Last week, as beach volleyball took center stage at the Olympics as we see it on American TV – in large part because two American women are the world’s best at the sport – controversy erupted over the fact that women in the game wear bikinis while men – well, see above.
On NPR, in other major media outlets, from people on the street, from my wife, my mom (both of whom were more curious than offended) questions rang out, red flags were raised, people were enraged, or defensive. At first, I too, was enflamed. How sexist, how gross, how . . . totally hot. (The issue is not a new one – I found this Sports Illustrated article from back in ’99. Also, a recent one about members of the Indian team, who refused to wear the skimpy suits.)
NPR-listener emails expressed dismay, to say the least, except for the two that didn’t, in response toa short piece in which a retired woman beach volleyballer, Holly McPeak claimed that bikinis are in fact the most comfortable and practical clothing to wear to play their sport, that they, among other things prevent sweat and sand from collecting in places that you don’t want it to. (By the way, bathing suits, without explanation, are the rule, not the fashion: The women can wear either a one-piece or a two-piece bathing suit, though due to the typically warm playing conditions, most opt for the two-piece. The men must wear shorts and a tank top. Players are allowed to wear hats and sunglasses.) Listeners who wrote in called her, more or less a tool of the patriarchy, another victim of the commodification of women’s bodies, and railed against the bikini. But then I thought, wait, if what McPeak, claimed is true, then maybe it’s just the prudery of men (well, and the folks [more men?] who make the rules) that prevents them from wearing these simple, comfy togs.
And then Noah Adams or whoever it was on NPR read another email, from a Brazilian woman, who pretty much put it to bed for me. She wrote, as best as I can recall, that women are great to look at, and what better way to look at them, if they must be clothed, than in bikinis; that Americans should just get over it ("it" being our correctness, I assume). In the end, in part because I love to look at women’s bodies,in part because I’m a cynic of a sort who doesn’t believe that cries of disgust are sincere or even if sincere, aren’t useful in such cases, I tend to agree with the Brazillian. Sorry, gay men, but you’re way outgunned on this one. Lesbians, straight men, even straight women, in large large part, from my experience, love to look at women’s bodies, not at men’s, although as I wrote this post, I did run into a woman friend who was pissed, wanted to get a gander at the men’s "tight little buns" too. But I think she’s in the minority (Playgirl Magazine print edition just went under, btw). There are, of course, exceptions. Swimmers, Michael Phelps especially, when half disrobed after a big race (which I always found rather exhibitionistic of him) is easy on the eyes, I must admit.
But I’d even go a step further. If women beach volleyballers are more popular -as their dominance of prime time clearly showed (one friend evenwondered if there was men’s beach volleyball) because they add a visual element beyond pure athleticism, shouldn’t they be paid accordingly – that is, shouldn’t they make many times what men in their sport do? Do they? (I imagine not). Is this just me being another man encouraging a form of prostitution, wanting to pay the women off for the pleasure they give, to allieviate my guilt? Eh, whatevs.
Perhaps other women’s sports should consider the sandy-bootied example. Would the oft-struggling WNBA not benefit from a switch to unitards? As a huge basketball fan who never watches women’s basketball, I’d hazard to guess the women’s league would certainly gain revenue from the uniform switch, the players would get more endorsement deals, and more people would watch them play and would inevitably come to enjoy and appreicate their skills, as well.
I suppose this is kind of a "if you can’t beat ’em join ’em" argument, or maybe an argument that, gosh honey, for some wacky reason, the food just tastes a lbetter at Hooters than Friday’s, and I don’t know if I really mean it wholeheartedly, but it does make me pause. Instead crying foul, feigning innocence and/or indignance while sneaking peaks at all those tanned, toned buns, what if we just admitted that seeing female athletes’ bodies and virtuosity is a great combo, and be done with it.
One might even argue, mightn’t one, that legitimizing such display of the lady-jock body (and the male, if there’s much demand for it, but I doubt, beyond swimmers, there ever will be.) might lessen objectification in the long run, as there’s nothing like taking away a taboo to take away the titillation. But wait, if that’s the case,then maybe I’m against it. Now I’m getting confused. But one thing I am certain of, I kept rooting for those Brazilians to make it to the next round. Round, indeed.
