Butt on display at lunch in south of France

[flipperfizz]

I am currently having lunch in a beach restaurant and a girl with a lovely toned body is wearing a tiny thong with full ass on display. This seems to be a fashion thing and there are lots of women wearing the same cheese cutter! People are staring and some women are laughing. I find it a horrible trend and I am wondering what others think.

I said ‘without breaking the law’, which I think walking around naked would be.

OP didn't laugh at her though, she just observed that some older women appeared to be laughing at her. What's she supposed to do about that?

And going up to the woman and asking her why she's wearing a thong would be unmannerly and intrusive, and no one on this thread can do that.

Yes, as a feminist, I think the world is better with less misogyny. So I think it's important to discuss and be aware of the way that patriarchal and misogynistic socialisation shapes our choices, often in ways we're not consciously aware of. How can you combat misogynistic behaviours and attitudes if you can't identify the subtle and insidious ways in which those things can seep into society?

For instance, someone might claim that sexual strangulation isn't a feminist issue, and the world is better if we don't think or talk about it, and we shouldn't judge women for wanting to be strangled...but in reality, sexual strangulation is a sharply rising trend driven by porn, which causes real and serious harm to many women, and the mindset of a woman wanting to be strangled, or a man wanting to strangle a woman, is something that I think should be talked about.

Obviously I don't spend all day every day thinking about it, but it makes for interesting and valuable discussion.

No, it's legal to be naked in public.

I still think revealing clothes is crass. Technically being naked isn't hurting anyone as well.

How do you know that they're not comfortable for her? Why are you making assumptions on her behalf? I have to change out of wet bikini bottoms as they make me itch, maybe she has the same problem... Who knows, it's none of our business!
Speaking negatively about another person, especially when you don’t know their circumstances, isn’t kind or constructive. Respecting people’s choices, even when they differ from our own, is usually the better approach.

It is interesting that men almost all wear baggy swim shorts though, while women wear ever skimpier bikinis, and you very rarely get men in skimpy thongs and women in baggy swim shorts (my preference, with a bikini top (ETA: And generally a rash vest over top)).

Don't you ever wonder why that is, and whether (as is quite likely) it stems from our patriarchal society, and the framing of men as whole people in themselves, and women as ornamental objects?

Also Australian, Kiwi, American, Canadian...swim shorts are the preference in those nations, as well as others, I'm sure.

I knew France liked speedos for hygiene reasons - didn't know about Germany and Poland, or what women wear in those countries. Regardless, the sex-based split between skimpy bikinis and swim shorts exists in many nations, and I do suspect the reason is rooted in sexist socialisation.

Not all women want to be that covered on a beach/swimming they want to tan and not be hot....Not everyone thinks the same as you, why are you not getting that! I've never worn a bikini to impress men, I've worn it because I want to tan and to be as cool as I can in the sun..

It's about choices, we all have a choice fortunately!

Maybe a lot of men wear baggy shorts probably because they don't size up to what their mouths say.

I've never seen many budgie smugglers on Australian beaches, especially not on younger men - board shorts are by far the massive majority, with speedos being a very small minority. But then perhaps we frequented different beaches.

As I said, I know that French pool requirements are to have jockey shorts or brief style swimsuits for men, but that doesn't negate what I said about norms in multiple countries.

But again - it's interesting that so many young men almost exclusively wear swim shorts, while women wear increasingly skimpy bikinis. I wonder why young men aren't taking to thongs? Or young women to swim shorts?

I understand quite clearly that not everyone thinks the same as me! Why on earth do you think I don't? This entire thread is filled with people who think differently! But regardless, my points stand as they haven't actually been addressed, really, just dodged.

The idea of deliberately tanning oneself is just bizarre to me - perhaps that's a cultural difference, as there's a big focus on not getting skin cancer where I'm from, due to high UV.

And I don't really think that shorts vs a thong makes a difference to heat in the sun - if anything, covering your skin in a light, loose layer actually helps keep you cooler, if I recall correctly (I might not be).

None of our choices are made in a vacuum. We're all influenced by the environment we live in.

You think men wear swim shorts because...their penises might be small when flaccid? That's an odd reason. But it probably is in part because they feel weird exposing the outline of their genitals to others.

Speedos are rank to look at

Once every few years, at least - I have close family living there who I visit. And NSW. But we never frequent the very popular, busy beaches.

That's what they're frequently called in Australia and NZ.

Fascinating thread OP simply because of the pile on. Also in a similar part of the world right now with dozens of beach clubs and yes — en ville je m’habille — and you chuck on a cover up even if it’s a scrap of crochet or something diaphanous when at the beach bar to sit for lunch. I’d hate to be waiting for a table right after them and yes I’d probably raise an eyebrow and give a wry smile if I saw her bum across from my salad nicoise. If it makes me a terrible person 🤷‍♀️

My bum cheeks aren't genitalia, and to me are no different than the top of my thighs. Surely you can see there are, and should be, different standards and acceptable behaviour between kids and adults!

Well, when I've been to beaches in NSW, men have mostly worn board shorts. What can I say?

Anyway, it still stands that in many, many places, men motley wear swim shorts, while women wear ever skimpier bikinis.