Our Work
BantheBikini uses partnerships and sport activists to drive solutions to create a sports industry in Melbourne that does not sexualise individuals based on their gender and physical appearance.
Image: Game Day, 2021.
GSV Annual Breakfast
11 February 2021
Image: Girls Sport Victoria, 2021.
February 11th of this year saw #BanTheBikini partner with Girls Sport Victoria (GSV), with founders Ashleigh Jones and Emma Martin attending the annual Sports Captains breakfast held at Shelford Grammar.
Approximately 120 students from GSV member schools attended the breakfast, with parents from the host school helping run the event.
The annual event allows sport-oriented students to gather in a safe space and discuss their similar passions for sports.
We believe this event was an ideal space to discuss uniform policies in sports and how young women felt about their sports uniforms. We were able to draw links from students discussions to our overall mission and explain how #BantheBikini is relevant to the students present.
The breakfast featured a speech from #BanTheBikini founders, explaining the cause and how the students could get involved and bring the movement back to their schools and communities.
One of Australia’s greatest Olympians, Sally Pearson, also attended as a guest of #BanTheBikini, sharing some of her own experiences and thoughts on the bikini-like uniforms and sexualisation of young women in sport. Sally is the fourth fastest 100m hurdler in history, in 2012 becoming one of the first ten female track athletes in Australia to win a gold medal.
Sally discussed the impact that her uniform had on her performance and mental status in preparation for competitions.
Here is an extract from Sally's speech:
"For me, racing was as much a mental challenge as it was physical. I knew that I was a good athlete and could win the race. But sometimes, I could not stop thinking about how spectators would judge me on my physical appearance rather than judge and remember my performance.
I felt exposed, vulnerable and sometimes uncomfortable. On some occasions wearing a bikini felt okay and appropriate for competitions, but there were times I wish I could have worn something else. The lack of options was infuriating - in what other situation would a woman be told she has to walk around in the bare minimum clothing?"
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As well as hearing the inspiring speeches from #BantheBikini and Sally Pearson, all attendees received an information pack about #BantheBikini. The information pack included fundraising ideas that students can take back to their school communities and a template to write letters to local sporting agencies to reconsider their uniform policies.
Public Speaking Event With Mayor Despi O'Connor
18 September 2020
September 2020 saw #BanTheBikini host a public speaking event at the Mornington Scout Hall for all local high schools to attend, with 16 schools being present on the day.
The event entailed female athletes from local sporting clubs, such as Karingal Bulls Football and Netball club, to speak on their experiences on discrimination in sport.
Teacher and Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Despi O'Connor, also attended the event.
Despi is a role model and leader to children and adolescents and a strong advocate for females participation in sport. She has a passion for education and promoting the development of young people.
Students and athletes were able to share their thoughts and ideas about the sexualisation of women in sport, specifically impartial uniform rules, with the Mayor and discuss local matters that impact them and their mental health and wellbeing.
We want to thank Despi O'Connor for attending the event and are immensely grateful that she can be involved in the #BantheBikini cause.
Fostering Partnerships With Local Sporting Clubs In The Casey Council Community
3 December 2020
In December 2020, we fostered two positive partnerships with Lyndhurst Lightning Football
and Netball Club and Royal Cheerleading Academy.
The Casey Council had contacted our team moments after #BantheBikini conducted their
successful public speaking event in September 2020 with the Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula
Shire Council, Depsi O'Connor.
The Casey Council wanted to discuss the ways in which local sporting clubs could create more
inclusive and gender diverse uniform policies that make all athletes feel comfortable and confident.
The Casey Council requested for movement to be made within local sporting groups.
The Casey Council directed our attention to Lyndhurst Lightning Football and Netball Club. The club
immediately bought to our attention that many athletes, precisely female athletes, were uncomfortable
wearing ill-fitting uniforms. This lead to a change in policy with Lyndhurst Lightning Football and Netball Club
introducing a uniform designed for females, with a v-neck design for the shirts, and a changed design of
shorts. Female athletes now have a choice of which uniform they get to wear, rather than being forced to
only wear one particular uniform.
The Casey Council also directed our attention to Royal All Stars Cheer and Dance Academy. The academy insisted that their enrolled students and parents complete a survey to determine how they felt about the uniforms, and sign our petition if they agreed.
After signing our petition and completing the survey, attention was bought to Royal All Stars Cheer and Dance Academy about the need provide their athletes with different options of their uniform.
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The petition paired with the survey responses showed that the minority of athletes felt uncomfortable in their uniforms meanwhile, the majority of parents felt uncomfortable with how much of their child's skin is on display.
It became apparent that the athletes who felt uncomfortable in their uniforms also felt self-conscious about their appearances. Athletes were worried about how others would perceive them and their bodies instead of their skill development or performance.
#BantheBikini provided Royal All Stars Cheer and Dance Academy with resources and up to date information about adequate and gender-diverse uniforms.
The movement also provided an abundance of support and assistance, which, in turn, enabled the academy to update its uniform policies.
The academy now allows all athletes to wear leggings and t-shirts to training sessions, instead of just bike shorts and a sports bra, and compete in opaque uniforms that do not expose athletes' chest area.
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References
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Game Day. (2021). Round 4- 15th May 2016 [photograph]. https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-6157-80463-0-0&sID=380004
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Girls Sport Victoria. (2021). Events [photograph]. https://www.gsv.vic.edu.au/events/
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Royal All Stars Cheer and Dance. (2021). Classes [photograph]. https://www.royalcheerleading.com.au/classes/
