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F Is for Feminist

Kaity Cooper's picture
F Is for Feminist is a social justice blog that aims to draw attention to pervasive inequalities in Canada and to inspire positive social change. The blog was founded by Kaity Cooper, a social justice lawyer and equality activist, to respond to the smear campaign against feminism that has been underway for many years. Topics range from sexism in sports to the persistence of rape culture and everything in between. You can follow Kaity on Twitter @KaityCooper.

Male field hockey players trade in shorts for sexy skirts

By
Kaity Cooper
| February 3, 2015
Male field hockey players trade in shorts for sexy skirts

It might surprise you to learn that in the progressive city of Vancouver there remains a recreational athletic league that prohibits women from wearing shorts. The league is the Vancouver Women's Field Hockey Association; the uniform a lycra miniskirt.

The Vancouver Women's Field Hockey Association operates on public fields rented by the City of Vancouver and is the only women's field hockey league in the Greater Vancouver Region. In this league the rule is: wear a skirt or don't play, and I can tell you from experience it is strictly enforced.

Last year a teammate and I showed up to play a game in shorts. For this we were threatened with red cards, fines and suspensions. No, I'm not kidding and yes, it really is 2015.

But that's old news. What's new is that we decided to see what our male counterparts thought of the mandatory skirt requirement. After all, there is a men's field hockey league in Vancouver that seems to function pretty well in shorts. We even managed to convince a few brave men to trade in their shorts and give the skirt a go. The result? Watch for yourself.

We think it's time for change. On February 18, 2015 the League will vote (for the fourth time in the last few years) on whether women in Vancouver will get the option to play field hockey in shorts. Help us by sharing our story. #MySportMyChoice

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Tags:
canadian feminism women in sport field hockey uniforms Vancouver Women's Field Hockey men in skirts

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