By Shabana Mir
The agency, resistance and leadership of Muslim women is routinely ignored by mainstream global news media
(MIDDLE EAST EYE) As a Muslim woman and feminist, I am both happy and puzzled by the generous outpouring of support for the German women’s gymnastics team at the Olympics.
Rather than the usual uniform of bikini-cut leotards, they opted for full-body leotards, which cover their legs and ankles. The team spoke confidently of spearheading gender reform in athletics globally, as women athletes assert control in decisions relating to their bodies and attire.
According to German artistic gymnast Sarah Voss, 21: “We hope gymnasts uncomfortable in the usual outfits will feel emboldened to follow our example.” Gymnast Elisabeth Seitz, 27, added: “We wanted to show that every woman, everybody, should decide what to wear.”
The German gymnastics team’s sartorial decision was warmly welcomed by the world’s media. News reports offered vigorous support and articulated every possible rationale for the women’s decision. Key to their framing was the issue of abuse by male sporting authorities, especially by the former USA
Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar.
Vogue published “The Powerful Story Behind the German Gymnastics Team’s Unitards”, while a BBC article was headlined: “German gymnasts’ outfits take on sexualisation in sport.” In SportBible, Max Sherry wrote: “By wearing the unitard, the German competitors hope to protect against ‘sexualisation in gymnastics’ – something that has been a hot topic in recent years following the sexual abuse scandal involving disgraced former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar.”
