The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is under fire for “body-shaming” its female players after the organization introduced a stricter dress code including longer skirts and no plunging necklines.
A reporter for Teen Vogue magazine wrote, “we don’t see why someone can’t look professional in leggings. If anything, policing these women’s bodies and clothes takes away from their professional accomplishments. And if the sport wants a positive image, body-shaming is not the way to get it.”
The new dress code, according to Golf Digest, includes no “plunging necklines,” and “leggings, unless under a skort or shorts, are not allowed.” Additionally, “length of skirt, skort and shorts MUST be long enough to not see your bottom area at any time, standing or bent over.”
“As more and more pointless dress codes interfere with our daily lives, women are standing up for their right to wear what they want and not be slut-shamed. Apparently, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) missed the memo about that,” the Teen Vogue article stated.
Other people on social media called the LPGA “pretty repressed, repressive individuals” and “ridiculous.”
“The new rules for women in the LPGA sound like they were written by ISIS, and I won’t tolerate this garbage,” tweeted one observer.
However, another Twitter user wrote: “It’s Golf, not a runway, fashion show, or a place you hang all your parts out hoping for attention.”
While a spokesperson for the LPGA has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment, Heather Daly-Donofrio, chief communications and tour operations officer, offered the following statement to Golf Digest: “The dress code requires players to present themselves in a professional manner to reflect a positive image for the game. While we typically evaluate our policies at the end of the year, based on input from our players, we recently made some minor adjustments to the policy to address some changing fashion trends. The specifics of the policy have been shared directly with the members.”
The new dress code comes just a few months after the LPGA modernized what qualifies as appropriate golf attire. Michelle Wie wore an outfit that was more athletic than any golfer had before, and Golf Digest applauded the LPGA for allowing the racerback and her seemingly short skirt.
Golfer Paige Spiranac also weighed in on the new dress code. Others also took to social media to express their thoughts about the new policy.
Untucked shirts, and clothes that don't fit (too tight or loose) should be added. Because I think that looks unprofessional as well too
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) July 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/PaigeSpiranac/status/886452143523110912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Flifestyle%2F2017%2F07%2F17%2Fis-new-lpga-dress-code-slut-shaming-players.html
https://twitter.com/dhookstead/status/886974511400275972
@LGPA One can only imagine that you are pretty repressed, repressive individuals. https://t.co/zl1NalZUtv
— William Hargreaves (@billhargreaves) July 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/Faded__Jordan/status/885891929879306241
https://twitter.com/KentArmstrong/status/886675717236211712
It's ridiculous, so should tennis players require knee length skirts? runners have to wear baggy trousers? Swimmers wear diving suits? Silly
— SimonHansonPGA (@simonhansongolf) July 16, 2017
Who makes the decisions in the LGPA why can't it be down to the players to decide? And what's the diversity make up of the decision makers?
— Sean Williams (@SeanShady1) July 14, 2017