The role and influence of gender traits in Figure Skating

[gkelly]

I haven't seen the rules for clothing at the time, if there were any, but I don't think the ISU forced the early women competitors to wear elegant dresses.

The women wore dresses or skirts and blouses when skating because that's what women wore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madge_Syers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Kronberger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herma_Szabo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maribel_Vinson

Some of them chose to emphasize elegance in the clothing they chose; others went for more sporty looks within the parameters of female attire at the time.

I think that Sonja daughter of furrier Henie and her competitors did a lot to popularize glamour in costuming as they tried to outdo each other in that area, and similarly in later generations. But that impulse came from the skaters themselves, not from the rules.

I'd have to do more research to learn whether the rules explicitly required skirts before the 1988 "Katarina rule." I've seen images of female skaters competing school figures in trousers (and even I think shorts + tights) in the mid-20th century.

 

[moriel]

Well, it depends on which elements you're talking about. There are some that, generally speaking, women perform better than men. You can also count on fingers the number of men who can do a decent Biellman or layback spin, which are must do elements for top female skaters.

Pretty much jumps =) On the other hand, yeah, some moves that require the flexbility are ladies' territory.

 

[Alex D]

I haven't seen the rules for clothing at the time, if there were any, but I don't think the ISU forced the early women competitors to wear elegant dresses.

The women wore dresses or skirts and blouses when skating because that's what women wore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madge_Syers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Kronberger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herma_Szabo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maribel_Vinson

Some of them chose to emphasize elegance in the clothing they chose; others went for more sporty looks within the parameters of female attire at the time.

I think that Sonja daughter of furrier Henie and her competitors did a lot to popularize glamour in costuming as they tried to outdo each other in that area, and similarly in later generations. But that impulse came from the skaters themselves, not from the rules.

I'd have to do more research to learn whether the rules explicitly required skirts before the 1988 "Katarina rule." I've seen images of female skaters competing school figures in trousers (and even I think shorts + tights) in the mid-20th century.

Aw, you know us men - we don't have your skills to describe clothes

I am actually writing on an article which also gives a glimpse of "women´s history in skating", so your feedback is very helpful!

What I was referring to are wool clothes and underskirts that were required in the first years, arguably not that elegant I agree. The argument back then was, that the judges should not be influenced by the "beauty", so the women kind of had to hide their feminine parts. They even thought about handing them out glasses (to the judges), glasses with blue lenses.

Well, it depends on which elements you're talking about. There are some that, generally speaking, women perform better than men. You can also count on fingers the number of men who can do a decent Biellman or layback spin, which are must do elements for top female skaters.

This is a very good point! Women do have very hard elements too, as I always say - jumps are one thing, but there is more that happens on the ice.

Thank you for such a wonderful post. I'm glad others immediately think of positive things when they hear the term lady.

Your welcome