Get Sexy or go home! Badminton’s New Dress Code Criticized as Sexist!

Saina Nehwal, you may not know her because she wears shorts

Female professional badminton players are whining because now they must wear a skirt or dress to play their sport. The Badminton World Federation wants to create a more "attractive presentation"—which critics interpret to mean they want women to look sexier. This move is supposedly to boost a waning fan base, lukewarm sponsors, and lousy TV ratings. Players say the rule is sexist, not to mention offensive to Muslim players, and will be a hindrance to competitors ~ really? (The religious aspect is another can of worms and I can't find my can opener)


My first response was, "wait there is professional women's badminton?" If a product is not selling you have to change the business model. Right? Common sense no? Remember the French women's soccer team?

Sarah Bouhaddi, Gaetine Thiney and Corine Franco.

The Fédération Française de Football launched a campaign and members of the squad posed in the nude to help bolster the popularity of the women's game which has historically been neglected by the French public (even though they play a very high caliber, exciting style of play). It worked too ~ kinda, for example, the whole internet thinks the player on the left is Elodie Thomis but since I actually watched their games last Women's World Cup I know better.

I enjoy tennis and I watch it from time to time. Flavia Penetta, dressed in a sexy but appropriate outfit certainly gets me in the door. But at the end of the day the quality of the game will determine whether or not I stay. The tennis girls wear skirts and dresses and it does nothing in the way of demeaning them. They are comfortable and appropriate for the movement required in tennis and therefore badminton women should stop whining and follow suit. Women may say, "but Mr Legend, how do you know?" Well, in my urban youth, down in the southern hemisphere I played men's field hockey. In one instance I did so while dressed in a Scottish Kilt. I realize that in hindsight it was not necessary to do so, actually not at all but it was really one of my more comfortable, liberating sporting experiences....anyway....

My point is, would you rather see.....THIS?

Caroline Wozniacki

“It doesn’t matter what Kobe Bryant wears,” says Mesinee Mangkalakiri, who competed for the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “People like his skills on the court. You’d hope they come to watch you because you are their favorite player and you have ability and style, not because you’re wearing someone’s favorite skirt.” ~ Hypocrisy ~ Then explain David Beckham and his many female fans that have never even seen him kick a soccer ball. People watch sports and admire athletes for a whole host of reasons: skill, talent and yes, looks. It's all part of the beast, the package. The beast that translates into a wholesome paycheck. It's not like the ladies are being told they have to strip and dance on a pole before games. That scenario would definitely make me badminton's number one fan but I'd be forced to concede it has a sexist element to it. It simply comes down to making a sport marketable and if the continuance of female badminton is hinged upon wearing appropriate, athletic skirts and dresses as a uniform then it's a small price to pay to keep your job. Either way this is one for employment law to explore and I am sure there isn't an employment lawyer that isn't queuing up.

Category: Sports