Despite some lingering uncomfortable feelings about the Olympics and human rights violations by China, I sat down to watch the opening ceremonies last night. I must say that for the most part, I was extremely impressed by the performance aspect of the evening, and enjoyed the Parade of Nations, where I was hit with the incredible scope of our international world, as multiple countries I had never heard of crossed the screen.
Less impressive though, were the woman leading each country in - made-up to the point of looking doll-like, parading stiffly, serving as decorative, moving sign-holders. Men can't carry signs while dressed in festive costumes?
This got me back to thinking about the impressive beginning, where 2,008 performers drummed and performed Tai-chi movements - ...they were all men. No worries though, the women had their en masse synchronized appearance during the parade of nations - as cheerleaders, complete with high-heeled cowboy boots.
My last twinge of feminist discomfort came with the marked gender distinction in the outfits worn by many of the nation's delegations - these are all talented athletes, yet some countries feel the need to put their women (uniformly, not as an option) in skirts or otherwise strictly marked divisions in the outfits worn by their male and female athletes. Happily, the US went with one style for all of their athletes. I thought this marked difference, especially when the athletes are 'put on display' in this ceremony was particularly interesting vis-a-vis the testing to determine sex posted about recently.
Did anyone else notice these things? Thoughts?
p.s. I also heard (although can't find a direct source to confirm this) that in the efforts to 'clean-up' the city, China mandated that women's skirts be at least a certain length, and that larger women had to wear leggings underneath. I'm hoping this is not true - has anyone else heard similar reports?
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I really didn't like the women leading in the countries. They looked by robots. I think they should have at least alternated between men and women. And about the women wearing different things from the men, I think that's how most cultures are, and(no offense) they shouldn't have to change their traditional clothes just to be more modern.
I actually commented on this under the post on volleyball uniforms before I saw this thread. The use of Chinese women as decorative objects during both the opening ceremonies and throughout the olympics has really irked me.
Did you also notice the female "cheerleaders" lining the route the Olympians took? They were in little white skirts and their job seemed to be smiling, clapping, and hopping up and down.
literatebrit: I should have been more specific - my surprise was more with "western" countries in which the gender divide was so specific - i.e. we know it is certainly acceptable for women in France to wear pants...
Also wanted to add that the trend of "decorative" women has continued to the medal ceremonies, where the stand holding the medals for the actual bestower to give out.
Also on the decorative women...did anyone else notice how light-skinned and western-featured they were? My sister's adopted from China, in the summer her skin goes from a light golden tan to a very dark brown color. (She swims and plays softball and tennis and hence is out in the sun a lot.) I know that there is a vast range of skin tones for Chinese people, but I doubt they would have chosen a woman with her complexion to be one of their 'decorations.'