As others see it: Uniforms too revealing

Talk about it

Saturday, The Daily Republic published a story that made us a bit uncomfortable and may have caused discomfort among some readers, too. The report was about spandex shorts, how those form-fitting bottoms may be too revealing and how they may actually keep some girls from playing interscholastic volleyball. ...

We feel that in many cases, form-fitting volleyball uniforms have gone too far, for several reasons.

First, we feel the shorts may keep some players from participating. Many school districts offer non-spandex alternatives, but that isn’t always an ideal solution. Teenagers generally strive to be part of the crowd and not set themselves apart, especially over concerns about their own bodies or for being too conservative.

It’s very possible that tight-fitting uniforms are discriminatory, although it’s equally possible that no girl wants to put herself in the kind of spotlight that surely would accompany such a case.

Second, there may be some merit to the argument that the uniforms provide freedom of movement, but we wonder how far we must go to achieve it. Although we have no great argument about the tight-fitting attire worn by gymnasts and wrestlers (except that the dynamic movements of gymnasts and wrestlers seem to require less clothing to get in the way), we do note that girls’ basketball players wear loose-fitting tops and baggy shorts down to their knees. If girls’ basketball players can move freely in baggy uniforms, why do volleyball players need skin-tight apparel?

Third, we know some parents of volleyball players out there feel the form-hugging gear has gone too far. ...

Would girls be allowed to wear spandex shorts to class? We don’t know the policy of all area schools, but if not, why are tight-fitting uniforms allowed in the gymnasium in front of hundreds of fans?

We urge all school districts to consider a conservative approach — or to at least not succumb to more liberal ideas — when considering future uniform options.

Tags: opinion, editorials, prep, sports, volleyball