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.
The Egyptians didn’t win a game, so they didn’t “compete well”.
Plus also the problems that Brazil has and to an extent during the olympics (the diving pool with the green water that smelled like farting), and a few other incidents as well which helped to drive ratings down.
He’s wrong about it. The purpose of the games is to win as well as participate. I don’t see these muslim women winning anything except attention and the minds and admiration of behind the times people.
Thank you.
They look.....hot!
They look immodest.
Considering that the east coast and that includes the northeast has been through a very severe heat wave with haze and humid air to boot. Heck I am typing wearing shorts right now.
I don’t think the men are wearing tiny shorts. I have tried to find pictures of that, and cannot find any.
I just googled this a little, and it does not look like the “official” USA uniforms are supposed to be wearing those bikini-style shorts for the women, so it must be a matter of personal taste or comfort. But yes, the equivalent for men would be speedos. Not a good look for track, IMHO.
Burka loving lunatics are free to turn the channel if the bikinis hurt their eyes.
In fact, modern Christians have made a sort of peace with this human-centered form of worship.
The POINT in uniforms is that they aid in the endeavor to win but you admit that the Muslim attire does not aid in their endeavors. How much have swim teams changed their attire in the last fifty yrars? How much have sprinters changed their attire? Many other sports teams uniforms have been changed. DRASTICALLY in many cases.
When you bring up bike racing as an equivalent, you are out of line. Bike racers are not playing/racing on a beach in SAND. Secondly, they dump bottles of water continually on themselves when they get hot during the race, and protect their chests with a newspaper or other object when they start to chill. I can just see volley ball players dumping water all over themselves during a game in order to stay cool! I have been present at many Tour de France and know the bikers are not racing on a beach. Obviously you are unaware of the differences in the sports.
I repeat, I’ve worn too many uniforms in sport to buy that lie.
Same thin goes for a Tennis Court. Even Clays is not playing on sand!
doh - maybe I was thinking of the divers or the water polo guys.
And you can't blame the dress.
You CAN blame the lack of experience in them playing a sport that's relatively new to them.
I would fully expect them to not do well in a field in which they are new.
I don’t watch.
I'm sure I'm the very first person to ever think of that.
They are new to it.
I wouldn’t expect them to not play well for that reason, not because of how they were dressed.
Which, IMO, is more than necessary.
The men wear more. Did they not compete well either?
Would you expect the men to beat the women if they played them?
“Msgr. Charles Pope is an idiot.”
You are being far more charitable than I feel right now. IMHO this retard is supporting the Muslims who want every woman to wear a bag.
The men wear more. Did they not compete well either?
Would you expect the men to beat the women if they played them?
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Hey now, don’t go bringing facts and logic into this!
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