Morgan’s article on women athletes at Santa Clara provides an interesting take on feminism and double standards. In summary, this article highlights Santa Clara’s women athletes in the 21st century vs women athletes from 1960s. In a current photo of SCU’s athletic program pictured below, there are more women represented than males, a huge step forward, according to Morgan.
When I read the section “Double Standards,” I was shocked that the girls tennis team, let alone other women teams, were not allowed to practice in skirts, shorts, and tank tops. I think it’s ridiculous that women were not allowed to practice in clothing that they would be competing in. Practicing in the heat in long pants and long sleeve shirts seems impractical. To think that women had a dress code while their male counterparts did not is puzzling. In short, as Morgan writes,
“Men do not have a double standard like women.”
I don’t understand why women need a dress code. Athletes are athletes, and athletes will sweat when exercising. So shouldn’t they be allowed to wear what makes them feel most comfortable and what will make them perform best? Based off Morgan’s article and the concept of having a dress code, it can be inferred that women are being sexualized inappropriately.
Society needs to respect a woman’s body and not look at it as if it were an object.
I believe that dress codes are unnecessary and are only reaffirming that women the notion that a woman’s body is an object because women need to cover up since their bodies are so sexualized by society.
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