From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 15 August

If blokes were ordered to wear skimpy bathers to play beach handball we would have blood in the streets; however, when it comes to the ordering of women, it is a whole different kettle of fish.

THAT is the natural order of events in a patriarchal society.

The men’s beach handball uniform consists of knee-length, baggy shorts and a tank top. The women, however, are forced to wear the most revealing uniform, consisting of a sports bra top and a skimpy bikini bottom, the cut and size of which are prescribed! It is sexist, and probably designed by a group of pathetic blokes, fantasising!

I suspect the decision to fine the women’s Norwegian beach handball team 1500-euros ($2420 AUD) at the European championships, because they chose to wear shorts and not the bikini bottom, was taken by a panel weighted by voyeuristic, salivating, silly old men, looking to stir an ancient memory and a trickle of testosterone. Could the disgraceful financial retribution be a spiteful penalty for having been denied what they imagine might happen – in their dreams?

A cursory Google search shows the halcyon days of the 65-year-old president of the European Handball Federation, Michael Wiederer, cutting a dashing figure – if ever he did – in racing bathers, have long-since passed!

Of the 11 elected EHF representatives, only one is a woman. Tokenistically, at the recent elections, a second female representative was appointed to create a cursory gender balance! Blatant chauvinism.

Mindful of the iniquitous member imbalance, it is little wonder such blatant sexism found a space to rear its ugly head. A number of the committee men hail from those Eastern Bloc countries where woman rights are controlled, and, despite platitudinous clamouring to the contrary, they are classified second-rate citizens. It is reason for uneasiness.

The imposed fine, like the uniform the women are forced to wear, is unacceptable. Conversely, it might be argued that highlighting issue is making a mountain out of a molehill. Obviously, a lot of women, and feminist men, do not accept that premise.

Sexism, like implicit racism, is rampant in society. If we are to make meaningful change, we have to take seriously those examples which ordinarily we might over-look. It is the only possible way we are going to make a difference. There is an ugly gender bias. Society does not value men and women equally. It is shocking that a genetic accident of conception blights the lives of the majority of women. It is too painful to imagine the plight of Afghani women following the resurgence of the Taliban. Even the smallest gains will be lost.

The former head of the Australian Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Morrison, told us, “The standard you walk past, is the standard you accept.”  Self-evidently, he is right; however, the endless palaver which envelops a legitimate complaint is such that often times it is easier to turn a blind eye. It takes courage to fight the battle.

The problem is: women will never be equal to men until they can saunter along the street wearing a navy-blue singlet, with their beer gut hanging over the top of their low-slung shorts and displaying a most unattractive back-crack; and with the hair which was once on the top of their head now sprouting-out of their ears and noses, and carpeting their shoulders; while picking their arse, farting in time to their shuffling gait, and convinced they are sexually alluring!

I have, on several occasions, savoured a perfectly-timed stare of incredulity when a seriously delusional braggadocio has commented on a passing, nubile 18-year-old, “I wouldn’t mind givin’ her one!”, before commenting acerbically: “You must be mad! Look at yourself. If I looked like you, I wouldn’t try and give myself one, let anyone else!”

Fining the Norwegian women’s team is outrageous. The men responsible for the decision must be brought to heel.

The EHF should be fined for sexism.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald each Monday at 10.45 Radio 3BA and contacted via [email protected].