Since the dawn of the world’s annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships (the oldest tennis tournament in the world), wearing all-white garb from head-to-toe has been a compulsory ‘tradition’ for all athletes competing — up until recently.
Earlier this month, former tennis pro Billie Jean King voiced her concerns about the all-white dress code in tournaments, and how this rule impacts women who are on their period during the championships. In an interview with CNN, Billie says:
“My generation, we always worried because we wore all white all the time….And it’s what you wear underneath that’s important for your menstrual period…”
For 136 years, the all-white dress rule has required female players to wear all-white undershorts/undergarments, even during their periods.
“…We’re always checking whether we’re showing. You get tense about it,” says King.
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After King’s remarks had been published online in May earlier this year, others started to join in on the conversation. The growing consensus: Why has no one addressed these stark dress code rules, even after multiple women have spoken out about how the dress code distracts from the game, and triggers their anxieties?
In a tweet posted by sports broadcaster David Law, he shares a clip from The Tennis Podcast echoing sentiments on the matter.
Listen to this.
Catherine went on to question why women’s menstruation is never talked about as a possible factor in discussions about top seeds losing in the women’s draw.
I’ve worked in tennis for 25 years and never thought of it, I’m embarrassed to say. Time to change that. https://t.co/sdhiCvJaNh
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) May 31, 2022
“I’ve worked in tennis for 25 years and never thought of it, I’m embarrassed to say. Time to change that.”
Former professional tennis player, Monica Puig, tweets the following in response to David:
“Definitely something that affects female athletes! Finally bringing it to everyone’s attention! Not to mention the mental stress of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and praying not to have your period during those two weeks.”
Definitely something that affects female athletes! Finally bringing it to everyone’s attention! Not to mention the mental stress of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and praying not to have your period during those two weeks. https://t.co/PzyHnPlSJk
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) May 31, 2022
Due to the multiple reports and concerns raised about the all-white undershorts rule pertaining to female players, the All-England Tennis Club (AELTC) released a statement to CNN on Tuesday last week, sharing the following:
“Prioritising women’s health and supporting players based on their individual needs is very important to us, and we are in discussions with the WTA, with manufacturers and with the medical teams about the ways in which we can do that.”
The all-white tradition in tennis gear was originally chosen because white conceals sweat patches better than colourful clothing — which is all good and dandy. But why have women been overlooked for so many years? King was not the first to voice her concerns over the woes of wearing all-white during tournaments.
In an interview with CNN Sport, professional tennis player Heather Watson says the following:
“It is absolutely something the players talk about around Wimbledon because of the all-whites…I literally had this conversation with Daria [Saville, Australian player] a few weeks ago when we went to practise at Wimbledon together.”
“I’d started my period that day and you have to wear all whites at Wimbledon throughout the year as well. I thought ‘oh, that’s annoying’.”
“Then I worked out that I’ll probably be on my period again during the Championships so I said I’ll probably go on the pill just to skip my period for Wimbledon. That’s the thought process and conversations that girls have about it.”
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So, for years, women have been forced into considering birth control pills to mitigate the risk of bleeding (and showing) during tournaments, instead of Wimbledon working to accommodate their athletes by relaxing the all-white tradition, just a smidge?
Finally and very recently, Wimbledon updated their apparel rules to take women and girls into account. The rule will come into effect in July next year, at the 136th staging of the Wimbledon tournament. It reads as follows:
“Any undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white except for a single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre (10mm), except female players who are allowed to wear solid, mid/dark-coloured undershorts provided they are no longer than their shorts or skirt.”
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Feature Image: Unsplash
