To want to wear a burkini

[voldemortsnose]

Lighthearted rant coming. Huge respect for the fact that some people want the choice to wear a burkini and thought it was ludicrous when a place in France, a democracy, was requiring women to bear more on beaches last Summer. (How dare men require women to do that etc etc ...)
My issue is that I have just spent an hour of my Sunday which could have been spent with my family attempting to remove the hair that every woman in the planet has so I can go for a swim with my family this afternoon. Normal swimwear requires that I either a) expose my pubes or b) go through a painful, time consuming process which will leave me feeling prickly still in a week's time. I don't like seeing my leg or underarm hair either, so that's had to go too, but even if I was cool with it, the general public would judge. How did we arrive at this nonsense and what's to be done? And where can I get a burkini?

My swimwear all has legs, either legsuits or tankini with shorts (like these speedo examples:
www.speedostore.co.uk/boom-splice-legsuit/810820B346.html
www.speedostore.co.uk/womens-monogram-allover-boyleg-tankini/809251S215.html )

There are plenty of longer shorts or leggings though - just search for swimming leggings. There is nothing stopping you.

Molly - lucky you, clearly you aren't someone who comes from a culture where covering up is a requirement: I am. Since the launch of burkinis I have seen a lot more women of my culture in the pool, swimming, being more physically active. I personally view that as a positive

What are board shorts, like these green shorts?

You can buy jammers in large sizes. Drawstring waist so will work on curvey hips+waist. I wear jammers with a tankini top (see pic of black jammers).

I agree OP. There are very few swimsuits that actually do the job for women in general, taking into account body confidence etc. A natural body has pubic hair and underarm hair. It is ridiculous that we have to start shaving before a swim because clothes have been designed to objectify the woman in a pool/sea. There are very few swinsuits that I have come across that give enough coverage so that women dont feel the need to shave. There are those who are confident enough not to shave their legs/armpits/pubic hairs, but they are not the majority.

There are many many (non muslim) women who will not go swimming because of the revealing nature of swimsuits. Tankinis and other few garments are slowly catching up but they dont offer a solution to the many who dont want their arms and legs fully/partially exposed and/or have to shave before a swim. Therefore it doesnt surprise me that the burkini customers are 50% non muslims.

I have no religious or cultural requirement to cover up but hair removal is a nuisance to me and I am quite large. I hate showing my legs inpublic. Rarely wear skirts/dresses and if I do they're long. I think I might get a burkini actually. I have tried my best to avoid swimming because of my shape for the last 20 years. How excellent that I can swim AND stay covered up

My friend got a burkini a few years ago. It has changed her life. She swims 3 times a week, has lost weight, is much healthier and has much more confidence.

All because she got a swimsuit that she felt comfortable in.

SimplySwim have lots of legsuits. The Yingfa ones are cheap enough.

That's good to know original, thanks. I think I'll get one.

I think people are also forgetting larger women. I have lost a lot of weight over the last few years, but I remember dreading swimming pools completely when I was at my heaviest, because I loathed putting my body on display - nasty orange peel skin, lumpy saggy bits etc. I think a burkini would have enabled me to go swimming in a way I wouldn't have done before.

Yeah, people might have stared but I really have never minded people thinking I am dressing funny. Mocking my body, on the other hand, would have hurt a lot more.

I go swimming once a week in a burkini (I'm Muslim). Mine was from an Ebay seller and is navy blue, with pink and white stripe. Its basically just leggings with a long tunic top (just past my bum) sleeves and a hood - which I pull up to cover my hair. Even if I am at a womens' only session I wear it - basically because it keeps me a bit warmer!! Our local swimming pool is freezing and I feel the cold easily. At the ladies sessions there are others in it too wearing it with hood down and lots of women in long shorts or leggings over a regular swimming costume or wearing a top that is like turtle-neck with short sleeves (elbow length) with the shorts/leggings. I think stuff it - the most important thing is keeping fit and healthy and getting in the water to swim - so if you are comfortable in a bikini or a burkini, whatever suits you best and you are most comfortable in. #thisgirlcan right??

Just looking at the posts since my last one, it seems that the burkini can be instrumental in breaking down barriers that women face when wanting to go for a swim. It does the job and women can focus on swimming and enjoyment rather than feeling self conscious about their bodies.

In fact, after seeing a picture of all those colourful ones at the top of this page that Molly posted, I think I might get one myself! . Can even remove the hood if you don't mind chlorine in your hair!

You can get ones with a removable hood. Expensive tho