A French Fight Over What Women Wear
bend the rules: to do something that is not exactly allowed, without completely breaking the rules
In 1800, the Paris police created a law that sounds almost unbelievable today. Any woman who wanted to wear pants needed official permission. An exception was later made for women riding bikes or horses. The law was rarely enforced but it stayed in place until 2013 when France’s minister of women’s rights finally ended it.
Last week, France began checking women’s clothing again. This time, it happened at the Tour de France Femmes, the biggest race in women’s cycling. Rival teams complained that some riders were wearing padded bras to bend the rules.
Why would padding help? A 2024 study found that a rounder chest can make the rider more aerodynamic. This can amount to 0.78 seconds faster per kilometer. In a time trial, where each rider races alone and only her time counts, that is enough to decide the winner.
The rulebook says riders cannot wear anything that changes their body shape. But it says nothing about bras. So before the time trial on August 4th, race officials announced extra clothing checks. No rider has been caught or named. But one team director says he first noticed the rule bending at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He told a Belgian newspaper that “many riders filled their bust area with ice or other items to create a larger volume.”
In 1800, a woman in Paris needed permission to wear pants. In 2026, a rider needs to show that her bra is only a bra.
Sample sentences
My boss lets us bend the rules a little when a customer has a real emergency.
Our teacher never bends the rules, not even for students she likes.
I know we’re not supposed to park here, but can’t we bend the rules just this once?
Read More
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