In a previous post in July we looked at the case of Norway's Women's Beach Handball Team that opted to wear shorts instead of the required bikini bottoms during a game at the European Beach Handball Championships.
The European Handball Federation wasn't pleased and fined each player 150 euros (the total fine amounted to €1,500 and American pop singer Pink offered to pay the sexist fine) for "improper clothing". According to the International Handball Federation regulations of the game, women had to wear close fit bikini bottoms with a side width of 3.9 inches maximum and a sports bra when playing official games, while men's uniforms consisted of shorts that are "not too baggy" and 10 centimeters above the kneecap and a tank top.
The Women's Beach Handball Team's protest managed to attract people's attention towards sexism in sport and helped the team spreading the message about a shockingly nonsensical rule, making us all realise the time had come to change it.
Last month, the Handball Federation agreed to change uniform rules: the accusation of sexism prompted them to bring in a new uniform for women, comprising short tight pants with a close fit and tank tops instead of bikini bottoms and crop tops. The men's uniform remains instead unchanged.
So, in a way, sexism remains as, after all men's shorts should not be "too baggy" and "must remain 10 centimetres above the kneecap", while the new regulations mention that women's pants must be "tight". In sport you must be able to dynamically move, but you wonder why the focus remains on "tightness" for women, almost an emphasis on anatomy, and on "not too baggy" for men, an expression that seems to point at comfort.
Besides, during severe weather conditions, the regulations state that "players will be allowed to use uniforms composed of tight shirt and long tight pants (down to the ankle and not to the knees)", which makes you wonder why there was all that fuss about the shorts favoured by the Norway team in the first place when you can actually wear leggings to play this sport.
So, while bikini bottoms may be gone, in the end the solution is not a win, as differences between men and women's uniforms remain (the regulations state that "Athletes' uniforms and accessories contribute to helping athletes increase their performance as well as remain coherent with the sportive and attractive image of the sport" - so it is clear that the Federation is interested in promoting the visual power and appeal of this sport using the athletes' bodies).
While the new uniform may encourage more girls to take up this sport, there are still many battles to fight, not just regarding other sport uniforms (track and field, beach volleyball and tennis, just to mention a few ones, while German gymnasts served us a lesson at the latest Olympic Games with their full-length bodysuits...) but against sexual harassment in sports and, obviously, in everyday life.
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