aussie legends: lingerie football highlights pervasive sexism in women’s sport

Image: Eva Rinaldi

I first became aware of the pervasive sexism when it comes to women’s sports teams in my first year of university. It was around the time that I discovered the Canberra Capitals and turned into an avid women’s basketball fan. Whenever I told anyone about my fondness for the team, they would snigger and say something along of the lines ‘so you’re a lesbian then.’ This was probably also around the time that I first started to loudly identify as feminist, because I realised that despite progress in other areas of women’s rights, there was still this ridiculous idea that women’s main reason for existence is to be eye candy. Case in point: people genuinely could not fathom why I would be a fan of women playing sport if I were not physically attracted to them.

One only has to look at the sponsorship inequities, the lack of media coverage and the all-round disinterest in women’s sports in general to see that the public simply don’t have the same respect for, or interest in, women playing sport as they do for men.

Which is why my blood is at boiling level when I see that 7Mate have decided to broadcast in high-definition the Aussie Legends Football League (better known as the ‘Lingerie Football League’) from December 14. Rather than choose any of the other incredibly talented female teams out there to turn the spotlight on, they choose the one clad only in underwear and a laughable amount of protective padding.

There are so many issues with the LFL that I don’t know where to begin. For one thing, it undermines women’s sports in general, and turns them into yet another arena where women are sexualised. I’m not saying that the women playing for the LFL are not talented, but it is not their gridiron skills that the audience is watching them for. Broadcasting sporting events where the women are required to play half naked gives the impression that physical appearance is the only thing worthwhile about women.That the only reason one would turn on their television to watch a women’s game of sport is if the women are attractive and in their underwear, coupled with the titillating possibility that you get a nipple slip or three thrown into the mix.

Of course if you read any article about the LFL there are plenty of advocates for this particular brand of gridiron. Most of these commenters seem to think that comparing the LFL outfits to the beach volleyball outfits is a hard hitting argument, but I don’t think I need to tell you that this particular comparison is downright stupid. Gridiron is a rough sport, hence the amount of clothing and padding that is usually required when someone plays at a competitive level. Playing in underwear is not only impractical, but quite dangerous too.

When it comes down to it, this a sport where the women, and women only, are required to strip down to their underwear and sign contracts that have a clause for ‘accidental nudity’ as a way of getting a small portion of the limelight that male sports teams bask in. The whole point of the LFL is half-naked women; anyone who tries to argue otherwise is lying through their teeth.

Female athletes deserve to be treated with the same respect as male ones. Value should not be placed on their physical attractiveness, nor should they be required to look good in underwear. Rather, the emphasis should be on talent, and talent alone – the kind of treatment that male athletes are automatically entitled to.

If you feel that the LFL is sexist and demeaning to women, rather than simply ‘not watching it’ as many pro-LFLers suggest (I mean really, how many changes have come about by people turning a blind eye?), make your views known.

One of the best ways to start is by signing this petition here.