Some thoughts on big bodies and bathing suits (after seeing a friend model her new bikini): When I told my doctor that I didnt like the idea of swimming as exercise because I hate bathing suits, she thought I meant the part about looking fat in bathing suits. Naah, I dont give a shit about that (or at least no more of a shit than anybody can manage who lives in a fat-shaming culture). No, my dislike is based on two issues, one small, one large. The small one is that I dont feel very female, and bathing suits are very female-ish. Not too big a deal, really - I can and do swim in a pair of swim shorts with a sport bra or tankini top. The big one is that I think it is incredibly stupid to have to wear clothes to swim. Ive spent enough time in clothing-optional space to have gotten a little addicted to the feel of water and sun on my bare hide. If I were allowed to swim naked, Id swim a lot more. Furthermore, I think almost everybody, especially those with bigger bodies, look better in the altogether than they do in even the best-designed swimsuit. All that lovely skin! And I think it would be a lot harder to hate our own bodies if we had the chance to look at bodies of all shapes and sizes, all the time, while their owners are relaxed and happy and playing in the water and sun. In the meantime, Ill be the one in the board shorts and sport bra, scowling. (Also: if you havent already read the wonderful Anne Lamott piece about the aunties, please do.)
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:14:30 +0000
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