What outfit goes with these shoes?

Is it the clothes? (There are many reasons, but let’s just talk about this one.)

Because at some point, many sports begin to sexualise girls’ bodies and they will soon be out of t-shirts and loose shorts and put into bikini bottoms and crop tops, short skirts and tight sleeveless tops. The boys will remain more fully clothed. (Before you say it: if crop tops and bikini bottoms are “necessary to allow the freedom of movement” then why are the men not wearing them?)

Sexualisation of children's bodies starts young

If you are in mammy social media groups at all, you actually have probably come across this: the usual comment about how girls’ summer shorts are much shorter than those sold for the same age to boys. How slogans on the tiny t-shirts are sometimes odd for a 4- year old. The tween market is worse again for this, targeting girls with clothes sexualising them at young age. This is a problem not limited to the sports world, though critics have noted that the drivers behind this are male-run corporations selling viewership to predominantly male audiences. For more: https://thesportdigest.com/2022/09/do-female-athletes-choose-different-uniforms-than-their-male-counterparts/

But when this is forced on female athletes, it is one important factor in why adolescent girls drop out.

When the Olympics start soon, girls should be able to watch athletes like Rhasidat Adeleke with admiration or aspiration. Not with the secret feeling that they could never do that: not because they aren’t strong enough or fast enough — but because they would never want to bare their belly button on international television.

How Things Can Change - Lessons from 2021 Olympics

In 2021, the Olympic Norwegian beach handball team was fined around €1500 for refusing to wear sports bras and bikini bottoms. This led to a short but important global discussion on the sexualisation of women’s bodies in sport but not alot has changed. But in their sport? Shorts and tank tops are now allowed! That year, the Germany women’s gymnastics likewise have worn body suits as opposed to high cut leotards to protest sexualisation of the bodies of their teen athletes. This Olympics, it will be interesting to see how many countries will follow their lead set in 2021.

Now, there are definitely teens who go through a period of being very comfortable with tiny shorts and tinier tops, to the point that raises  parental eyebrows and blood pressure.  But that is – parental limits not withstanding – a fashion choice and freedom. 

When I was a teen athlete, there was an ad campaign showing the research for health outcomes for girls “if them let them play” sports. I ran as a teen, but I realise now that it was helpful was my team uniform was the same as the boys. That our coach back then encouraged us – boys and girls- to wear some lycra under shorts that we felt were too short or singlets that gaped too much at the arms if we wanted.

Years later, I’m a doctor, with adolescent girls among my patients. It’s never been more important for girls to put down screen, to physically move, to connect, to get strong. But I meet young women who have too often given up sport, who now lack confidence to return.

We haven’t let them play.