The fight for equality for women in Olympic sports continues on, and female boxers around the world wait to hear if the Olympics will require female boxers to wear skirts while competing in the 2012 London Games, the first ever Olympic games to ever include women’s boxing.
(See my article, “Female Boxing to be Included in London 2012 Olympics”)
A shocking recommendation
In 2011, the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) president made the shocking recommendation that female boxers should wear skirts while competing in the ring during the 2012 London Games. Female boxers and fans alike were shocked by this recommendation. AIBA claimed that the skirts were recommended to help spectators differentiate the male boxers from the female boxers, but many believe that the recommendation was a sexist one and only made in hopes of making the sport more feminine and to attract more viewers.
This belief was only made stronger when AIBA suggested that skirts would make female boxers appear more “elegant”. (See my article, “Women’s Olympic Boxing to Require Skirts- An Appalling Recommendation by AIBA”)
The wait continues
Ever since the recommendation of skirts for female boxers in the Olympics was made, female boxers around the world have been on pins and needles waiting for the final word on the proposed skirts. Initially, boxers and boxing fans alike were led to believe that the issue would be decided upon in January. However, an official announcement isn’t expected to be made until July. AIBA is expected to meet and discuss the issue from Jan. 18 to Jan. 22 in Thailand, but, unfortunately, boxers and fans won’t know the results of this meeting until later this summer.
A petition against the skirts
One woman and amateur boxer, Elizabeth Plank, decided to take action when she heard of AIBA’s recommendations of skirts for female boxers. Plank started a petition against AIBA’s recommendation of skirts for female boxers and has collected over 50,000 signatures.
Plank feels the issue is an important one and told ProBoxingFans reporters, “This petition is not about a piece of fabric, it’s about athletes. It’s about their credibility.” Plank’s petition continues to gather signatures. She hopes to gather 75,000 signatures and is quickly approaching that goal. Men and women all over the world have continued to sign the petition in hopes that AIBA will take notice of exactly how displeased the public and athletic community is with the seemingly sexist recommendation.
*Samantha Van Vleet is a former high school athlete. She is a strong supporter of women’s equality and has been following the issue of skirts in boxing for several months.