Sportswomen’s Apparel in the United States Uniformly Discussed

This volume presents a collection of essays that explore the relationship between sporting clothing and gender. Drawing on uniform and sports apparel as a means of exploring the socio-sexual politics of contemporary US society, the contributions analyse the historical, political-economic, socio-cultural and sport-specific dimensions of gendered clothing in sport.

Part of a two-volume series (the other discussing this phenomenon in a global context), contributors cover topics such as WNBA uniform politics, military promotion, female sportscaster clothing, magazine depictions, plus-size exercise apparel, FloJo, the Skirt Chaser 5k race, and the socio-politics of the LPGA, CrossFit, roller derby, rock climbing, and more. 

As the first single compendium to discuss American sportswomen’s apparel, this collection will be of interest to practitioners and scholars of sports history, the sociology of sport, and gender/media studies.  

Part 1. Historical perspectives.- 1. "Exercise Requires the Greatest Freedom": Athletic Clothing for American women, 1880-1920; Nancy G. Rosoff.- 2. Of Bicycling Shorts and Golf Sweaters: College Women and the Making of the American Sportswear Industry; Deirdre Clemente and Evan M. Casey.- Part 2. Socio-political perspectives.- 3. Blocked Out: Athletic Voices and WNBA Uniform Politics; Meredith M. Bagley and Judy Liao.- 4. Apathy and/or Ambivalence? Women's Sport and Military Promotion; Molly  Yanity.- Part 3. Socio-cultural perspectives.- 5. "It's Always Something": The Scrutiny of Female Sportscasters' Professional Clothing; Dunja Antunovic and Kellee Clay.- 6. Exploring Plus-size Exercise Apparel as a Social Justice Issue; Caitlyn Hauff and Christy Greenleaf.- 8. In Flo Jo Fashion: The Cultural Appropriation of Sportswomen's Apparel; Leelannee K. Malin.- 9. Buying What's for Sale: Running, Flirting, and Fashion at the Skirt Chaser 5k Race Series; Claire Williams.- Part 4. Sport-specific perspectives.- 10. Skating with Style: Rolling with Reflection and Resistance in Roller Derby Uniforms and Fashion; Colleen English and Heidi Mau.- 11. "We Wear So Little": Collegiate Women Gymnasts' Reflections on Their Uniforms; Emily Fairchild and Elizabeth A. Gregg.- 12. "I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt": The LPGA Dress Code; Elizabeth A. Gregg, Elizabeth A. Taylor, and Robin Hardin.- 13. Badass CrossFit Women: Redefining Traditional Femininity, One Handstand Push-up at a Time; Caitlyn Hauff, Christina Gipson, Nancy Malcom, and Hannah Bennett.- 14. A Feminist Media Analysis of the DiGiulian-Kinder Incident: Rock Climber Cyberbullying on Instagram; Leandra Hinojosa Hernandez.

Linda K. Fuller is Professor Emerita of Communications at Worcester State University, USA.