Bikinis were made for the male gaze so isn't it about time we stopped wearing them

[Hadmysay]

https://www.tiktok.com/@ddp8792/video/7509271473366830378

They were created for the male gaze.

I'm going to guess the video is referring to itty bitty bikinis. Like tiny triangles of fabric that dont really hide anything. I'm not sure who they are comfortable for certainly not for me and in my younger years i just worried constantly about falling out. I've never found full swimsuits comfortable I need more boob support so stick with tankini and shorts then I can actually swim move about and enjoy my time on the beach/pool. I don't care about what I look like to anyone I care about comfort.

I do think the advertisements and maybe society pressure(i think im beyond that so im guessing for younger women) could do one though. I don't see men being advertised as much to wear uncomfortable garments it's usually all function and comfort for them cheaper looser easier to find better quality.

There’s lots of things that are made for the male gaze but I’m not going to stop wearing things like bras and knickers.

If you think about it, shapeless clothing like the hijab are made because of the male gaze so women can’t win. In some countries showing wrists and ankles is deemed too provocative.

If women couldn’t wear anything that turned men on then they wouldn’t even be able to wear shoes. There’s plenty of men who will buy used women’s shoes including slippers and trainers that are falling apart and smelly.

Yes, let's be careful. There are many men entering this country who would like us to do exactly that.

That’s probably you don’t see anybody wearing them.

I have not worn a bikini since I was 7 I do not want my DH to see my flab, this is what I would look like

I’ve never worn a bikini but now I think about it swimming costumes are an absolute ballache to put on and off (and I used to swim daily so was doing it a lot).
I honestly don’t give a shit what women wear as long as they are wearing something they’ve chosen and they want to. Feminism is choice, whatever form that choice takes.

I find it rather sad to see women here saying , I'm 45, 50, , size 14 (gasp!) no man is looking at my body anymore.

Yea they are. Women too. And not necessarily in a creepy way.

You aren't invisible just because you're not in your 20's anymore.

Know your worth

I prefer bikinis as they fit better. Mine are far from skimpy, underwired tops and bottoms are shapewear I own a swimsuit for the indoor pool as you don’t see bikinis there but it tugs on my shoulders

I don't wear a bikini in public because I know men will think it's being worn for them to scrutinise me. But I do wear one in private (e.g. in my boyf's back garden) and I don't think you can tell women what to wear or not to wear!

I just wear what I want and what I feel comfortable in. Some days that's a bikini, some days it's a full swimsuit. I follow a girl on TikTok who is constantly "dressing to avoid the male gaze" or so she says and honestly it's exhausting. You do you and fuck everyone else. Not near as many people are gazing at you as you think.

Hmm. Well I am slim with a long body and I struggle to find a one piece that fits. So it’s bikinis all the way for me. I have one that’s for the swimming pool that has more coverage and a smaller one for tanning. I don’t care who’s looking, I dress for my own comfort and convenience.

My possibly controversial view is that bikinis are not only more comfortable but also more flattering on the vast majority of women. By ‘vast majority’ I mean - all women of a healthy weight, even if a bit flabby, and up to around 2 stone overweight. I think a bikini creates a waist and a shape where a lot of swimsuits can look really frumpy and dumpy, unless v expensive and flatteringly cut. This is nowt to do with the male gaze - I have no desire to attract it and my husband, the only male whose gaze I care about, thinks I’ve looked great at all the various weights I’ve been and frankly couldn’t care less what I wear on the beach.

I wear a bikini if I want to. I wear a one piece swimming costume if I want to. That's all there is to it. I'll also buy them if I like them, and I want all styles available for me to choose from.

I couldn't give a shit what men (or other women) think. I don't give that any headspace.

No.

Have not read the thread, but I it's much more practical to go to the loo in a bikini. You don't risk getting the whole thing on the floor.

NABALT.... All bikinis are not created equal (same goes for one piece swimsuits too) some are designed to be revealing, sexy etc and some are designed to be sporty, practical etc. The issue is more that men think women's bodies are 'for the male gaze' and women are led to believe their value is in being sexually attractive to men.

NAMALT / NAWALT before someone feels the need to point that out! ;)

I agree with you OP

Btw I really don’t think thong bikinis (or men’s trunks for that matter! Yes I’ve seen them in Spain) are appropriate in public especially family settings, nor those bikinis that only cover the nipples (keep them for adult only pool parties) my figleaves ones are just a world apart, and dh wears Speedo trunks, but sexy they are not! That said I don’t mind a nudist beach but you know it is and the bodies are 95% wrinkled over weight and old!!!

I’m 57, I doubt there’s anything about me in a bikini that is attractive to the male gaze apart from a very small subset. Still going to wear one. Much prefer to tan as much as possible. I’d also go topless as much as possible.

What? You just pull it down under your bum. How baggy does a swimsuit have to be to fall on the floor ?

You “know” that men will think it’s being worn for them to scrutinise you? Really? I don’t know that, at all. I see women in all shapes and sizes in bikinis. I very much doubt they are all being “scrutinised” by nefarious men or that they give a shit, either way. My granny wore a bikini in her 90s (bad shoulder and weak bladder, couldn’t get a costume off quick enough to pee!)

Conversly I find many bikinis look dreadful..unless they are very well cut the boobs hang out and they don't support the lower area.
Some swimsuits are dumpy and awful. Some bikinis too.
These are a couple of mine (obviously not me modelling them)
And I don't sit in a damp uncomfortable swimsuit for hours. They dey in minutes.
To each their own and tastes.

It clearly depends on the woman and her body and comfort.

I was forever pulling bikini bottoms up.and worrying that I was flashing

I’m the same. There are photos of me as a pre-teen that I remember my mum taking to prove to me that I wasn’t fat. I’m holding my hand/arm across my totally flat abdomen to hide it

Once I hit 40 I decided I didn’t owe anyone a nice view, that I should wear whatever I felt happy in. And for me, in the sun on holiday, that means tanning as much of my wobbly, cellulite dimpled, stretch mark riddled, fucking fabulous miraculous body as possible!

I bet your Granny was being scrutinised. Probably not for the same reasons I am though!
I'm surprised you don't feel the male gaze on you.

There's no point for me even getting my legs tanned, as they hardly see the light of day once I'm back in Scotland.

May I just say I'm enjoying this thread.
Thanks OP.
It's bonkers, but some light relief from all the other madness 👍