The 2012 Summer Olympics in London will mark the Games’ debut of women’s boxing. For women who box, it’s an important step to equality…until the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA)”presented female boxers ‘with skirts, rather than the usual shorts during last year’s World Championships, “which [AIBA] wanted to ‘phase in for international competitions.'”
The Poland, Romania and Barbados competitors acquiesced, Ireland, Great Britain and U.S. competitors may need a little more convincing, something a little more solid than the Polish coach’s comment.
“By wearing skirts, in my opinion, it gives a good impression, a womanly impression,” Poland coach Leszek Piotrowski told BBC Sport. “Wearing shorts is not a good way for women boxers to dress.
Officials also seem to suggest that wearing skirts in the ring will distinguish female boxes from male boxers. But as British Lightweight Champ, Natasha Jones puts it, “The only people who would want to see women in skirts [while in the ring] are men.”
[I admit that it did cross my mind that it seems like the makings of an adult film with women in short skirts beating up each other.]
Today, Ck Wu, president of AIBA, said that nothing has been approved yet and it is more likely that the skirt will be optional.
I am so embarrassed that this is even being talked about. It is blatant sexism and I don’t even like to use that word. A sport is a sport and it appears as if the AIBA wants to keep women down a level or two from their male counterparts.
Stay Tuned.
