# In what way is Serena Williams' "catsuit" disprespectful of the game? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 25, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242 "2018-08-25T04:54:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/81 "2018-08-30T13:45:14Z")
Slate: The Furor Over Serena William’s Catsuit Continues Tennis’ Policing of Black Women’s Bodies > **[The French Tennis Federation Banned Serena Williams’ “Disrespectful” Catsuit....](https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/serena-williams-catsuit-ban-continues-racist-sexist-policing-of-her-body.html)** > > Both outfits help keep her from dying from blood clots, but hey, you’ve gotta “respect the game and the place!” > [@](#): > > The white country club legacy of tennis is one that both Williams’ sisters have been dogged by in their careers. Consistently compared to animals in positive and negative media coverage alike, both Serena and Venus have faced grossly racist comments from their competitors as well. According to Vox, Anna Kournikova reportedly said, “I hate my muscles. I’m not Venus Williams. I’m not Serena Williams. I’m feminine. I don’t want to look like they do. I’m not masculine like they are.” Unlike her theoretical “rival” Maria Sharapova, Serena has never failed a drug test. Still, she is tested more than twice as often as other top American women players, playing into the over-arching narrative that the most-decorated player in tennis today is both inhuman and incapable of racking up her consistent achievements without the help of performance-enhancing drugs. > > Throughout it all, Williams has been a picture of grace. Amid the catsuit controversy, she showed up to the U.S. Open on Monday in a one-sleeved bodysuit and black tutu custom-designed by Louis Vutton designer Virgil Abloh and fishnet compression stockings. Against the backdrop of Giudicelli’s comments and the French Open’s return to tennis’ sexist and racist roots, Williams’ tutu is a silent but effective bit of wry defiance aimed at the people obsessed with policing her body. And it’s a reminder that whatever she chooses to wear, she’ll keep using that body to be one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/82 "2018-08-31T14:11:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Over the past five years, Williams has been drug tested in the same range as other top tennis players, according to the most recent statistics published by the International Tennis Federation, the global governing body and primary testing authority of the sport. > > Like those of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the ITF’s stats are publicly available online; and, when taken in union with the USADA stats, present a fuller picture of drug testing in tennis. > > “Across the sporting world, the top athletes are always going to be tested more than lower-ranked athletes, that’s just the nature of the beast,” Dr. Stuart Miller, manager for the ITF’s London-based anti-doping program, recently told ESPN. > **[Some answers to tennis' drug testing questions are right in front of us](https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/24052302/wimbledon-2018-how-some-drug-testing-figures-really-pan-tennis)** > > When Serena Williams and Roger Federer talk about doping in tennis, people listen. But what do the numbers behind local and international drug tests actually reveal? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/83 "2018-08-31T15:34:59Z")
That doesn’t seem right to me. Let’s say you have a player like Andre Agassi, who is a highly-ranked player, and he gets tested 5 times in a year. Then you have Joe Blow, a low-ranked player who doesn’t win tournaments and barely qualifies. He’s a doping fiend with very little talent and not much of a work ethic but has chemically-enhanced athletic ability which carries him in his career. Then you have Jim Smith, who is more talented than Joe, works hard, trains constantly, but stays clean. He can’t qualify because he can’t meet the standards of the Joe Blows of the sport. If you only target the top players, the Jim Smiths of the world are out of luck. That seems unfair. Maybe that’s not really an issue and I’m making assumptions that don’t have any basis in reality. But again, if you’re not testing much at that level how would you know? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/84 "2018-08-31T15:55:06Z")
There’s only so much testing you can do, so one way to ration it is to make sure no one won because of doping. In the Olympics there’s random testing but the medalists all get tested, aiui. And doping is not going to get a guy with little talent and no work ethic on the circuit. ---
**Author:** ![ST879](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@ST879](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ST879)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/85 "2018-08-31T23:50:43Z")
Players should be able to wear what they want, as long as there’s no indecent exposure. Just because Serena’s outfits are a deviation from what traditional tennis attire has been on the pro circuit, she shouldn’t be restricted in wearing it. A lot the female players wear outfits that I would deem more ‘skimpy’ in terms of skirt length. Why do they need to interfere in something like this? Just let the woman play! ---
**Author:** ![Mumberthax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@Mumberthax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumberthax)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/86 "2018-09-03T18:51:35Z")
Wow. A woman wears a modest outfit to play tennis - and gets punished for not being sexy enough. That’s patriarchy for you. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/87 "2018-09-04T06:36:15Z")
I personally do not see any advantage of any athlete wearing an all black suit on a hot sunny tennis court. Id be afraid of getting overheated. But if Tennis wants to keep the few fans that they have interested in the sport, they would be best served to carefully lay out their dress codes ahead of time, rather than picking on the biggest meal ticket in the Woman’s side of the sport. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/88 "2018-09-04T07:58:08Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Wimbledon has been tetchy. Federer once had to get different shoes because there was too much orange on the soles. A few years ago some women got tapped on the shoulder because while their shirts were white, their sports bras were not, and parts of them were visible, so they had to make some changes. Wimbledon has cracked down. At one time players were allowed a lot more colour than is the case now. [Here is Edberg and Becker from their matches](https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/KxvPZo9QeTEOMH8CALwgJK/The-green-of-the-grass-turns-to-brown.html). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/89 "2018-09-04T20:59:52Z")
Wow, I hope nobody ever had any intention of reading anything in that article past the second picture. Whenever I attempt to scroll down past it, it expands the top of the article to the point where I’m just looking at the second picture again. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/90 "2018-09-07T18:50:14Z")
I don’t know about disrespectful but I saw Serena’s outfit the other day with the tutu nonsense going on and I think that, regardless of dress codes, she has utterly dreadful taste in on-court sportswear. I can’t think of another tennis player that has made me think “what the hell are they wearing?” Roger’s cardigan or Stan’s shorts are mild in comparison. The only things comparable to me are John Daly or Ian Poulter’s trousers. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/91 "2018-09-07T19:04:29Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > The only things comparable to me are John Daly or Ian Poulter’s trousers. Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite professional bowlers, [Kyle](http://www.bowlersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Troup10.jpg) [Troup](http://media.syracuse.com/bowling/photo/2018/04/13/2018%20Masters%20bowling%20shirts%20(6).jpg). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/92 "2018-09-07T19:23:24Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite professional bowlers, [Kyle](http://www.bowlersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Troup10.jpg) [Troup](http://media.syracuse.com/bowling/photo/2018/04/13/2018%20Masters%20bowling%20shirts%20(6).jpg). The first outfit looks like it’s made to let him blend in with the Partridge Family’s tour bus. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/93 "2018-09-07T19:26:50Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I don’t know about disrespectful but I saw Serena’s outfit the other day with the tutu nonsense going on and I think that, regardless of dress codes, she has utterly dreadful taste in on-court sportswear. > I can’t think of another tennis player that has made me think “what the hell are they wearing?” > Roger’s cardigan or Stan’s shorts are mild in comparison. > The only things comparable to me are John Daly or Ian Poulter’s trousers. That was the point… ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/94 "2018-09-07T20:03:46Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > That was the point… What was the point? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/95 "2018-09-07T20:05:50Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite professional bowlers, [Kyle](http://www.bowlersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Troup10.jpg) [Troup](http://media.syracuse.com/bowling/photo/2018/04/13/2018%20Masters%20bowling%20shirts%20(6).jpg). Those are images I’m never getting rid of. I’ve seen it…I can’t unsee it! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/96 "2018-09-07T20:12:09Z")
I think the tutu was Williams trolling the French officials: “OK, you say I must wear a skirt? Well here’s my skirt, how do you like **that**?”. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/97 "2018-09-07T20:25:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think the tutu was Williams trolling the French officials: “OK, you say I must wear a skirt? Well here’s my skirt, how do you like **that**?”. well if she was “trolling” the French officials that rather lends weight to the charge of being disrespectful to the dress codes. I have no idea if that was her intention ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/98 "2018-09-07T21:53:40Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > well if she was “trolling” the French officials that rather lends weight to the charge of being disrespectful to the dress codes. > > I have no idea if that was her intention The basic gist of the “disrespectful” commentary mainly boiled down to “she doesn’t have a skirt on”. So she put on a skirt, in the most mocking fashion she can come up with, to show how ridiculous the complaint was. Is there anything in ANY dress code that says tutus are not acceptable skirts, especially the tournament she was playing in? No? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/99 "2018-09-07T23:17:02Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite professional bowlers, [Kyle](http://www.bowlersjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Troup10.jpg) [Troup](http://media.syracuse.com/bowling/photo/2018/04/13/2018%20Masters%20bowling%20shirts%20(6).jpg). That’s what it would have looked like if Bob Ross became one of MC Hammer’s backup dancers. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242/100 "2018-09-08T01:16:32Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The first outfit looks like it’s made to let him blend in with the Partridge Family’s tour bus. 😃 It’s meant to be a Mondrian, or an homage to Mondrian, isn’t it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-way-is-serena-williams-catsuit-disprespectful-of-the-game/820242.md?page=4)