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 H here too. Last costume bought from Bravissimo earlier this year

My 16 yo daughter swims competitively to a reasonably high standard. All the girls wear leg suits down to the knee. Practical and good on holiday for sun coverage.

The boys likewise wear knee length cycling short type shorts.

look for brands such as speedo, maru, arena for these types of costumes. for going away on a beach she wears a bikini but chooses to go with these brands as the costumes are made of more robust material and don’t ride up etc

Debenhams was great for their Mantaray section. They'd have different styles of tops and bottoms. You've got to really search around now to get the same choice.

I wear swimming shorts and a tankini top. I swim a lot. It's never made any sense to me that women have to wear extremely revealing clothing to go swimming. Even when I was in my early 20s and very fit, I still wore shorts and T-shirt even on the beach in Australia!! I live in a very multicultural area and I really like the modest swimming outfits that some women wear. I'm definitely looking into getting longer shorts and more T-shirt type tops next time I need to buy new swimming gear. I have definitely noticed over the last year or so that women are wearing whatever they like rather than traditional swimming costumes

But for actual swimming men wear close fitting jammers not baggy shorts.

I like wearing a normal swim costume.
I have a Hollywood wax.
I don’t think of myself as ‘sexualised’.
This is my choice.

If people want to wear modesty swimwear that’s fine but I like the freedom of wearing little when I’m on the beach, and we should celebrate that women have choices.

Similarly, I like wearing short shorts in Summer and skorts when playing sports.

Not if you get 'em from M&S. good ol' M&S.

I think the increase on them being available is shows like Love island. SM sales products.

When ds and I went away in the summer I was surprised at the number of capped sleeves fairly covering bikini tops worn with bikini bottoms that barely existed!

Leg suits are fab. You can also buy jammers and vest tops. I love the long sleeve swimsuits because I get cold!

For the beach I wear shirts and vest top tankini and a surf t shirt from decathlon.

Although there seem to be an increase in bikinis that aren't the norm as I remember them one of the things I've noticed recently is the increase in woman in cover swimwear. I've felt so less out of place covering up recently than I have previous years.

This thread is great. I hate removing my pubic hair, causes endless skin irritation.

https://calypsa.com/uk/swimwear.html
Just ordered a tankini and swim shorts 88 dollars, free shipping.

Yes I agree with you. And I particularly hate bikinis on young girls. I have seen girl's swimming shorts that are cut like boy's on Amazon that I have been tempted to buy so I think things are changing.

Most swimwear on the high street is designed for beach holidays not competitive swimming. Therefore woman will largely have been waxed so hair isn't an issue and want to limit fabric so it dries quicker as they get in and out of a pool.

I think it probably depends if you’re talking about guy spending a day on the beach (more likely loose swimming shorts) or someone who is taking swimming more seriously as an activity (close fitting).

Lots of swimsuits do seem to be fairly indecent. Although I tried one of the first suits suggested and it made me look like a wrestler due to my lack of height and sturdy legs!

I bought a tankini type thing for this summer, first time I wasn't worried about what I looked like on the beach.

I'm not saying I looked good but enough of me was covered that it didn't bother me.

I wear a bra style bikini top underneath for security due to large boobs, I like to strap them down.

I would never bare my bum cheeks nor bikini line in public!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanna-Nikole-Tankini-Control-Swimwear/dp/B0BTSXZPDF?pdrddw=02P4p&content-id=amzn1.sym.38f90169-67d8-49b7-8ef1-61bdff262c06&pfrddp=38f90169-67d8-49b7-8ef1-61bdff262c06&pfrddr=TBQJBXVMJ5KSF6QXTQJT&pdrddwg=4OmaC&pdrddr=5b173ceb-9516-41b1-ba08-b1c3660c4629&pdrddi=B0BTSXZPDF&psc=1&ref=pddbaspbiaarptbaasooss1_sc

This!
I had a really hard time finding a bikini this year that

1. I could dive into a pool without my boobs falling out and flashing everyone Or
2. the bottoms weren't so tiny that your worried about your flaps hanging out! I don't want a one piece, I don't mind showing my midriff at all but I don't want the whole world seeing my arse and cesarian scars! I did eventually find something in bravissimo but my god there is so little choice out there if you want a 'bikini' you can actually swim in and need support for your bust!

I’ve seen one or two people in swim dresses at my gym. I think they’re quite nice.

https://www.landsend.co.uk/s/LandsEndUK/Womens_Tummy_Control_Swim_Dress/pp/5596732.html?coupon=AC40&cm_mmc=search_g_pla_12816854159t5596732&_cclid=Google_EAIaIQobChMImLWZj9C9gQMVFLjtCh276A8hEAQYBCABEgLcwvD_BwE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImLWZj9C9gQMVFLjtCh276A8hEAQYBCABEgLcwvD_BwE

The sports direct legsuit is ok but doesn't last long if you swim regularly. I have the dhb one from wiggle, lasts much better. I'm in a triclub and most people wear trisuits- none of the women wear the short ones though, everyone goes for the thigh length. It's unusual to see someone with a high cut swimsuit.

I like wearing a ‘normal’ costume too. In my case a bikini. As you say, I love the feeling of freedom. Warmth on my skin. Uncovering.

I don’t wear or do any of the other stuff in your post. For me, precisely what I like about the beach is that it’s a place where the normal rules don’t apply. Wearing little can be about trying to look good - and equally it doesn’t have to be as it’s just the norm. I’ve seen very elderly ladies in Italy at the beach in their bikinis.

I’m glad people have choices, but I hope we aren’t headed to a place where covering is the default and bikinis and the like are read as the choice for those actively seeking attention. One day I hope to be the elderly woman in a bikini enjoying the warmth on my skin.

I’ve never ever worn a swim suit cut so I need to trim. Since childhood I thought they were awful. I’ve worn leg suits, tankinis with shorts etc

I see lots of these at the swimming pool where I go, in Havering, they're really good and look comfortable.

I have one of these now, they are flattering

I think there is SO much more choice in swimwear now than there ever has been for women and girls.

String bikinis to full modest wear swimmers via swimsuits that do a job of work for sports in between that.

I like having that choice.

I no more want to be stuck with an enforced cover up approach than I do with strings -up my -bum -and -boobs -out -ones.

I get it' that there is less choice for the large boobed. I'd hazard a guess that there always is less choice for them sadly.

So yep I think you're being AIBU .

It should always be a choice which is where handbal and volleybal and gymnastics and hockey go wrong. But for many women running in a crop top or doing a tri in a one piece is more comfortable so we should also have the choice to be able to wear that. By declaring that it sexualising sport you push it the other way and move back to policing what women wear. So the act of choosinng is indeed liberation

Why do women have to do gymnastics in leotards with no knickers underneath and remove all their pubic hair, while men can wear unitards or shorts and vest? For whose benefit is it?

Yes I personally have always worn a bikini top and boys swim shorts and my daughter wears the swimsuits with little legs.
I see no reason to buy the old fashioned swimsuits and be so uncomfortable