SPRHRA’s Post

Are there contradictions in your business between what you say and what you do? In Oct last year Nike (along with Dove) launched a campaign to help build body confidence in girls, and have now ‘revealed’ (pun intended) the kits for their US track and field athletes for the Paris Olympics. The website for the Nike girls body confidence campaign says: ‘When puberty hits, and girls experience unique and significant changes to their bodies — a first period, new curves, breast development — they can feel self-conscious about their appearance and exposed and vulnerable to judgement and comparison. This can be amplified in sports environments, both on and off the field.’ Their body confidence campaign aims to help girls aged 11-17. I just asked my tween daughter what she noticed about the kit and she said ‘why are women being asked to run in a swimming costume? If this is what athletes have to wear, I don’t want to be one’. So bit of an own goal for inspiring body confidence. Are there contradictions you have noticed in your workplace. If so what have you/ can you do about it. Comment below. Photo description: US track and fields athletes kit. Male kit comprising of red and blue vest and shorts. Women’s kit comprising of pink high cut leg one piece costume.

When the Nike track and field uniforms were first revealed, my immediate thought was that this was continued, unnecessary sexualization of female athletes. The leotard appears revealing, impractical, and uncomfortable--and these seem even more extreme in contrast to the men's uniform. And while, yes, Nike has stated there are almost 50 other options for women to choose from, I can't help but wonder about the impact on non-professional runners who are only seeing this leotard being shared. In the running community, there is still a strongly held belief that being thinner means being faster, and this uniform seems specifically designed for a certain type of body. However, as Katie Moon states in this article, choice is important and women who do choose to wear this leotard should not have to feel attacked or shamed. I'll definitely be curious to see what other options are shown being worn at the Olympics! I want to hear from you, what's your opinion on how these uniform changes may impact body image and mental health in viewers of the Olympics this year? What was your reaction to this article? Share in the comments below! #olympics #athletes #eatingdisorders #bodyimage

Are traditional sportswear designs holding back female athletes? Nike's recent track and field uniform reveal for Team USA sparked controversy, with critics slamming the designs as sexist and impractical. The women's bodysuit raised eyebrows for its high-cut style, leading to concerns about grooming challenges. Let me be clear: 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 a 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀. This backlash highlights, in real time, how Nike's decision to highlight the leotard as the primary preview for Team USA, rather than the matching shorts and tanks, misrepresents what athletic excellence looks like for professional female athletes. https://lnkd.in/e5-DA8aA What do you think?

Interesting development from Adidas. They aren’t the first company to do this. It’s not just about the feet though. When more shoe companies realise that a woman’s hip alignment is totally different from a man’s : this adversely affects & increases stress on the knees. With the increased stopping forces involved in several sports as athletes get bigger & stronger they just might be on to something. Tennis, squash, football, but particularly netball involve a huge incidence of ACL injuries. Way more than in the men’s version of the game. Sports shoes should be helping not creating a situation where athletes get injured. So the more we see of this the more we should see females producing even higher performances on the sports field with less injury. What sports companies should be all about.

From Corsets to Catsuits: How the Olympics Transformed Women's Sportswear! From the restrictive corsets of the early 1900s to Serena Williams' bold catsuit, Olympic athletes have revolutionized women's sportswear. Early pioneers like Suzanne Lenglen broke norms for better performance, paving the way for modern innovations in fabrics and designs. As we gear up for Paris 2024, we celebrate the evolution of athletic attire and the women who dared to push boundaries. 🌟 Dive deeper: https://lnkd.in/ewz-WnZR

"Elevate your style with our premium sports apparel collection! From top-quality football and basketball uniforms to trendy long-sleeve shirts, hats, hoodies, and more – we've got you covered in sporty fashion. Join the league of style-savvy athletes! 💪🏀🏈 #SportsFashion #PremiumApparel #AthleticStyle"

🎾 With Wimbledon just around the corner, how will the growing enthusiasm for tennis influence consumer behaviour even more? Our latest article, backed by WGSN insights, explores the increasing impact of tennis on global fashion trends as we approach one of the sport's most iconic tournaments. From a surge in tennis-themed apparel to evolving consumer preferences, discover how this historic event could further propel the #tenniscore trend and redefine fashion norms. #Wimbledon #TennisFashion #WGSN #FashionTrends #ConsumerInsights #SportingLuxury

I love how this comercial highlights the correlation between sport and self-esteem, and cleverly hints at how what we wear can also have a bearing. https://lnkd.in/eK5ZJ64v

I am shocked by the announcement of the USA Olympic team's 2024 track & field kits. In an era where equality should be at the forefront, it's disheartening to see a reputable company like Nike producing gender-biased athletic wear that undermines women's dignity. This move not only perpetuates outdated stereotypes but also highlights an issue within sports apparel where functionality for female athletes is often sacrificed for aesthetics. It's crucial to honour the spirit of sport and respect the athletes who wear these kits. Let's speak up and push for change in these old-school practices. Together, we can make sports and all other fields more inclusive and respectful. #GenderEquality #RespectInSport #Olympics2024

Lingerie company Bluebella has attracted criticism over a new ad campaign featuring British female rugby players on the field in lingerie.   The company claims the #StrongIsBeautiful ad campaign challenges stereotypes that “strong female form is not ‘feminine’”.   But reducing female athletes to s*xual objects doesn’t challenge stereotypes. It reinforces the message that above all else, women should be valued for their physical appearance and s*xual appeal to men. That even for female athletes, their skills and abilities are not nearly as important as how s*xually desirable they might be.   While we support challenging the narrow, limiting beauty standards for women, and greater representation of diverse body types, race and ethnicity and age, we do not believe objectifying a wider range of women, or a wider range of body types, constitutes progress. Read more >> https://lnkd.in/gyvHxJeJ #collectiveshout #blog #campaign #advertising #objectification #femaleathletes #athletes #women #sport #marketing #bluebella #rugby #lingerie #stereotypes #appearance #inequality #bodyimage #harm #girls #womennotobjects #socialchange