Bikinis were made for the male gaze so isn't it about time we stopped wearing them

I think several things can simultaneously be true.

There are lots of practical reasons to wear a bikini.

They make it possible to have a different size top and bottoms, aren’t wet and clingy when you’re on the beach, allow you to get a fuller tan, and are easier in the toilet.

So many women will choose a bikini for one/several of those reasons.

However, women who say they feel sexier in a bikini or the other clothes mentioned on this thread are absolutely being influenced by the male gaze. The whole point is that it’s a subconscious influence, you’re not deliberately choosing bikinis thinking “the blokes at the beach are going to love my arse in this.”

We are bombarded with images of what attractive women look like from childhood. Today it’s social media and celebrities, but before that it was magazines and the golden age of Hollywood. All of us have been subjected to the social conditioning that tells us what looks good. And it’s always about what men like. All of this messaging says you can’t look sexy unless you’re revealing lots of your body and squeezing into (usually) uncomfortable clothing.

You might think you’re just dressing for you, but the influence of the patriarchy is there. It’s short-sighted not to acknowledge that.

Having said that, I 100% support every woman in deciding to wear what they want. It doesn’t matter if the male gaze has influenced you subconsciously; if you enjoy wearing it then crack on.

I just think it’s important that we recognise preferences around what “looks good” almost inevitably have their root in male gaze, whether we realise it or not.

You know when you get out the sea and you have this cold wet fabric flapping against your abdomen - awful. Give me bikini any day.
men look at women whatever they wear. so irrelevant

Well that's fantastic. just because you haven't experienced it doesn't mean it doesn't exist..
You clearly travel to classier parts than me

I have a 12 inch scar on my torso thanks to cancer and wear bikinis. I find them more comfortable than a swimsuit.

Or where I holiday in the Med or the southern hemisphere.

She probably was but she honestly didn’t care. She was a bit of a trailblazer….she had a “big” job back in the day when women, particularly “working class” women, really didn’t and, after my grandad ( who she adored and who was, unusually for the times, very supportive of her career) died, she’d had enough of men via her work to last her a lifetime. She was the woman who taught me I could do and be anything and to not build my life or my self worth around men. So yes, I probably do get the “ male gaze” on me but I don’t care or even notice. If I feel comfortable, then all is well.

Not where I live. It's just cold!

Anyway, OP, I think full nudity is not only frowned upon but there are also practical and hygiene reasons for wearing clothes.

Ermm I happen to spend a lot of time on beaches in various parts of the world. I do see them. Often . They're probably not the norm in Brighton or Blackpool though

I'm surprised you don't feel the male gaze on you.

Not everybody cares enough to notice.

Anyway if nothing else, the thread demonstrates that women dress primarily for their own comfort and are not going to allow concerns about the male gaze to compromise that.

Maybe. I just pull mine to one side.
Ok I never thought I'd be discussing this today 😁

Depends in the straps, but just under the bum sounds close to the toilet seat - and then what about all your clothes if you have to strip?

Much easier if you are just wearing the equivalent of a pair of pants.

Don't you people need to cover up for all the midges?

May I just say I'm enjoying this thread.
Thanks OP.
It's bonkers, but some light relief from all the other madness 👍

There's no point for me even getting my legs tanned, as they hardly see the light of day once I'm back in Scotland.

I bet your Granny was being scrutinised. Probably not for the same reasons I am though!
I'm surprised you don't feel the male gaze on you.

I’m the same. There are photos of me as a pre-teen that I remember my mum taking to prove to me that I wasn’t fat. I’m holding my hand/arm across my totally flat abdomen to hide it

Once I hit 40 I decided I didn’t owe anyone a nice view, that I should wear whatever I felt happy in. And for me, in the sun on holiday, that means tanning as much of my wobbly, cellulite dimpled, stretch mark riddled, fucking fabulous miraculous body as possible!

Conversly I find many bikinis look dreadful..unless they are very well cut the boobs hang out and they don't support the lower area.
Some swimsuits are dumpy and awful. Some bikinis too.
These are a couple of mine (obviously not me modelling them)
And I don't sit in a damp uncomfortable swimsuit for hours. They dey in minutes.
To each their own and tastes.

It clearly depends on the woman and her body and comfort.

I was forever pulling bikini bottoms up.and worrying that I was flashing

You “know” that men will think it’s being worn for them to scrutinise you? Really? I don’t know that, at all. I see women in all shapes and sizes in bikinis. I very much doubt they are all being “scrutinised” by nefarious men or that they give a shit, either way. My granny wore a bikini in her 90s (bad shoulder and weak bladder, couldn’t get a costume off quick enough to pee!)

What? You just pull it down under your bum. How baggy does a swimsuit have to be to fall on the floor ?

I’m 57, I doubt there’s anything about me in a bikini that is attractive to the male gaze apart from a very small subset. Still going to wear one. Much prefer to tan as much as possible. I’d also go topless as much as possible.

Btw I really don’t think thong bikinis (or men’s trunks for that matter! Yes I’ve seen them in Spain) are appropriate in public especially family settings, nor those bikinis that only cover the nipples (keep them for adult only pool parties) my figleaves ones are just a world apart, and dh wears Speedo trunks, but sexy they are not! That said I don’t mind a nudist beach but you know it is and the bodies are 95% wrinkled over weight and old!!!

I agree with you OP

NABALT.... All bikinis are not created equal (same goes for one piece swimsuits too) some are designed to be revealing, sexy etc and some are designed to be sporty, practical etc. The issue is more that men think women's bodies are 'for the male gaze' and women are led to believe their value is in being sexually attractive to men.

NAMALT / NAWALT before someone feels the need to point that out! ;)