http://www.thedailyaztec.com/2012/10/erotic-uniforms-objectify-women-athletes/
“True Fantasy Football”, that is what people are dubbing the Lingerie Football League. Women dress up in skimpy underwear, and then, play football. This idea is now making its move to basketball. The Bikini Basketball League is the new big thing.
What does this say about our society? That for women’s sports to be of any consequence they need to be in skimpy clothes? The Women’s National Basketball League is looked down upon while the Bikini Basketball League is seen as worth watching. The message our society is sending is that for women’s sports to be worth anything, it needs to be highly sexualized.
Now, as a female athlete myself, I am all for women playing high level sports. I just do not understand why we are making such talented athletes make the choice between leagues, such as the WNBA and the BBL. Women should not have to choose to play their sport in bikinis just to get the fan base a male sport team would get. Women deserve to get the same respect as men, and I honestly do not see how they can be getting this respect while wearing a bikini.
Yet, this is the case in our society. For women’s sports to get attention and fans, the trend seems to be that the fewer clothes they have on, the more they will receive.
I am by no means saying that the women who play in these leagues are not good athletes, quite the opposite actually. What I am saying is that it is sad that these very talented athletes have had to make the choice to join a sports league where their uniform is so revealing because, if they were to choose to play in a league such as the WNBA they would not receive the same fan base and support.
Julie's Exercise Science 