Waiting a minute asking what we are doing might be a good idea, but not necessarily a great idea when the sport is dying and people aren’t going out of their way to watch it- it requires immediate reaction. Which is to say, if we can watch female lifesavers and tennis players saving the world in skimpy outfits surely the world is now ready to watch a few badminton players rattling it out in friendly to the guy’s eye apparel too?
And how do the players feel about it all?
Some women have embraced the dress rule. Nora Perry, a former world doubles champion from England who is on the council of the world governing body, said in a statement, “We need to be able to differentiate the women’s game to create the attention the game deserves.”
Cee Ketpura, 17, a rising American star, said she always wore skirts in competition because “I think they look more professional.”
Yet many others have said that while they supported attempts to popularize women’s badminton, like offering equal prize money, they considered it an affront to be told to wear a dress or a skirt.
But then there are other female players who hold this view:
Some women have embraced the dress rule. Nora Perry, a former world doubles champion from England who is on the council of the world governing body, said in a statement, “We need to be able to differentiate the women’s game to create the attention the game deserves.”
Cee Ketpura, 17, a rising American star, said she always wore skirts in competition because “I think they look more professional.”
Yet many others have said that while they supported attempts to popularize women’s badminton, like offering equal prize money, they considered it an affront to be told to wear a dress or a skirt.
“I believe the intention is good to raise the profile of the sport, but it takes freedom of choice away from female athletes,” Mehrabi said. “I think we should work on promoting personalities. When people watch tennis, they like the stories around the rivalries and personal lives. Whether you wear a dress or not doesn’t make much difference.”
So let’s agree whether a woman gets to wear a skirt or shorts at the game should hardly affect how well she plays the sport- but it certainly it seems (some would argue) the public’s desire to come and see the sport. Which is to say, even in sports the public always knows how it wants its women presented to them.
Isn’t it good to know that a woman’s value and greater interest value is solely a function of how she looks as opposed to how well she performs?
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