How Do You Feel About Women Wearing Thong Bikinis at the Beach?

[JimRSmith]

This Take is an attempt to get to the bottom of whether there is a cultural divide on how people view the human body between the English-speaking world (the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA) on one hand, and Europe, Latin America etc on the other.

I'm making it specific to this, because toplessness, nude beaches etc are not mainstream, and show no signs of ever becoming mainstream, whereas thong bikinis arguably are, although are still controversial with some people, and in some places.

Leaving aside the basic fact that not everybody is comfortable with the idea of showing off, there seems to be a big culture divide within the western world on this issue.

On three occasions earlier this year, I was at beaches around the Mediterranean, when it was warm enough to swim, yet out of season. There were very few foreigners there, and these beaches were recommended by locals in the know.

Because it was mainly during the working week, the beachgoers were mainly female, and it was pleasing to see the amount of ladies, who had opted for thong bikinis.

There was a wide range of ages, from late teens to early 40s, and probably most, if not all of these ladies had children with them.

It struck me as quite culturally different to what you'd expect to see on a beach mainly frequented by English-speakers. As I mentioned earlier, virtually all of these ladies were local.

Do you think this is harmful to their kids, or something that we should also adopt, namely a more carefree attitude to the human body, particularly one that has had children? Do you think it would be liberating if our society wasn't so judgmental about this kind of thing?

And do you believe that this is something that only a woman with a certain type of mindset can wear, and if so, what is that mindset?

[Gentleman24]

Personally I prefer when women cover up more, leaves more to the imagination. I wouldn't like my wife or daughter or like to see my sister walking around in said attire. I don't think it's ALL about the male gaze as some may argue, although that is very significant, but it I think it shows the woman respects herself. You don't need to show everyone what you have, privacy is a precious thing.

The idea of it being damaging to kids holds some truth in my eyes because the moral compass will be set a certain way... If a kid grows up hearing swearing, seeing parents smoking they'll think it's normal, won't be traumatised as they know no better, but that isn't good for them. It's not seeing their mum half naked that is the problem with me, it's the fact it's public.

It's different to certain tribes/cultures where being naked or nearly naked is the norm (Amazon, Namibia) as men, women and children everyone dress like it all the time. What I tend to see in the West is: women skimpy, men more covered. From beachwear to nightwear. Most men I know would find it demeaning to dress like it but women seem to be encouraged to do so.

People have worn thongs to the beach for years in parts of Europe (and elsewhere), but people like the dysfunctional Kim Kardashian have popularised it and that can never be good. Without her I know a lot less women would be trying it and it loses respect in my eyes... but then a lot of guys will like it and women will fall prey to the popularity and illusion perpetuated and propagated by social media *clears throat* Instagram 😂

I should have to earn the right to see a woman in a thong, not just casually see it when I go to a random beach. Like I said before, it isn't just about the male (including me) gaze, but it comes into it.
Peace 👌👊

[BronzedAdonis]

No I don't think its harmful to the kids. Not sure if carefree is the most apt word but in Western society I feel the female body has become objectified and hyper-sexualized to the "nth degree". I think possibly adopting a attitude with a more moderate, balanced mindset would be beneficial. Nudity and the female body is natural and beautiful but there is no need to view it in a sexualized context in every instance, "it is what is it".

Regarding mindset I think you need to be fairly confident with your body to wear that and have a mild exhibitionist streak.

[JimRSmith]

Thanks for actually answering the question, lol - quite a few haven't...

[Sandra44319153]

In the USA/Australia/New Zealand etc people have trouble separating the body from sex because they only see a whole body during sex. Therefore, to see too much skin is not appropriate because their minds go straight to sex.
This link is not as well established in some European countries so their minds do not jump straight to sex when they see a bit of flesh. Its not that public sexuality is more accepted. Its just that a nipple or a butt cheek does not = sex.

In my country we have a lot of day spas with pools, saunas, hot tubs etc. They are usually nude areas and men women and children are all together. Its actually very hard to find a day spa where clothes are allowed, they are certainly in the minority. I go to the spa regularly and have never seen a man get hard, even in a sauna full of naked 25 year old women. If you don't link it straight to sex its just a body.

Most of the time people look more sexy in a regular bikini than they do in the nude because of the illusion it creates.

[JimRSmith]

Which country are you from?

[Sandra44319153]

The Netherlands

[soe11]

Absolutely agree with you

[Goodwifie]

I don't really like the idea of going to a beach like that with my family.
I don't think it's something that I would like to try and explain to my children.
I'm a tad conscious more modest about my figure and it's something that I would not wear.
You may like it because you're a bloke.
Would you like it if it was your wife or teenage daughter and guys were staring at them?

[JimRSmith]

I think that's fair comment.

I wouldn't worry me if it was my wife, although your question about daughters is thought provoking. I'm a long way off that yet, so I'm going to cop out, and say we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. 😂

Do you think your kids would actually notice and need an explanation, though? I'm fairly certain I didn't think in all that much depth about it when I was a kid, but that's all I'm basing my comment on?

[Goodwifie]

I have an 11 year old boy so yes I would.
Also in western countries women's bodies are overly sexualized to the point where a breast feeding mother is criticised for feeding her baby in public.
I got into an argument with my brother the other day because he seems to think that women should be held partly to blame for rape if she was wearing revealing clothing in public.
I asked him if I would be partly to blame if I was at the beach and wearing a bikini and became a victim of rape. He said yes 😡and that's when the fight started.

[JimRSmith]

Ah, yeah, I remember your question about that, now you mention it.

I think that's part of the difference I noticed, though. Anglophone culture does over sexualise this kind of thing, in a way that not all other cultures do.

Your extremely good point about teenage daughters notwithstanding, I think I would come down on the side of finding their approach healthier than ours?

[Goodwifie]

They definitely have a better outlook on body confidence and that is always healthier.
I'll leave the G-string bikinis to the Mediterranean women. I burn way too easy sunburnt nipples no thanks 😱. I wasn't thorough enough when I applied sunscreen one day and got badly burnt on my bottom, I had an arse like a baboon and couldn't sit properly for days.

[JimRSmith]

Ouch, I've had it bad on an ankle once and that was bad enough!

[Goodwifie]

https://goo.gl/images/G6cx2y
Slapped on the arse by this guy.

[JimRSmith]

An ex of mine described the feeling as being akin to her jeans feeling that they were getting tighter and tighter and tighter.

I don't think she got burned as badly as it sounds like you did, though...

[Charleslvajr]

You have a great sense of humor.

[Goodwifie]

Okay so another thought on this.
I live in Australia the skin cancer capital of the world so we are teaching our children to protect themselves from the sun. I wear a rashi shirt over my bikini if we go to the water park, it would be a bit of a double standard if I didn't.
Okay also these women in the photos had nice figures. Would your opinion change if they were overweight and their boobs hung around their knees?
Just asking 😆
https://goo.gl/images/VhrbY1

[JimRSmith]

The skin cancer point is fair comment.

I don't think it would massively change my opinion if some of the less in shape girls were wearing them. I've seen that, and it didn't bother me, tbh, lol.

[Goodwifie]

Haha okay then that's alright 👍

[Goodwifie]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[dago16977]

agreed

[JimRSmith]

@Goodwifie - exactly the same deal in Phuket, too - mainly mothers with families... My gal feels overdressed in a thong bikini compared to some if the Russians 😂😂😂

[Goodwifie]

See if you can spot the ladyboys 😆

[JimRSmith]

Hahahaha, probably be easy enough on a beach, but the only locals there are the ones trying to sell you knock off sunglasses and cashew nuts...

[dantetheexplorer]

What about budgie smugglers? :D

[thunderseed]

I wear a thong bikini to the public pool all the time, but I spend the whole time doing yoga in the steam room, which I guess is equally as "offensive" to people's eyes but I don't care. And I'm no bikini model lol, but nobody cares.
Some people ignore me and some people talk to me. Some people even sit right behind me (at a creepily close distance to me when they have the option to sit anywhere else in the steam room) and I have to adjust my positioning so i don't do Downward Dog with my butt in their face. There were a few times where I purposely did that though lol.
No one has ever commented on my appearance there, with the exception of an old man who was hitting on me and said I could be a bikini model (which isn't true) and an old woman who said my body looked strong, and both of those occasions just made my day lol. People stare, and maybe not in admiration lol but I don't care. I'm just focused on my routine.
And as far as it being harmful to kids? There's just no way. At the pool I go to, mothers and their children get full on nude in the change rooms. As do I. I think it's nice. Women of all shapes and sizes feeling comfortable getting nude around each other, and their children feeling confident enough to do the same and being raised without body shaming and feeling like being nude is wrong. I personally love it, and although I've never been to any nude beaches I know I would love that too. I'm definitely not a prude but I just don't see what's so wrong about a woman wearing a thong in public. The first time I saw it was in Hawaii years ago, and there was this beautiful bigger curvy girl wearing one, and nobody else was, and I admired her confidence.

[Shaft50]

Love that attitude...

[MylesF]

There's nothing wrong with wearing a thong. Only puritanical busy bodies make a fuss about it.

[Scarecrow13]

I don't think there should be any problem with it.
Do you think this is harmful to their kids, or something that we should also adopt, namely a more carefree attitude to the human body, particularly one that has had children? It is certainly not harmful to kids, I have never heard of a kid being actually scarred by seeing someone naked or nearly naked, they generally don't care all that much unless an adult tells them they should. We certainly need to take a more carefree attitude to the human body and hot act like it's shameful.
Do you think it would be liberating if our society wasn't so judgmental about this kind of thing?
Absolutely.
And do you believe that this is something that only a woman with a certain type of mindset can wear, and if so, what is that mindset?
Currently, probably, a woman who has confidence and doesn't care what others think, but that is only because society has a problem with it. If society were more accepting, then many different mindsets would accept it.

[Schrodingerscat]

I live in a conservative country where one piece swimsuit is still common.

I think there must be a limit as to how much you expose. You are a guy so obviously, you'd like it if women expose themselves more and more..

I was raised in a conservative society so I believe that most of my naked body is only for my SO to see and not some strangers. I wouldn't like it if I wear such clothes and people check me out. It makes me uncomfortable.

Maybe I would want my kids to raise in same way. I mean, how would they feel if their Mom is being sexualized by random strangers? Personally, I would feel weird if it happens with my Mom.

As long as society is not comfortable with such kind of exposure, I don't think it's for the best.

[JimRSmith]

I think that's fair enough, and your last sentence sums it up well.

[Being_a_good_Indian]

*"I live in a conservative country"*

The place you live might be conservative. It doesn't make whole country conservative.

You will be surprised to know that nude beaches do exist in India but not everyone really knows about them.

So if you don’t mind wearing just your birthday suit in public, here’s where you can (apparently) other like-minded people.

Read My Take. Nude Beaches in India.

Nude Beaches in India ↗

[jacquesvol]

India?
www.where-what.net/.../...aho-sculptures-porno.jpg

But of course, it was colonized by the British under Queen Victoria and that changed a lot.

[Being_a_good_Indian]

@jacquesvol

definitely it's going to change. Queen Victoria was Empress of India.

Victoria, Princess Royal, the daughter of Queen Victoria married Frederick III, then German Emperor. So she did not want to be outranked by her own daughter.

Queen Victoria wanted to make a political statement in response to the centenary celebrations of the American Independence. India was the jewel of the crown of the British Empire. So it was apt for her to take that title.

It is not possible for her to take the title "Empress of the UK", because the Bill of Rights, 1688, did not simply allow her to do so. Britain had then adopted a constitutional monarchy, and the MPs wouldn't let her take that title, which would give the public an impression that her power supercedes that of the elected members to the parliament.

It's 2017. Being a Youth of India Good Indian strongly believe that 21st Century is India's Century.

[jacquesvol]

@Being_a_good_Indian in my opinion India has the potential to become one of the greatest countries on Earth. But it isn't there yet.

[Being_a_good_Indian]

@jacquesvol

😊👍

*"But it isn't there yet."*

seanwes.com/.../242-sp-find-your-why.png

[jacquesvol]

@Being_a_good_Indian
poverty,
overpopulation,
outdated laws.
Religious beliefs.

[Being_a_good_Indian]

@jacquesvol

From my point first you should be open minded person and Unblock Me to have upto date information about India.

We write My Takes to break the Stereotypes on International Platform. The Western Media is biased towards Asian countries. We had also written. My Takes related to Good Things about Pakistan being a Good Indian.

Editor of the Month + Top 5 myTakes of November! ↗

50 Takes.

We will update you with our Take.

Our Government is considering Population as Strength rather than Weakness.

Poverty? Hope you are aware about real statistics from official websites rather than any article of Xenophobic Media Houses.

Outdated Laws?

Government Change in 2014. Most of Laws are updated by The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government. GST one of the Greatest Achievement.

Religious Beliefs - It's Culture of India. It Makes us Unique from rest of the world.

[jacquesvol]

@Being_a_good_Indian unblocked

[jacquesvol]

unblock med too then

[Being_a_good_Indian]

thumbs.dreamstime.com/.../...business-47049079.jpg

[Rainie_]

Depends on what country you are in and who you're with. Personally wouldn't wear thong bottoms with my family but I do around my friends (personally normal brief underwear looks terrible on my butt 😂 I prefer Brazilian/thong so much better).
I don't think it's harmful to kids at all that's nonsense. I think it's nice when people are comfortable with their bodies.

[JimRSmith]

I don't personally get the harmful to kids thing either. I'm almost wondering if that's something I'll change my mind on when I've got kids of my own, lol? So many people tend to mention it...

[markscott]

Kids respond to what they hear others say. If thongs are just taken as normal, then kids don't pay any attention to the issue.

[JimRSmith]

@markscott And that is a very, very good point.

I entirely agree.

[linds34]

We are taught to be ashamed of our bodies, which doesn't make a lot of sense. People should keep fit for their health but otherwise shouldn't feel compelled to hide their bodies. I can't think of any reason that seeing someone in a bikini would harm a kid.

[MayBlythe]

When I go to a beach on a hot day I want to be as cool as possible so of corse of gonna wear something with the least amount of cloth, and as someone who doesn't give two shits if someone sees my nipples or pussy (Cause everyone knows to some extent what you look like under your clothes) I don't see a problem with wearing stuff like it

[soe11]

I love your answer 👌❤️👍

[SammyGurl]

Though I have a smallish toned, tight little bum, I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a thong on a public beach where families are present. Cheekies are as far as I go, they have to have a little coverage though!

I've heard friends with younger kids talking to each other about some of the suits younger girls are wearing like thongs; they don't like explaining to their kiddos why her bum is hanging out of her bottoms. many moms are protective like that. I respect that.

Now if it's a place where there aren't kids then if she wants to hang it all out wear a thong or even go naked that's her choice.

The other thing is I don't believe in advertising what isn't available, that's for my husband!

[fmnst]

It seems like most women in my country wear thong bikinis. Well, I went to the beach recently and most were wearing it. So I'm "desensitized" to it. 😂 They want to tan and show off their butt cheeks. I don't wear it because men stare too much as is already. About the kids... They don't care about it; it does no harm to them. And thong bikinis are mainstream while nudity isn't because the thong just doesn't cover the butt cheeks, but it covers the rest... You can bend over and not show your sex organs. (Female nipples are still treated like they were sex organs, though 🤷‍♀️.)

[fmnst]

Women in my country have been wearing thong bikinis for decades and the kids are still normal kids (most); no harm done.

[markscott]

If guys are staring at women with thongs, it's probably because a not many women are wearing them in that particular area. You become somewhat desensitized to them if you see many of them.

[fmnst]

@markscott Most women in my country wear thong bikinis. Everytime I go to the beach I am one of the few non-elderly women wearing a bikini that covers at least part of the butt cheeks. I guess we're desensitized to women wearing it, but nice butts still catch our eyes, because most are not really nice.

[markscott]

If everyone was wearing a one piece swim suit that covered the entire butt, the guys would notice the best butts and many more. Same would be true if they were naked. Once guys in an area are used to seeing a certain amount of butt, noting much changes in their degree of attention and for how many draw their attention.

[fmnst]

@markscott I disagree. As I said to you, most women here wear thong bikinis at the beach. And as I also said, I guess some butts still catch our eyes because most are not really nice. I don't know how you know that if guys were used to seeing naked women they wouldn't stare at the ones who looked quite better than most. Maybe if we didn't live in a hypersexualized society; even so it's hard to believe.

[markscott]

I don't know that some guys wouldn't stare, as there can always be some guys who stare anywhere. But I do know how a guy feels, and a guy gets used to seeing women in thongs rather quickly, and then it's no big deal. When many women are wearing them, you cease to pay any more attention than when women are wearing regular swim suits.

[fmnst]

@markscott I told you most women at the beach here wear it, though. If you don't believe me, come here or something. I live in Brazil. Men don't stare at women just because they're wearing thong bikinis; they stare at some of them, thong or regular bikini or whatever piece that shows their butt. When I said in my first post that I don't wear thong bikinis because men already stare, I meant they already stare at me, by the way.

[markscott]

I didn't mean to suggest that women in your country didn't wear thong bikinis, as I have no reason to disbelieve you. And I get your point, that you don't war thong bikinis because men already stare at you.

[TadCurious]

Even though a lot of women wouldn't be comfortable wearing a thong (let alone going topless or nude) I think any woman who is comfortable wearing one should feel free to do so. I agree that we're still too hung up over the human body, and there's nothing to fear about it. We all (of the same sex) have the same parts. And since little kids are natural nudists anyway, I don't think there's any concern there as long as people don't engage in inappropriate behavior at a beach.

[JimRSmith]

Agreed.

The inappropriate behaviour part is absolutely key, too. There was no catcalling, or any kind of harassment at all going on, in any of these places, contrary to the sometime stereotype of amorous Mediterranean men, lol.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Thongs aren't for everyone. They particularly don't look good on girls with squared butts or heavy girls. Somehow, I find them fitting for girls with round butts (whether Kim K or Beyonce large or anyone small, as long as they're well-rounded) more than anyone else. I sometimes wear them on the beach if my companions also wear theirs. I don't find them comfy. The skinnier the thong, the more I feel like I'm getting "butt-flossed!"

[JuarezTheCurious]

I really don't care to be honest. I think that human beings in general just need to fucking chill about bodies. ESPECIALLY female bodies, since female bodies usually gather around the most controversey.

I honestly really wouldn't mind if people were allowed to go out in public naked. Even if they were a 500 pound acne prone slob, there'd no problem... just don't look at them. And most nudists carry around a towel with them anyways. So the unsanitary problem is dealt with anyways.

The only problem left is how prude we are.

[Paige90]

Thongs and cheeky bottoms are becoming normal especially during spring break. I think they are really cute on girls with good butts. I think in ten years most girls will wear them on the beach as bottoms are getting smaller every year. Everyone has a butt so it isn't a big deal

[JimRSmith]

Thanks for your reply, Paige. I should have specified, I'm only really interested in getting answers from actual men and women, and not people who are pretending to be the opposite gender.

Cards on the table, Paige, as a fellow heterosexual man, I also think they are really cute on girls with good butts.

But pretending to be a girl to reinforce the point you are trying to make actually undermines it, particularly when you're so transparent.

It does take balls to do, I grant you. But then, you literally DO have balls, don't you?

[birdsandflies]

ooh shit exposed lmfaoo

[rebecca10127]

I wear thongs because I'm comfortable with my body (I'm from Australia). I believe that everyone should wear whatever they feel comfortable with. Also I don't believe that it is a bad thing wearing thongs around your kids because it is showing them that they can wear whatever they would like to and to be comfortable in their body

[soe11]

rebecca10127
Precisely

[lizziepooh03]

I do not see anything wrong with showing butt cheeks though I know it would be frowned upon here on the US beaches.

As for the mindset for who wears them - I think you wear them since you would prefer to have as little tan line as you can and if you are comfortable with showing your buttocks. lol!

[2US-Aussie]

A person should not be defined by what they do or don’t wear. So a persons morals aren’t inversely proportionate to the square metres of fabric warn.

Whatever gender specific appendages a person has will be shared by approximately 50% of the planets population and but cheeks by almost 100%, some motor cyclists should have been wearing leathers.

So given how common human bodies are I’m at a loss to understand what damage a person of any age can suffer by seeing one.

With the above in mind my answer the original question would be that I would see no issue in it at all. Though as we'renudists we may be biased.

[OlderAndWiser]

I will cast my lot with @Goodwifie. If I had a granddaughter, I would not want her being ogled at the beach or by the pool. Western culture simply could not accommodate this very well.

[JimRSmith]

Do you think that's because of the way guys behave?

[OlderAndWiser]

Because of the ways guy misbehave.

[JimRSmith]

Well said. I realised that was the word I should have used after I posted.

[OlderAndWiser]

I knew what you meant! :)

[matchrestore]

I don't think hiding the human body from children is beneficial to them at all. I'd have no issue with thongs or cheeky bottoms on the beach when kids are around.

[JimRSmith]

I'm with you on this.

I think it only becomes an 'issue' when adults decide to make it into one.

[Kkaos]

It's funny how if someone is seen to be naked where children are in our society, they're charged and labeled a sex offender whereas in many tribal communities, it's normal not to wear anything and children couldn't care less if someone is naked.

Who's society is really the best one in this scenario? The one where we've turned to human body into some overtly sexual thing and therefore cannot be shown to anyone in public or the one where the human body is seen as nothing to be afraid of.

[Prettygurl12]

Your wardrobe ought to be restricted to what looks good on your body. So... if you're the queen of squats and legs and abs are your favorite thing to do in the gym... by all means, show off your hard work.

[2US-Aussie]

I should be restricted to what you feel comfortable wearing. After all if people don’t want to see it they don’t have to look, unless being judgmental helps with their self esteem.

[Mekara]

Wear whatever you please. Just don't get butthurt if someone stares a little "too long".

I live in Alabama where most people here are still conservative, so wearing a thong would mostly NOT FLY.

[MidnightCowboy]

Yes, Alabama home of Roy Moore lol

I was happy when he lost

[Mekara]

@MidnightCowboy So was I.

[Charleslvajr]

I'm glad to see a woman say this. Upvoted.

[pleasestopthis]

I don't think it is a big deal or too harmful for the kids, but thongs don't look good on everyone. I personally don't like them, but who cares? They can wear those if they want to.