This excellent film has been made as part of an ERC funded project – Politics of Patents, POP – led by Dr Kat Jungnickel at Goldsmith’s University of London, it’s well worth a look. As well as a rather entertaining romp though matters sartorial and women’s participation in outdoor sport, it’s an acute reminder of the barriers that have had to be overcome in order for women to begin claiming a space in sport and the outdoors. Some of the issues raised, continue to echo in areas of contemporary sports participation where the acceptance of ‘non-standard’ clothing options which might widen and diversity participation can still be slow or, a cause of controversy.
Women were always active but the lack of appropriate clothing meant that this activity has not always been easy to perceive.