Featured Image courtesy of Reuters
On their first appearance in an Olympic game, the Egyptian Women Beach Volleyball team members were able to wear what they want according to a decision from the International Volleyball Confederation. Egypt never had a beach volleyball team, neither for women nor for men, participate in any Olympic games. Yesterday was our very first appearance in that sport on an Olympic level when Doaa El-Ghobashi and Nada Moawad faced the German team. The Internet’s attention wasn’t focused on their achievement, though, but rather on their clothing. They were wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants, one of them wearing a hijab. Instead of supporting them for doing what they want and going as far as the Olympics, while still not giving up what they believe in, many Egyptians attacked them.
“Yesterday was our very first appearance in that sport on an Olympic level when Doaa El-Ghobashi and Nada Moawad faced the German team. The Internet’s attention wasn’t focused on their achievement, though, but rather on their clothing”
These attacks might seem like “harmless jokes” on Social Media at first, but they solidify the idea of boiling down a woman’s worth to what she is wearing. If she’s wearing a revealing outfit, stones are thrown at her because her morals are lacking; if she’s wearing a modest outfit, stones are thrown at her because she’s not sexy enough. During that time, no attention at all is paid to her achievements. What she is doing is irrelevant when her clothes are clearly more important to our society.
“If she’s wearing a revealing outfit, stones are thrown at her because her morals are lacking; if she’s wearing a modest outfit, stones are thrown at her because she’s not sexy enough”
Our society keeps looking for faults even when there are none to be found, because what is wrong with women covering their body if they so choose? Ironically, had they worn bikinis, they would have been judged too! It is frustrating that the country where people make fun and think it’s unacceptable to wear modest sportswear while playing beach volleyball is the same country that has the highest percentage of sexual harassment, and when it’s ever brought up, most will say a woman’s revealing clothes is the reason for it.
“Ironically, had they worn bikinis, they would have been judged too!”
Here are some of the most absurd responses:
Some Thought there’s Nothing Wrong with Making Crude Remarks
Some Spoke as if Their Outfits Should in Any Way be Relevant
Some Saw something “Wrong”
Some Based their Views on Each Country’s Cultural Status based on their Outfits
Some Thought this was a Genuine Knee Slapper
Some Made their Own Tasteless Jokes
