Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Burkinis

486 replies

TaterTots · 18/08/2016 19:11

We've all seen the fuss about them, but last night I saw my first one in 'real life', which got me thinking. Also today two of my friends were arguing about them on FB - one against any ban, the other claiming they are a symbol of oppression.

My view has pretty much always been that it's just a different type of swimsuit; no different to some women wearing bikinis and others wearing one-pieces. I'd always thought the bans in places like Cannes were all about the culture/assimilation issue; it hadn't really crossed my mind that the 'modesty' might be being forced on women.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Oobis · 18/08/2016 22:54

I personally think it is intrusive to require people to show their flesh in particular circumstances and is unnecessarily inflammatory. That said, I fully disagree with full face coverings.

Cathaka15 · 18/08/2016 23:02

My dh family are Muslim but dh is not and neither am I . But they are fine with that. They pray and fast and eat halal. My Mil would not be caught dead in that thing. It's ridiculous. They are on holiday right now. She has gone swimming with a one piece swimsuit with the little skirt attached. No issues at all and Has taken nothing away from her faith. She's not showing her boobies her ass or crouch.

SoupDragon · 18/08/2016 23:07

My Mil would not be caught dead in that thing

Which is no reason to prevent others from wearing it.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/08/2016 23:08

facial expressions are a very important part of communication and by choosing to cover half of your face your are choosing to distance yourself from others around you.

Why not just own your Islamaphobia rather than dressing it up with bollocks about communication?

bearofnothingness · 18/08/2016 23:10

fgs when are we going to just say what we feel

burkinis are ridicuous

come on let's unite against these stupid costumes

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/08/2016 23:12

Loads of clothes are ridiculous.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/08/2016 23:12

Just...don't wear one

Cathaka15 · 18/08/2016 23:13

Which is no reason to prevent others from wearing it. Yeah it is. It looks stupid on the beach.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/08/2016 23:16

So do speedos

Cathaka15 · 18/08/2016 23:17

Yes speedos too.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/08/2016 23:20

Let's unite against speedos WinkGrin

littleducks · 18/08/2016 23:24

Dd has one. Its blue patterned and (imo) looks cute. She wore those sunsuits from the supermarket/high street when smaller but they dont go up to her size.

Ds1 wears a rash vest and shorts
DS2 is still small enough for a sunsuit

I see some dubious fashion choices at the beach and have never managed the beach look myself but wouldn't get het up over what others are wearing

zzzzz · 18/08/2016 23:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 18/08/2016 23:28

Which is no reason to prevent others from wearing it. Yeah it is. It looks stupid on the beach.

Thankfully, you don't get to decide for other people. Which is kind of the whole point.

LeilaB123 · 18/08/2016 23:32

I wear one. I'm Muslim. When not in the Pool or beach I wear hijab. I cover my self only revealing face and hands as that is the choice I have made based on my faith. Personally I find the burkini comfortable actually - for whoever it was who said they aren't! Some people may say it looks ridiculous - but 'different' doesn't mean ridiculous - unless you let it mean that! In which case the problem is with you.

I wear it out of choice. Just as the many women I see in 1 piece swimsuits and bikinis wear theirs. I assume that their partners didn't force them to put on a tiny triangle bikini - so why assume I have been forced into my burkini? I assume these women got up, decided to go swimming and decided to wear their bikini - great for them!

Forcing a woman to put a piece of clothing on is oppression. Forcing a woman to remove a piece of clothing is oppression. And that applies whether the force is done by an individual, a group, men or women. Live and let live - I do ! Other people choose to wear a bikini - I choose to wear a burkini! That suits your tastes and this suits mine. Let's all stop staring and silently judging and just get on with swimming!

BonnieF · 18/08/2016 23:39

UmmBum,

Thank you for a very interesting and informative comment.

I would be interested to hear your view on the reasons why 'modesty' appears to apply very differently to Muslim men than Muslim women. Is there, in your view, a different standard which might appear patriarchal or sexist to a non- Muslim?

I hope this question doesn't come across as disrespectful to you or your faith -that is not my intention.

Alisvolatpropiis · 18/08/2016 23:42

I can't bring myself to care about France, a secular nation, banning another item of religious attire.

If the UK did I'd find it somewhat surprising considering all manner of religious dress is accepted here. But we are not a secular nation.

AmandaIsHere · 18/08/2016 23:44

I think safety is an issue with these as if someone is swimming in one of these and they get into difficulty they would have fabric covering their mouth. But in terms of the burka I believe that it is oppressive and horrible, it is not a faith requirement it it's a Wahhabist cultural thing.

LeilaB123 · 18/08/2016 23:48

If you get into difficulty swimming I'd say its the water in your mouth, nose and lungs which would be the real issue.

Surprisingly, I don't strangled or smothered by my hijab when walking down the street on a windy day

DelicatePreciousThing1 · 18/08/2016 23:54

I am not convinced.

powershowerforanhour · 18/08/2016 23:55

I think they look fine, mind you I live in Ireland where you have to wear a full length wetsuit most of the year if you want to spend much time in the water without getting hypothermia, and a lot of the time it needs to be a thick one with a hood, so I'm used to seeing people well covered up at the beach. A burkini is actually more shapely than a thick wetsuit! I'd rather try to swim in a burkini than a bikini, it looks a lot more functional (apart from the skirty bit). I have to swim one armed in a bikini with the other clamped across my chest, or resign myself to putting my boobs back in underwater. I will lie on the beach in a bikini and maybe go down for a paddle in one (tummy sucking furiously and avoiding eye contact), but I'd put a T shirt and shorts or sarong on to walk along the beach or go for ice cream. I guess the burkini clad people can relax and do what they want to do in the water and on the beach without worrying what people think of them.

user123456 · 19/08/2016 00:11

I am fat, I like to wear a long sleeve t-shirt and shorts over my swimsuit. Back in the 90-00's I was always told to take it off cause they where not allowed in the pool have not tried recently as I am to fat to go swimming in a bathing suit.

I am not Muslim but would love to wear these kinda stuff but if I did I suspect I might offend them.

zzzzz · 19/08/2016 00:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user123456 · 19/08/2016 00:16

Cultural appropriation, I don't want to offend them buy taking something from their culture and faith when I don't follow that faith.

LeilaB123 · 19/08/2016 00:19

user123456 - go for it if that's what you want to do!

Speaking personally would not be offended in the slightest! Can't think why anyone would be.