Knock knock.

Who’s there?

The 1950’s — they want their sexism back.

Ever since I can remember, my lacrosse uniform has consisted of a jersey with my favorite number five, a pair of bright blue goggles, and an uncomfortable, unflattering, and simply unpleasant skirt.

The skirt part always confused me when I first started playing. I had no idea why I had to put on this piece of clothing that I associated with princesses and dancing while I was trying to play a competitive contact sport.

After much discussion with my fellow lacrosse players of changing the uniform to shorts, I realized that not everyone was in favor of the change. Those who oppose the potential change in attire argued that wearing skirts, or kilts as they used to be called, is simply a long time tradition. While I appreciate tradition and the values it preserved, it must change with the times. Not only are we in the midst of a third wave of feminism, but lacrosse is changing every year with new rules and regulations, yet this seems to be the most resisted topic of discussion.

One of the most confusing aspects of the skirt issue to me is the fact that almost all players practice every day with shorts on. With the notion that we should practice how we play, the dreaded official uniform skirt conflicts with this classic expression.

The most disturbing reason that shorts are often rejected among the community is because of the reputation that already stands for women’s lacrosse. The sport is frequently referred to as a joke, or not even a sport at all. This is not to say whatsoever that wearing a skirt makes a team look weaker because it is feminine, but rather the adoption of the media’s depiction of female athletes. In 2002 the University of North Carolina had switched to shorts temporarily. They decided to switch back because the players did not like how they appeared in media images and videos.

One of my best friends and future division one lacrosse player is actually opposed to shorts because of comfort. Ultimately, my goal is to bring the topic up for discussion, since it is so often ignored. I hope that someday in the near future, lacrosse organizations modify uniforms to make players feel most comfortable and competitive as possible.