Women’s sports kits are over-sexualised and not period proof. If this affected men, it would be fixed by now | Catherine Spencer

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As a teenager ‘kit anxiety’ nearly made me quit. The England Lionesses switch from white shorts to blue is a step forward

• Catherine Spencer is a rugby commentator and former England captain

In my late 20s and early 30s, I was captain of the England rugby team. But as a teenager, gym knickers and leotards nearly put me off sport and exercise for good. I left school over 25 years ago now, but I can still clearly recall how awkward I felt walking across the school playing fields on my own in a pair of extremely unflattering navy blue pants, past groups of girls huddled together and laughing – I was sure – at my tree trunk legs.

At that stage, a discus was the only thing guarding my embarrassment. I was 14, and I had been persuaded to practise on my own at lunchtimes in preparation for the district games. I completely flopped at the games – standing alone, at the centre of the discus throw circle, feeling like everyone was staring at me, and feeling as though I was hardly dressed.

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/11/women-sports-kits-period-anxiety-shorts

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