To think that girl's and women's swimsuits are sexualised

[DieselBlue89]

Why should I have to make sure I've tidied my pubic hair before going swimming? None of my other clothes cut so close to my genitalia.
Is it about aerodynamics? (the swim shorts worn by most men definitely aren't)
Or were they designed by men and now we're all just conforming to societal norms?

@VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia 👌

The fact remains that women have to look for swim wear that doesn't show pubic hair.
The same goes for gymnastics leotards and athletics shorts. And if you look at a professional athletics meet, women will be showing their midriffs and wearing bikini type shorts. Men won't.

The fact remains that women have to look for swim wear that doesn't show pubic hair.

I don't understand this tbh. Isn't that just called shopping?

The same goes for gymnastics leotards and athletics shorts. And if you look at a professional athletics meet, women will be showing their midriffs and wearing bikini type shorts. Men won't.

You don't think the woman have chosen that?

?

The premise of the thread is a bit flawed.

Men's swim attire covers much less of their bodies than women's swim attire. Men's nipples, chests and stomachs aren't considered as overtly sexual as women's, but they're not neutral either. (Inarguable that toned muscles and six-packs are deemed conventionally sexually attractive, no?)

Men's speedos are about as tight and revealing as any of the high-crotched bikini bottoms the OP complains about. It wasn't that long ago that they were the default, and they still are in some countries. Some of the skintight swimwear that serious male swimmers wear hides absolutely nothing - serious female swimmers can wear similar skintight suits without having to worry about similar outlines.

And as many posters have linked throughout this thread, there's a huge range of consumer choice for women these days in terms of swimwear that covers everything to swimwear that barely covers anything.

The latter is a valid choice, too. I'm not a swimmer but in the summer I run in a sports bra and gym shorts because it's much more comfortable than a baggy T-shirt and knee-length shorts. It's a performance and comfort issue, not a sexualisation one.

I guess some more pertinent questions would be: why do so many more women want to wear skimpy bikinis, versus men who want to wear skimpy speedos? The latter have fallen out of fashion because of consumer demand; the former are in fashion because of consumer demand. Women are encouraged to sexualise themselves in terms of visual allure in a way men aren't, but a lot of women actively want to do this.

Men at athletics meets often wear skintight shorts that reveal a good deal more about their genitalia than any women's sportwear I've seen. It's not as if male athletes are covered from head to toe, either, and obviously many of them practise their sport topless.

What makes a female midriff on show unacceptably revealing, but a man in a skimpy vest and tight shorts is evidence that he's allowed to cover up?

Not to mention male cyclist. That often leaves nothing to the imagination.

Thankfully in Europe and the UK (unlike countries such as Afghanistan) women can choose. It’s an equality thing as much as anything else.

The bare midriff among female athletes is an interesting one. It's a psychological display - it's basically "look how shredded I am, I'm gonna destroy you". Male athletes do the same thing by really emphasising shoulders and arms, even if they are in a sport that doesn't really require big arms. And as you say - female athletes have the choice, and many do choose longer vests (the East African runners for example).

@Geminio this is a good one that has long sleeves and leggings. It says burkini but it’s a very flattering swim top and leggings. My friend wore it recently on a family holiday with the in laws as she wanted more coverage in front of the in laws with a toddler pulling at her and she said she loved it
https://www.amazon.co.uk/seafanny-Womens-Swimwear-Burkini-Swimsuit/dp/B08YK548BY?ref=ast_sto_dp

The bare midriff among female athletes is an interesting one. It's a psychological display - it's basically "look how shredded I am, I'm gonna destroy you". Male athletes do the same thing by really emphasising shoulders and arms, even if they are in a sport that doesn't really require big arms. And as you say - female athletes have the choice, and many do choose longer vests (the East African runners for example).

I don't run but is it a comfort thing also? You also see swimsuits and also those body suit things , which men also wear. I can't imagine anything worse to run in but hey.

You don't see much body hair on male athletes these days. There is lots of hair removal going on in all areas and all sports,

@sunglassesonthetable "The fact remains that women have to look for swim wear that doesn't show pubic hair.

I don't understand this tbh. Isn't that just called shopping?"

It's apparent from this thread that looking for something that covers pubic hair is something that has to be actively sought- you can't just pop into M&S and have a range to choose from.

And it it always too simplistic to say "women have the choice". Women's choices are driven by societal pressures in a way that men's aren't.

M&s actually have a range like that

It's apparent from this thread that looking for something that covers pubic hair is something that has to be actively sought- you can't just pop into M&S and have a range to choose from.

Either you don't shop much or don't realise how much on line shopping is done these but yes , M&S does boy leg swimmers.

It's really not a weird out there choice anymore. You buy stuff in Next and Sports Direct off the top of my head.

And you could get something from Amazon with a massive choice, tomorrow. That's not specialist. And that's the reality of modern shopping.

I don't deny that the patriarchy runs through our choices like a stick of rock but not to acknowledge that we have increasing and available choice in some things is very contrived.

The whole pubic hair removal thing used to be the domain of women but times change. Young men are equally burdened with it now. If I didn't have sons I might not have realised that.

The Decathlon I linked to was on the first page of hundreds of one piece swimsuits.

don't realise how much on line shopping is done these days,

When you live at the intersection of Danazol pubes halfway down your thighs, big tits, sexual assault trauma making you really want to avoid the male gaze, and autism making underwires instruments of torture, it's not called "shopping", it's called "not having and therefore not going swimming". There's no such thing as legsuits for 34HH.

I have this.

When you live at the intersection of Danazol pubes halfway down your thighs, big tits, sexual assault trauma making you really want to avoid the male gaze, and autism making underwires instruments of torture, it's not called "shopping", it's called "not having and therefore not going swimming". There's no such thing as legsuits for 34HH.

Sorry to hear that.

My swim suit is one piece but has short style bottom half (short legs) so is a non issue for me. Not this exact one but same sort of style:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-1-piece-aquafit-shorty-swimsuit-sofi-black-pink/_/R-p-336417?mc=8677368

15 years ago I was told I could not wear shorts over my swimsuit in the indoor pool. I pointed out they were swim shorts not everyday shirts but was told to take them off or not swim. I switched to cycling shorts on later visits and they were not challenged. I'm certain it's because loose shorts didn't sexualise my figure enough and I didn't have the confidence to insist on my own comfort. I hate swimming and avoid at all costs now anyway so it bothers me no longer

There's no such thing as legsuits for 34HH.

There are some 34HH tankini tops at Simply Be e.g. this one.
That with some Lands End swim shorts e.g. these
Would that sort of thing work. It would be expensive though.

? Men and women’s choices are equally influenced by society unless you think women are weaker of mind?

https://seafancy.co.uk/category/GG-best-fit-for-all-women-body-shape/product/deep-green-halter-strap-sweetheart-neck-ruching-tummy-control-casual-one-piece-swimsuit

This is lovely for hiding a mum tum, as well as the unshaven bits

I'm interested to hear more about how my clothing options, has a man, are driven by female expectations.

Genuinely interested, it's not something I have felt throughout the entire 47 years of my life. I don't recall anyone I know talking about it either. Not scientific I know, it's just a measure how alien this is to me. Maybe if we talking about wearing skirts and dresses, but that's not really comparable to this topic

I think they have been, and you should not overlook the impact of fashion and how many people, female or male, feel a sense of obligation to follow whatever is seen to be fashionable at any given time.