- Feb 5, 2002
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Three members of the German women's team at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Switzerland recently gained attention for their outfits.
Unlike their peers, their legs were covered.
They wore full-body unitards; most women typically wear leotards that show the entire leg. Male gymnasts, however, usually wear either slightly loose shorts or full-length leg coverings.
Unitards are technically permitted but usually are worn for religious reasons.
It was a statement "against sexualization in gymnastics," the German Gymnastics Federation said.
Elisabeth Seitz, one of the gymnasts, said it was to "set an example ... to all gymnasts who may feel uncomfortable or even sexualized in normal suits. Because, in our opinion, every gymnast should be able to decide in which type of suit she feels most comfortable — and then do gymnastics."
The display was "one of the first examples we have of athletes making a statement that they would prefer to perform their sport in clothing that they are comfortable in rather than clothing that might be geared towards an audience," says Elizabeth Daniels, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado, in an interview with NPR's Weekend Edition. Daniels has written about the sexualization of female athletes.
Continued below.
German Gymnasts Cover Their Legs In Stand Against Sexualization
Unlike their peers, their legs were covered.
They wore full-body unitards; most women typically wear leotards that show the entire leg. Male gymnasts, however, usually wear either slightly loose shorts or full-length leg coverings.
Unitards are technically permitted but usually are worn for religious reasons.
It was a statement "against sexualization in gymnastics," the German Gymnastics Federation said.
Elisabeth Seitz, one of the gymnasts, said it was to "set an example ... to all gymnasts who may feel uncomfortable or even sexualized in normal suits. Because, in our opinion, every gymnast should be able to decide in which type of suit she feels most comfortable — and then do gymnastics."
The display was "one of the first examples we have of athletes making a statement that they would prefer to perform their sport in clothing that they are comfortable in rather than clothing that might be geared towards an audience," says Elizabeth Daniels, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado, in an interview with NPR's Weekend Edition. Daniels has written about the sexualization of female athletes.
Continued below.
German Gymnasts Cover Their Legs In Stand Against Sexualization
