Topless sunbathing falls out of favor in France

[NewJeffCT]

sacre bleu!

France falls out of love with topless sunbathing

Health concerns and new feminist priorities mean French women are covering up on the beach

For some it's the stuff of naff Côte d'Azur postcards. For others it's a symbol of the feminist struggle in France. Topless sunbathing was once the summer battleground of French post-1968 society – educated middle classes insisted that peeling off was a women's right, while family groups claimed exposed nipples would scare children.

For decades, France has prided itself on being the world capital of seaside semi-nudity. Now the nation is facing a bikini-top backlash. A younger generation of women are covering up, citing new feminist priorities, skin cancer fears and a rebellion against the cult of the fetished body beautiful.

French academics and historians have spent the early summer months pondering the sociological meaning of the demise of France's once-favourite piece of beachwear, the "monokini" – the bottom half of a bikini with no top.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/22/topless-bathing-france

[NJmaverick]

1. Way to ruin my morning Jeff

x( What sort of rebellion involves covering up?

[HopeHoops]

2. Well shit.

There goes the ONLY reason I had for wanting to visit France.

[Orsino]

3. There's no place in France for only wearing pants. n/t

[KurtNYC]

6. "I see Paris, I see France, I see someone's underpants" but

not their boobies.

:cry:

[meow2u3]

4. Personally, I prefer to cover myself. I'm freaking fat!!!

I don't know about any one of you, but I wouldn't be caught dead topless on a beach--I wear a one piece, partly because I'm heavyset, partly because I don't like parading around with my saggy boobs showing in public!!!

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Next thing you know French Women

will start dressing for work like American women. Going to take away the best part of visiting my colleagues on the other side of the pond. :evilgrin:

[Moondog]

7. There's always Milan. They still have a certain flair in that town ....

:P

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. How true, you stop to check the map

and a young lady hops in next to you to give directions!B-)

[MineralMan]

8. France? Hell, go to Sweden.

Summer's so short there, everyone takes off all their clothes and gets some Vitamin D.

Of course, there's a downside to all of that, I guess. Not every naked person is equally pleasant looking.

[SoxFan]

15. Mmmm...pasty

[trof]

9. I went to nude beach at Zandvoort, near Amsterdam.

After the first few minutes, it wasn't a big deal any more.

I also occasionally visited a clothing optional health club in Nurtengin, Germany. The patrons' ages ranged from 80s down to barely toddlers.
You would have felt conspicuous if you HAD worn shorts or a bathing suit.
Again, no big deal.

Americans generally have an unhealthy attitude about nudity.
See my post here about the 'pornographic' wine label.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8946125

[MilesColtrane]

10. There is no God.

[dembotoz]

12. this thread is useless withour photos

someone had to say it..............

[arbusto_baboso]

13. "Topless", heh heh. "Falls out", heh, heh, heh, hehe.

You said "topless", and "falls out" in the same sentence.

[NJmaverick]

14. heh heh heh

good one

[bluedigger]

16. Sacre bleu, indeed!

What's next?

Bathing?

[scheming daemons]

17. France just fell out of favor with me

[Zavulon]

18. That sucks.

[Fire Walk With Me]

19. Exposed Nipples Terrify Children!!

Won't someone think of the children!

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: