Japan Olympic Uniforms’ come with Anti-Perv Technology in 2024. Let’s stop and say that again: “Japan Olympic Uniforms’ come with Anti-Perv Technology in 2024.  Everyone with me? Everyone read say “Ooh, yikes?” I wish we didn’t have to talk about this but we should.

One thing you should know is that Mizuno’s new fabric for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics is not the first attempt to solve the issue of voyeuristic images at sports events. In fact, back in 2016, Australian company Skins released a similar fabric that was marketed as “anti-peep,” claiming to protect athletes from unwanted attention.

So yeah, the headline is ‘Japan Olympic Uniforms’ Anti-Perv Technology’ but let’s dig deeper. Let’s talk about the why of the why.

An interesting thing about this is that despite these efforts, the problem still persists. Even with the latest technology and advancements in fabric, athletes are still vulnerable to having their images exploited without their consent.

The thing that gets me about this is that instead of addressing the root of the issue – the objectification and sexualization of athletes – we are once again putting the burden on the victims to protect themselves. We deserve better than this half-hearted solution.

Anti-Perv Technology is No Match for an Anti-Perv Society

It’s time to acknowledge that good enough isn’t good enough. We shouldn’t have to settle for fabrics that are just “nearly” opaque or “anti-peep.” We deserve fabrics that are completely impenetrable to any type of imaging technology. We deserve a society where anti-perv technology is completely unnecessary.

Some might say the focus on protecting athletes from unwanted attention often comes at the expense of their performance. Others say prioritizing modesty and hiding their bodies, we are putting limitations on their ability to compete at their best. Horse pucky.

Let’s quit dumbing things down and making everyone happy. We need to have a serious conversation about consent and respect for athletes’ bodies. We need to demand better from our society, and from the companies that claim to be solving these issues.

At the end of the day, no amount of fabric can truly protect athletes from the invasive and degrading practices of voyeurism. Instead of focusing on the fact that Japan’s Olympic Uniforms’ come with Anti-Perv Protection in 2024, we need to address the root of the problem. It’s time to demand a change in our culture. And that’s something no fabric can do.