Why Do Women Play Sport in Their Underwear
In the 1970Âs female athletes wore a vest and shorts and probably wore bra and briefs underneath. At some stage they took off the vest and shorts and now just were the bra and briefs exposed as garments in their own right with a great deal more flesh exposed. Why did this change happen?
| 50% (35) | Women wanted to show more flesh | |
|---|---|---|
| 20% (14) | Sport governing bodies decided to make the change | |
| 64% (45) | This sort of gear is more comfortable to wear | |
| 35% (25) | Manufacturers started to make new products |
70 voters have answered this question.
In the 1970Âs footballers (Soccor) wore tight short shorts and men swam in trunks (SpeedoÂs). Now they all wear baggy shorts for everything. Why did this change happen?
| 53% (37) | Men wanted to better hide their private parts | |
|---|---|---|
| 27% (19) | Sport governing bodies decided to make the change | |
| 34% (24) | Manufacturers produced new porducts | |
| 44% (31) | Men followed the boxer short underwear trend |
69 voters have answered this question.
In the 1970Âs female swim suites often went down to parallel with the crutch and had covering on the back. Now many are high legs with the hips exposed. Often the back is just straps and the front also has less covered. Some swim suites are more like a bikini with the front parts joined up. Why did this change occur?
| 55% (37) | Women wanted to show more flesh | |
|---|---|---|
| 67% (45) | A skimper suite is easier to swim in | |
| 43% (29) | Manufacturers started making new designs | |
| 16% (11) | Sport governing bodies decided to change the design |
67 voters have answered this question.
Do you think the various changes to sports gear listed in the last three questions are linked to changes in underwear - men moving to boxer shorts and women to skimpier briefs?
| 79% (53) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 20% (14) | No |
67 voters have answered this question.
I favour freedom of choice but also am against forcing anyone to wear sports gear they are not comfortable about wearing. In some sports women show a lot more flesh than men for no clear reason. Ignoring swimming there is a case for saying all sport should be undertaken in T-shirt and baggy shorts and this makes male and female the same.
| 40% (27) | I favour male and female kit being the same | |
|---|---|---|
| 60% (40) | I am against male and female kit being the same |
66 voters have answered this question.
Women have taken up Soccer in the last few years and most teams wear the same gear as male teams  shirt and shorts. At a distance you might not know it is a female team. I think this same kit is a good idea. Do you agree?
| 38% (26) | Yes male and female kit should be the same | |
|---|---|---|
| 20% (14) | No females should wear skirt and shirt | |
| 16% (11) | No females should wear briefs and shirt | |
| 62% (42) | No females should wear sports bra and briefs |
67 voters have answered this question.
The most sexist sport of all in terms of dress requirements is beach volleyball were women were bikini outfits and men wear baggy shorts and vest. A couple of years ago the uniform was reviewed and the new rules said that women's briefs should have only an inch of cloth at the hips! The excuse was the sport is played in hot climates in the sun. No mention about keeping the men cool with skimpy gear! What do you think?
| 46% (30) | I think the uniform is fine as it is | |
|---|---|---|
| 47% (31) | I think men should wear skimpy briefs as well as women | |
| 13% (9) | I think women should wear baggy shorts like the men |
65 voters have answered this question.
If some people want to cover up more and others not, is it suitable to have different members of a team wear different gear as long as colour and numbers is consistent? For example womanÂs indoor volleyball often wears briefs and at-shirt. If some woman wore shorts and other wore briefs and sports bras would this be acceptable? Which do you favour?
| 56% (35) | They should all wear the same gear | |
|---|---|---|
| 17% (11) | The same tops mixed with briefs and shorts is ok | |
| 30% (19) | A full mix of shirts, shorts, briefs and sports bras to suite individual tase is ok. |
62 voters have answered this question.
Traditionally woman wore skirts and men wore shorts. A skirt often needs suitable briefs worn underneath as they will be visible at times and need to be a matching colour. Should women continue to wear skirts for tennis, hockey, squash, volleyball etc?
| 38% (26) | Continue to wear skirts | |
|---|---|---|
| 63% (43) | Take off the skirt and just wear the briefs | |
| 22% (15) | Wear shorts |
68 voters have answered this question.
In football there are often players who take off their shirts. Some might say they do not want to see a hairy chest etc. What would happen if women did this? In tennis during the breaks some male players change shirts. What would you think about a female tennis player changing shirts at the side of a court?
| 10% (7) | A woman should never change her shirt in public | |
|---|---|---|
| 63% (42) | Ok for a woman to change her shirt exposing her bra | |
| 60% (40) | Ok for a woman to change her shirt while not wearing a bra and for moment be bear brested |
66 voters have answered this question.
Some polls ask about when the thong will appear as a garment in its own right. Given the parallel with other sports gear following on from underwear trends I believe it probably will appear quite soon. If the thong appears do you think this is a good idea. If you are male would you want your daughter or girlfriend wearing one in public. If you are female would you wear one?
| 78% (51) | I would be in favour of women wearing thongs for sporting activities if they want to | |
|---|---|---|
| 21% (14) | I would be against women wearing thongs for sport as they are too revealing |
65 voters have answered this question.
If women start wearing thongs what will be the reason?
| 43% (29) | It is a practical style for active sport | |
|---|---|---|
| 59% (39) | Many women like wearing thongs | |
| 54% (36) | It will help sell the sport - better TV coverage etc. | |
| 30% (20) | Marketing men and sport governing bodies will decide to inflict it on female players |
66 voters have answered this question.
If women start wearing thongs where will they be seen?
| 64% (42) | Athletics | |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (46) | Swimming | |
| 61% (40) | Aerobics | |
| 50% (33) | Triathlon |
65 voters have answered this question.
What do you think the future holds for female sports kit. A lot has changed in the last ten years. The thong could appear and it will all get even skimpier. Alternatively it could get less skimpy  note the swimmers who now wear full body suites.
| 89% (58) | It will get even skimpier | |
|---|---|---|
| 10% (7) | It will get less skimpy |
65 voters have answered this question.
What do you think the future holds for male sports kit. A lot has changed in the last ten years. The baggy look could give way to skimpier shorts and briefs. Alternatively it could get less skimpy  note the swimmers who now wear full body suites.
| 52% (33) | Male kit will get more skimpy | |
|---|---|---|
| 49% (31) | Male kit will stay the same or become less skimpy |
63 voters have answered this question.
What gender are you
| 29% (20) | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (47) | Male |
67 voters have answered this question.
What age are you
| 29% (19) | Under 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| 35% (23) | 20-30 | |
| 13% (9) | 30-40 | |
| 21% (14) | 40+ |
65 voters have answered this question.
What age are you
| 34% (19) | Under 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| 38% (21) | 20-30 | |
| 14% (8) | 30-40 | |
| 12% (7) | 40+ |
55 voters have answered this question.
Let me pose a few more dilemmas. There are no problems with males going about topless with a fat chest or hairy chest etc on show. Would there ever be a time women could go about topless. For example if women used swimming poll just wearing briefs and no top what would the reaction be? This approach would be quite common on beaches at home and abroad so why not in a pool as well?
| 25% (18) | I am a woman and would be happy to see other women topless in a swimming pool | |
|---|---|---|
| 7% (5) | I am woman and would not be happy to see women topless in a swimming pool | |
| 57% (40) | I am a man and would be happy to see women topless in a swiming pool | |
| 12% (9) | I am a man and would not be happy to see women topless in a swimming pool |
70 voters have answered this question.
