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.

@Merrymouse No. No one is. Well apart from the lunatics/exhibitionists that can't tell the difference between the beach and a high street. Where people actually live and are going about their daily business.

What makes someone think that it's ok to wander around 90 per cent naked when they're overseas? . They can't all be stupiid or blind to the fact that residents are wearing clothes.. So it must be arrogance but it's deeply embarrassing to see.

There is even a sign up in a place I visit often asking people to wear a sarong to cover up the bikini when in the village..they don't give a toss.

Maybe they think they are making a stand against oppression and 'covering up' but they're really not. It's about NOT walking around with your arse out. And the sign is for both men and woman. Just common decency

At my age, and the infrequency anyone looks in my direction? Then yes practically anyone!

That concept "modest clothing" is exactly the question: what is modest? Where do you draw the line?

Ok fair enough. I still think your selling yourself short.

Modest?

Well something in-between a burkha...and the images I posted earlier.

Modest is an awful word though. .almost as awful as moist

In a really hot country (35+), wearing a bikini is just way more comfortable than a swimming costume. I will wear what I like!

Well most of us wear a bra and pants under our clothes rather than a one piece and nobody knows, so I expect it isn’t entirely gaze lead behaviour.

I’d never wear a bikini because I am fat tummied and skinny legged and I have to pretend no one can see that in a black one piece or sit out.

I always wear board shorts and a tankini top because I feel comfortable and look good in them at 63. My friend wears full length swim leggings because her legs were degloved in an accident and cannot get sun burnt. But basically wear what the fuck you want.

Tell you what I’m going to do, I’m going to use the autonomy I have over my own body and I’m going to wear whatever the fuck I want. It’ll just so happen to be a bikini mostly and sometimes, shock horror I’ll go topless because that’s what I choose to do. I don’t give a fuck what you or any other person who wants to control what I wear thinks or says or whether you want to dress it up as feminism or not (clue: it’s not feminism to tell me what to wear). I also don’t care if I attract the ‘male gaze’ or not, plenty of men attract my gaze from time to time and they manage not to shrivel and die.

I just checked again and this is definitely the Feminism Sex and Gender board.

Not seen a single trans woman (or allie) yet contributing to this thread.

This must be a bit topic surely.

Bikinis or swimsuits? I get stressed about my belly falling out. I'd be even more worried if I had testicles

Ha ok. I take it you won't be holidaying in Egypt.
If so, please exercise your rights to do whatever the fuck you want.. and crowd fund to get you out of prison. ..

Woman can't just do whatever they want. Have you not got the memo yet??

I would never wear a bikini, it's like walking around in your bra and pants. I wear swim shorts and a rash vest and to me it is so much more comfortable. I don't have to worry about anything showing, falling out or riding up my arse.

@GarlicMile I've just spotted your post..I agree..Make up does sometimes make one look good, is appropriate for certain social situations.. but it seems your'e also agreeing with me in the sense that it's not just for you/me

But for other people too ..

As for your sexy neighbours, well I haven't seen them so I can't possibly comment. My neighbours are often hanging around cars with their trousers displaying arse crack. I doubt they've seen it on TikTok as a way to empower themselves and attract woman..I just think they're slobs that can't keep their pants up.

Maybe we could do a house swap and compare?

I'm sure the car guys' arses are similar wherever 😂 The point is they definitely aren't doing it attract women! They're empowered, by virtue of being male, to not give a shit about which of their body parts are publicly visible or even think about it.

'Empowerment' doesn't actually mean 'being sexy' ... as I'm sure you know.

If it wasn't for the male gaze pretty sure I'd be butt naked on the beach

Me too! I'd never wear clothes. Well maybe a comfort sheet for certain situations and sitting down but yeah.

Who gives a flying? If you don't wear them just because they pander to the male gaze, you're still allowing men to dictate your clothes choices, and also denying yourself form wearing from something you like. It's madness.

I've never liked swimming costumes, even when I was younger. They always rode up my backside - satisfying the male gaze even more so, presumably. Costumes just don't suit my shape. In fact, even the word 'costume' annoys me!😅

I love a beautiful bikini. I think they're so much nicer and more comfortable to wear.

I still can't believe this thread is on FWR.
If it reaches 1000 posts I'll make a massive donation to the JKR chicken fund 👍

This is actually a perfect example of the patriarchy's influence. Only young women are "fuckable" and therefore attractive to look at.
We have all totally bought into it and never seem to question it.

The "male gaze" is also critical - it affects us all - if only in what we believe about ourselves.

I don’t live in Egypt or any other country where my clothing choices are decided by someone else. I also have never travelled to Egypt either so whether I would be ‘allowed’ to wear a bikini or go topless without getting locked up is entirely irrelevant. I am allowed to wear my bikini in Oz, New Zealand, Alaska and other areas of the US. I have swam in the sea off a beach in Lofoten Islands among many many other places - I don’t need Egypt!

The memo I got was live in a country where I am free to wear what I wish and travel to countries where my clothing choices are my own. Nowhere on the memo did it tell me I need to go anywhere where that choice is taken from me! Shame you didn’t get that same memo.

They are made for 'women who want to attract the male gaze'

Honestly I think we are beyond the 'male gaze' thing in some areas if life.

Let's say all the men went extinct tomorrow, you bet that a sizeable chunk of women would continue with bikinis, Botox, hair dyes and blow dries.

We're a vain bunch.

Stop the shops encouraging little girls wearing adult women-style bikinis though - it's fricking weird.

OK. The message is "Don't wear this style of clothing because it encourages men to think sex thoughts about you."

There are two large flaws in this line of argument:

1. Men think sex thoughts about women, no matter what the women wear. By and large, men think women exist to give them a stiffy. (Evidence: they're offended if forced to notice women continuing to exist into old age.) This is not caused by female clothing, it's caused by testosterone + patriarchy.
2. Women sometimes want men to think sex thoughts about them, patriarchy notwithstanding. As noted, no specific clothing choice will guarantee the desired type of sex-thinking, but the argument obviously isn't going to wash with women wanting to mate.

Bikinis are also made for women who want an all-over tan or who simply like the feeling of sun and sea on their skin.

I also have never travelled to Egypt either so whether I would be ‘allowed’ to wear a bikini or go topless without getting locked up is entirely irrelevant.

I have. I did. I didn’t get locked up.

Try having HH boobs and finding a one piece that can accommodate them while also fitting everywhere else! Bikinis are a necessity for some of us