Pink Is Offering To Pay The Fines Of A Women’s Volleyball Team Who Didn’t Want To Wear Bikinis
"I'm VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR 'uniform'."
Pink has offered to pay the 1500€ fine (about AU$2400) served to the Norwegian women’s beach handball team after they defied sexist uniform standards and wore shorts instead of the bikini bottoms.
I’m VERY proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team FOR PROTESTING THE VERY SEXIST RULES ABOUT THEIR “uniform”. The European handball federation SHOULD BE FINED FOR SEXISM. Good on ya, ladies. I’ll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up.
— P!nk (@Pink) July 25, 2021
The Norwegian team went against uniform regulations at the European Beach Handball Championships in Bulgaria recently, wearing what the European Handball Federation (EHF) said was “improper clothing … shorts that are not according to the Athlete Uniform Regulations defined in the IHF Beach Handball Rules of the Game.”
The rules stipulate that “Male athletes must wear shorts … Female athletes must wear bikini bottoms … with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg. The side width must be of a maximum of 10 centimetres.” Um… okay. Gross.
Here are the rules for the men’s vs. women’s uniforms. Ridiculously pic.twitter.com/8wDXG22sTd
— KT SLP (@MrsThornSLP) July 25, 2021
Make the men wear bikini bottoms.
— Sarah Clapp (@SarahClapp) July 20, 2021
The fine made international news, and even Pink spotted it, hailing them for “protesting the very sexist rules about their uniform”.
In response to the international outcry, the EHF said the matter of the uniforms had been raised at the EHF Congress in April, as raised by the Norwegian Handball Federation, and that it would table suggestions with the newly elected Beach Handball Commission in August – it has to go through a formal process and be approved by the International Handball Federation Council.
When the men play a sport wearing long shorts and tank tops, but the women are REQUIRED to wear bikini tops and bottoms, THAT is sexism! So either let the women wear the same as the men, or make the men play in Speedos. pic.twitter.com/5sZaU88Q7v
— Shannon Burkett (@shaeburks) July 25, 2021
The organisation has also donated the money to “a major international sports foundation which supports equality for women and girls in sports,” in response to the blowback.
This is part of a movement of female-identifying athletes pushing back against uniform codes and stereotypes, including the German gymnast team at the Tokyo Olympics wearing full-length unitards that stretch to the ankle, rather than the typical hip-high cut leotards.
Sports teams: Yes, females athletes are 100% equal to their male counterparts!
Also sports teams: But female athletes can’t be paid the same, and on yeah, definitely wear form fitting bikinis to sustain our male fantasies!@MarcieBianco you see this crap?!
— ???ℂ??ℂ?? (@DotComCTO) July 20, 2021
YESSSS!! I’m so proud for these women for standing their ground. As we were watching volleyball last night we were thinking the uniforms are terrible. They’re wearing next to nothing! The Olympics is supposed to be about athleticism, not about exploiting women’s bodies.
— Heidi Evans (@Heidi_Evans11) July 25, 2021
Between @Pink offering to pay the fine of the Norwegian Beach Handball team and Germany’s #Tokyo2020 gymnasts making a stand, it’s great to see the conversation around great uniforms for women in sport continue!
Remember, getting it right is simple ? https://t.co/5C9l0rnEVV https://t.co/Wu974yH819
— Sarah Styles (@SarahStylesAU) July 26, 2021