Female Players Are Skipping Their Periods Because Of Wimbledon’s Strict White Dress Code
The dress code was conceived in 1877 when Wimbledon was a men's only tournament.
An all-white Wimbledon dress code has been in place since 1877, but several players have recently commented on the stress of dealing with the policy when you’re a person who menstruates.
Puerto Rican player Monica Puig jump-started the conversation on Twitter when she described the anxiety of having to wear white for two weeks and “praying” that she wouldn’t get her period.
Definitely something that affects female athletes! Finally bringing it to everyone’s attention! Not to mention the mental stress of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and praying not to have your period during those two weeks. https://t.co/PzyHnPlSJk
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) May 31, 2022
British player Heather Watson also weighed in on the dress code, telling the BBC: “I’ll probably go on the pill just to skip my period for Wimbledon. That’s the thought process and conversations that girls have about it.”
Finally, Australian player Daria Saville revealed that she has “skipped her period” for Wimbledon.
Skipping your period is only possible if you’re on the contraceptive pill, which is not without its possible side effects — including an increased risk of thrombosis, depression, and even suicide ideation.
Of course, people who menstruate deal with an additional stressor on court, regardless of the dress code in place.
“One time I got a period mid-match,” Saville recalled in an Instagram comment. “I went to the bathroom and then was like, ‘Oh surprise’.”
“We are only allowed two toilet breaks during a match. Thank god I had a female umpire. I explained to her what [was] happening and then I waited for someone to bring me a tampon because I didn’t have any. This happened during my first ever Australian Open in the second round. It was also 38 degrees on that day.”
Could it be that a dress policy conceived during the Victorian era — that’s now pressuring women to take medication to uphold its terms — is in need of a tweak? We couldn’t possibly comment.
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