Posted on 08/15/2016 6:54:47 AM PDT by Salvation
One of the less edifying aspects of the Summer Olympics in Rio is the attire of the women’s beach volleyball players from Western countries. Most of the women wear a tiny bikini with the bottom being especially tiny. (I do not show a picture here because I deem it immodest to do so. Instead, I show a picture of some of the men, whose attire I mention below.)
Frankly, playing volleyball in a tiny bikini seems quite unnecessary. I would argue that it detracts from the sport because it distracts from the sport. The attention doesn’t seem to be drawn to the ball, shall we say. I would further argue that the attire encourages the focus not even on the women, but on certain aspects of the women’s bodies.
I can understand that swimmers (male and female) wear tight and sometimes abbreviated swimsuits to lessen drag in the water. Gymnasts, too, often wear brief and/or tight clothing to improve their performance and maximize the mobility of their limbs. The clothing is thus at least somewhat performance related.
But I can see no performance enhancement brought about by the wearing of tiny bikinis. Some will point out that the bikini top in question acts as a sports bra. Fine, but men wear supportive attire, too; but they do so under their shorts, not out in the open.
The Egyptian women’s beach volleyball player shown in the above photo illustrates that it is possible to compete quite well without wearing a bikini. One could argue that having short sleeves and shorter leg coverings might be cooler for the players. The impact on performance of wearing the hijab is debatable, but it is worn tucked in and did not seem to bother the women who wore it. These women played and competed well in a sport that is relatively new to their country and region.
Men’s beach volleyball attire also illustrates that near nudity is not required to play the sport well. The men do not play wearing tiny swimwear. They wear ample shorts along with t-shirts or tank tops.
I realize that each time the question of modesty has come up on this blog there are some readers who want to dismiss such discussions and emphasize the right of people to dress as they please. They believe that any sexual temptation aroused is almost wholly the fault of the viewer, not the one wearing the attire.
Modesty should avoid excessively burdening people. It seeks a middle ground wherein the one who dresses and the other who sees share responsibility. The one wearing the attire should not be burdened with difficult requirements, nor should the viewer be burdened by facing undue temptation. Mutual charity and concern are the goals.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of modesty as protecting the mystery, chastity, and dignity of the human person.
Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. … Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. … Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet (CCC 2521-2522).
As always, comments are appreciated, but I have found in the past that discussions about modesty are often difficult to have in a way that is helpful or charitable. Reasonable people may differ on the details of modesty. Modesty does involve a range of options, influenced by circumstances and the sensibilities of cultures. I have articulated here that I see no need for tiny bikinis in this sport and that I think more modest attire is important. If you disagree, please explain the relationship you see of the brief bikini to the sport, considering that men in general and women from other cultures who compete do not see the need to wear so little. If you agree, please remember in your comments that the imputation of motives to individuals is a sketchy and usually uncharitable thing to do. Everyone, please use care when commenting.
You’re absolutely correct!
It’s not just the beach volleyball that lacks some modesty.
Hey Salvation, you may want to consider asking the Mods to pull this post.
Rather than being a discussion of Msgr. Pope’s thoughts on modesty and morality, this thread’s been hijacked by those who are bringing it down to puerile levels. Sad.
The Msgr. lost all credibility when he included, and then went out of his way to praise the Saracens, who are immaterial to his op-ed.
I also am a bit confused as to what should you wear on a beach with the hot sun beating down on you as you play a sport that is physically demanding.
Maybe the wear gets a little too showy, but if they have a better idea then by all means give some suggestions.
This was to have been a religious thread about modesty and morality. Sadly, others have pulled it down to politics and puerile levels. Sad.
But while we're on the subject of functionality and modesty, is there any functionality to the Monsignor's black dress and Pope hats?
"Modesty" of dress would be the Monsignor and Pope sporting a simple pair of trousers and white collared shirt or a semblance of a robe worn during the time of Christ -- instead of flashily designed white or bright purple and magenta outfits embellished with Crucifix-bling.
You’ve not seen men’s professional beach volleyball?
No one, including Msgr. Pope, is saying one needs to wear two layers of clothing to play beach volleyball. The men wear loose fitting tank tops and shorts. The women players could certainly wear similar uniforms. There doesn't appear to be any performance benefit from having a bare midriff.
It seems that bikinis, which have been around for over a half a century are giving certain Freepers the Victorian vapors. At the same time they are ignoring the Sharia creep that is worming its way into our culture, aided by stupid Christian church officials who bend over backward to say nice things about the authoritarian Muslim culture.
>> Pope is a Muslim lover! <<
THE Pope may be too enamored with Islam, but not Msgr. Pope.
Prayers for you.
I am a woman, so I don’t really know what you are going through, but I have compassion for your situation. It was only through listening to a Dennis Praeger —sp?— radio program about 15 years ago that I even gained an inkling into how differently men and women think about sex.
Many, many women, I suspect, have no idea what a man is thinking when they are parading about like that. They know they are getting attention, but I don’t think they understand. So it’s bad enough when I see an immodestly dressed teen with her mother, but when I see such a girl with her father, I am completely baffled.
May I suggest this prayer?
Holy Mary, Mother of Purity, pray for me.
Prayers for you.
I am a woman, so I don’t really know what you are going through, but I have compassion for your situation. It was only through listening to a Dennis Praeger —sp?— radio program about 15 years ago that I even gained an inkling into how differently men and women think about sex.
Many, many women, I suspect, have no idea what a man is thinking when they are parading about like that. They know they are getting attention, but I don’t think they understand. So it’s bad enough when I see an immodestly dressed teen with her mother, but when I see such a girl with her father, I am completely baffled.
May I suggest this prayer?
Holy Mary, Mother of Purity, pray for me.
I just hope that Msg. Pope spends as much effort tomorrow writing an article that attacks as strongly the slaughter of innocents in Nigeria. Then the next day about the slaughter of innocents in Iraq. Then the next day about the slaughter of Christians in Syria. Then the next day about the slaughter of innocents in Malaysia. Then maybe he can do a series on muslim clitoridectomy.
When he gets those things well under control, he should again write an article about sportswear in the West.
Oldplayer
Sorry! You are far behind the times and your support of Pope’s criticism of western women in favor of Muslim women is WAY out of line. To begin with Pope has no sex life as he dedicated himself to chastity. He shouldn’t be watching women’s sports if he does not approve of their attire. Simple as that!
“Modesty” of dress would be the Monsignor and Pope sporting a simple pair of trousers and white collared shirt or a semblance of a robe worn during the time of Christ — instead of flashily designed white or bright purple and magenta outfits embellished with Crucifix-bling.”
A VERY good point.
.
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Bikinis are legit sports attire that I and presumably many men frankly don't find titillating at all.
Pope wasn’t claiming the Egyptians’ clothing was necessary; he was using the example to refute the argument that the teeny bikinis were necessary.
I especially like watching women’s beach volleyball on my 4K tv.
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