all love to, who knows.

                  My thesis statement here is that the female athletes who choose to wear bikinis are choosing to of their own free will, and whatever reasoning a person has to wear what they wear is their own business. Though I suspect that at the Olympic level everyone is going to wear what they feel most comfortable and capable in, just like the player interviewed above.

                  • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
                    44·
                    8 days ago

                    My thesis statement here is that the female athletes who choose to wear bikinis are choosing to of their own free will, and whatever reasoning a person has to wear what they wear is their own business.

                    Ah, I see. Unfortunately for this conversation, it’s never been in question that since 2012 women’s beach volleyball players have had the option of several less-revealing outfits. So in light of that, could you please tell me why you felt it was appropriate earlier to insult me when your cited article was evidently provided entirely to address your own thesis, but did not in any way address mine?