Manchester United Accused Of 'Discrimination' After Low-Cut Women's Shirt Released - The Internet Can't Decide | HuffPost Life

People Can't Decide Whether Manchester United's New Women's Shirt Is Sexist

Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK

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Manchester United football club has come under fire after its new women's replica kit for fans was revealed - sporting a low-cut neckline.

The kit design is part of a huge £750 million deal with Adidas, after the football club's contract with Nike came to an end.

The red shirts feature the Manchester United, Adidas and Chevrolet logos. But there's a stark difference between the men and women's replica kit, in that the women's version features a plunging v-neck.

Fans have since taken to Twitter to complain to both Manchester United and Adidas about the new shirts, which some have branded 'sexist'.

One fan wrote, "Why is the V neck so low compared with men's ones?" before adding, "What are Adidas trying to say with the ladies design? I call that discrimination. Nike never did that."

Meanwhile another Twitter user wrote: "That is abysmal. Those girls are sportspeople and the kits should reflect the fact."

The new shirt designs were released at 12am on Saturday.

There are also plenty of female fans who have leapt to the club's defence.

Writing on the Manchester Evening News Facebook page after the story broke, Heather Chidgey wrote: "How ridiculous. This shirt is lovely. Wish my team did one like that. As some people have already said, if you don't want cleavage, buy the men's shirt."

While Diane Turnbull pointed out that the shirt would be "more flattering" for women with larger breasts as high-necked shirts "make you look broad and top heavy".

We have reached out to Manchester United for comment on the new shirts and are waiting to hear back.

Do you think the new women's shirt is 'sexist'? Let us know in the comments below...

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Sexist Moments Of 2014

Nightclubs Making A Business Model Out Of Sexist Lad Culture(01 of12)

Although tensions surrounding university lad culture have long been simmering, 2014 marks the year that war was well and truly declared.

In March, feminist campaigners told HuffPost UK Students editor Lucy Sheriff that nightclubs are making a business model out of a sexist, misogynistic lad culture which glorifies rape and sexual violence towards women.

Night time economies are using a "dangerous" presentation of women and are actively encouraging this culture, according to one researcher, with many events using disturbing advertisement material to promote their nights.

One poster features a woman with duct tape over her genitals, in another a woman crouches, legs splayed, in front of a man's crotch, while one video even featured a student saying he was going to rape a female student.

UK Porn Law Bans Female Ejaculation (But Not Male Ejaculation)(02 of12)

Yes, you read that correctly, female ejaculation features on the list of banned acts under a new UK porn law. It features in the list somewhere between urinating on and strangling your partner.

Male ejaculation, of course, is completely acceptable - whether that's on the face, body or as part of bukkake, where a large group of men climax over the same woman.

So far, so sexist.

The Rise And Fall Of Dapper Laughs(03 of12)

In November 2014, comedian Daniel O'Reilly, who created character Dapper Laughs shot to mainstream fame for all the wrong reasons.

The laddish sexist humour gained momentum on Vine, YouTube and social media, before landing him a series on ITV2 called 'Dapper Laughs: On The Pull'.

He was once described by ITV producers as a "brilliant new talent" with a "risqué" sense of humour, who could even become "the new Cilla Black". And so when Dapper Laughs fell from grace - he fell hard.

After one scathing online petition, a violent Twitter storm and media furore, O'Reilly appeared on BBC Newsnight with his tail between his legs to "kill off the character".

Read more about his rise and fall here.

The Fall Of Julien Blanc(04 of12)

Just a few days after the fall of Dapper Laughs, 'pick-up artist' Julien Blanc came crashing down behind him.

Blanc, who describes himself as the 'international leader in dating advice', was touring the world advising men how to 'pick up' women through using violent and abusive means.

But his tour was cut short when Australia, and soon after the UK, denied him entry to their countries.

The Vilification Of Magaluf Girl And Lack Of Responsibility Taken By Bar Owners(05 of12)

Earlier this year the country was shocked by a video of an 18-year-old performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar in Magaluf, Spain.

In the days that followed she was branded a "slag" (and worse) on social media, while the 24 men involved remained - depressingly, but unsurprisingly - anonymous and largely blame-free.

Even the owner of the bar tried to shift the blame onto the 18-year-old and her upbringing.

"The next time anyone says to you that there is no longer a stigma around women's sexuality, just point them in this direction and ask them to have another think," blogged Sarah, from Ending Victimisation and Blame.

'Heinously Sexist' Downing Street Catwalk(06 of12)

In July, the Daily Mail chose to travel back to the 1950s and covered David Cameron's cabinet reshuffle with a fashion critique of the new "girls" on the Downing Street "catwalk".

In the "heinously sexist" coverage the Mail's Catherine Ostler gave her "style verdict" on the new appointments, which examined Employment Minister Esther McVey's "don't mess with me" lipstick and "turbo-charged hair", Environment Secretary Liz Truss's "patriotic" red, white and blue ensemble and Claire Perry's wedges and "statement necklace".

Beth Tweddle Trolled During Vile Twitter Q&A With Sky Sports(07 of12)

The legacy of London 2012 was well and truly shat on in January this year, as a bunch of nasty trolls abused Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle during a Twitter Q&A with Sky Sports News.

Using the hashtag #Sportswomen, the event was designed to allow fans and sports enthusiasts to ask the three-time Olympian burning questions about her experiences as a world class athlete.

Instead many Twitter users saw it as an opportunity to abuse and ridicule Tweddle.

Jennifer Lawrence Nude Photos Stolen In 'Sex Crime'(08 of12)

Jennifer Lawrence was among one of a hundred female celebrities to have their iCloud accounts hacked and nude photographs stolen.

Lawrence's photos were leaked online and despite this abhorrent crime, the 24-year-old came out fighting.

In an interview with Vanity Fair a few weeks later, she said: “It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change.

“Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated, and the first thought that crosses somebody’s mind is to make a profit from it. It’s so beyond me. I just can’t imagine being that detached from humanity. I can’t imagine being that thoughtless and careless and so empty inside.”

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Urges Women 'Not To Laugh In Public'(09 of12)

The deputy prime minister of Turkey urged the women of his country not to “laugh in public” and they responded brilliantly – by literally laughing in his face.

In a speech complaining of moral corruption, Bülent Arınç said: “Chastity is so important. It is not only a name. It is an ornament for both women and men. [She] will have chasteness.

“She will not laugh in public. She will not be inviting in her attitudes and will protect her chasteness.”

Arınç’s comments have sparked a backlash on social media networks, inspiring a number of hashtags encouraging women to post images of themselves laughing in public.

American Apparel 'Sexy School Girl' Skirt Image Labelled 'Underaged Porn' By The Public(10 of12)

Time and time again we see retailers resorting to shock tactics in the bid for our attention - and controversial brand American Apparel is perhaps one of the worst offenders.

The clothing company's ads have been banned in the past for their "sexual and objectifying" portrayals of women - but rather than learn their lesson, the company has decided to cash in on the 'naughty school girl' look.

Earlier this year, American Apparel released a 'Back to School'-style lookbook (the brand call it 'School Days') featuring young women posing in different school settings.

Some of the images are of a sexualised nature, while some products are called 'Lolita' - a nod no doubt to the sexualised schoolgirl in Vladimir Nabokov's infamous novel.

Women Who Eat On Tubes: Backlash Begins Against 'Bullying' Facebook Group(11 of12)

A Facebook group dedicated to publishing photographs of women eating on the London Underground faced accusations it is “bullying and humiliating” its subjects.

Entitled Women Who Eat On Tubes (WWEOT), the group counted thousands of members and featured images of women, typically taken without their knowledge or permission, along with the time, the food consumed and Tube line in question.

Soon after the group rose to prominence, the backlash began. A group of women staged a London Underground lunch party in a humorous attempt to demystify this oh-so-intriguing phenomenon.

River Island Removes 'Sexist' Anti-Nagging Gag Ball, After Twitter Users Threaten Boycott(12 of12)

River Island committed a disastrous own goal after a football-themed novelty item urging men to "gag" nagging wives or girlfriends caused uproar on Twitter, forcing the company to remove the item from their website.

The product, which featured a plastic football on a string, was labelled 'sexist' and 'offensive' by angry Twitter users.

'The Domestic Anti Nag Gag' was first highlighted by actress, Jenny Bede, who saw the product in a River Island shop and tweeted the Everyday Sexism project.

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