The England women’s football team have made a significant change to their traditional kit, switching from white to blue shorts for their new home kit.
The reason for the change is due to players voicing concerns about playing in white shorts during their menstrual cycle.
Last year, Beth Mead spoke publicly about the issue, and the team approached England’s official kit manufacturer, Nike, to discuss the possibility of a change.
The Football Association has now confirmed that the new home and away kits will feature blue shorts, in response to the players’ concerns.
The Lionesses will debut the new kits on Thursday in the “Finalissima” against Brazil, and it will also be worn during the upcoming World Cup tournament, where they will face Australia, Haiti, Denmark and China in the group stages.
The switch to blue shorts is not an isolated event, as other women’s teams have also made similar changes.
Manchester City and West Brom’s women’s teams have switched to burgundy and navy shorts, respectively, while the Ireland women’s rugby union team also announced a change from white to navy shorts last month.
The issue of female athletes wearing white clothing during their menstrual cycle was brought to the forefront at last year’s Wimbledon, where some female players expressed their anxiety about being forced to wear white on their period.
In response, the tournament has allowed female players to wear dark colored undershorts to alleviate the issue.
It is important to note that this issue is not just about comfort but also about breaking down the stigma surrounding menstruation.
By acknowledging and addressing the concerns of female athletes, the England women’s football team and other teams are taking an important step towards normalizing conversations about periods and promoting inclusivity in sports.
