Bikinis are immodest - why exactly?

[Truly_Beloved]

Thank you, OSUbride! I was trying to find a picture.

Here’s what the beach players wear
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/...ng_olympics_beach_volleyball_women_oly706.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080814/i/r1491229768.jpg

I’m really surprised.

And I agree that modesty is cultural.

This has been an interesting thread, Litcrit. Thank you.

 

[funnyyetsavvy]

My daughter (6) just saw the volleyball pictures and said “Oh they’re wearing bras!”

And I hadn’t said a word…

 

[Truly_Beloved]

My daughter (6) just saw the volleyball pictures and said “Oh they’re wearing bras!”

And I hadn’t said a word…

(That was my reaction, too, actually… Except I thought, “underwear” instead of “bras.” )

 

[StratusRose]

You know, this same topic came up 4 years ago on a thread that was inspired by the Olympic volleyball team. I remember getting SO mad at a certain poster that I took about a 4 month hiatus from CAF.

 

[edwest2]

The bikinis whose pictures were posted here are just impractical. You can’t swim well in them, so I wouldn’t wear one of those.

But I’d also call a two-piece with a bit different design and a bit more material, making it more practical, a bikini.

The only difference between a one-piece and a two-piece, modesty-wise, is that a two-piece exposes one’s stomach and back. I fail to see why a stomach and a back are sexual and would be sexually arousing. I saw my mother and grandmother wear two-piece swimsuits all my life and I guess I just see that as the proper beach ‘uniform’.

If a boy sees his mother, grandmother, aunts and sisters in swimsuits all his life, he’s not going to be immediately aroused just because he sees a girl in a bikini.

I don’t understand the logic behing the equation ‘expose more skin, anywhere’ = ‘men get more aroused’. Why would my stomach and back arouse anyone? If I shave my head, revealing more skin on my head, would I be tempting anyone to sin?

True, you wouldn’t wear your underwear out in public, but neither would you wear your PJs, however little revealing they are. It’s a question of socially acceptable clothes, not modesty. There is underwear that looks like a one-piece, there are negligees that are like dresses, and I wouldn’t wear any of those out, although they cover more skin than a two-piece swimsuit. But a swimsuit is socially acceptable at a beach, underwear is not.

This is not about social acceptability. When miniskirts first appeared, they were declared immodest. Girls in the Catholic High Schools were not allowed to wear their skirts above the knees. This is a fact. I was there.

This is a Catholic forum, and the Catholic perspective is this: too many young women have been wrongly convinced to abandon modesty as taught by the Church. You are attempting to make something sound vague which is not. Don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about, or convince others that ‘who knows?’ That’s fake.

Young and old need to practice modesty in dress, speech and behavior. A well formed conscience tells each of us when we are doing things for the wrong reason. Each one of us needs to understand the meaning and purpose of feelings like shame and guilt, even though others around us are saying, “What’s the big deal?” It’s a very big deal. We Catholics are taught to avoid all occasions for sin.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Caesar517]

Well said, Ed.

The lack of standards for modesty in dress present here used to surprise me. After all the related threads I’ve seen, I try to stay out of it now.

 

[mizznicole]

note: as for the Muslim men who look downward when passing a bikini-clad woman-- most Muslim men seem far more disciplined in Islam than are Christian men disciplined in Christianity. also as far as I know, public oggling is frowned upon (illegal even) in many Muslim countries. it’s a favorite pass time here.

Gosh, I don’t know about that. I’ve been horribly harassed by Muslim men in Amsterdam. Also, we don’t have a culture of whistling and catcalling at women like in other countries. I’ve experienced this in Russia, Italy, and in Mexican neighborhoods in Texas where I lived (the men would honk their horns. It drove me insane). In these situations there was nothing provocative in the way I was dressing, and it’s not like I’m a beauty queen. Any woman not dressed in a sack would get the same treatment.

Although in Amsterdam it was particularly weird. Something to do with my coloring. We were doing street ministry and these Moroccan guys would always end up circling me. Kind of scary, actually.

I guess these experiences have led me to feel more on the side of men needing to be accountable for their own actions.

But I do have a beef with beach volleyball. The men wear full on shorts and t-shirts, while the women are in next to nothing. I don’t care for it.

Great thread, btw.

 

[Caesar517]

But I do have a beef with beach volleyball. The men wear full on shorts and t-shirts, while the women are in next to nothing. I don’t care for it.

I was wondering about that. Why would the women need to be dressed in their undergarments to play volleyball when the men don’t? Is there some increased functionality that I’m missing? I expect professional athletes to be above provocative dress unless there is a reason for it.

 

[JimG]

No one has replied why exposing one’s stomach and back should be viewed as sexually enticing?

Well, it’s not likely to be the stomach and back that we’re looking at. The guys are not particularly noticing the great stomachs of the beach volleyball players.

 

[monicatholic]

before i conclude, a few final thoughts:

that Europe has a different cultural modesty ethic doesn’t indicate progress to me. Europe is a post-Christian society just a decade ahead of the US in moral decay. that they’ve jettisoned their Christian roots better than we have is not a boast, I think.

that men, even Muslim men, oggle women in Amsterdam is not a surprise. it’s Amsterdam. presumeably all those missionaries don’t go to Amsterdam expecting to evangelize priests, sisters and Amish folks.

while a few of my minor points have been contended, none of my main arguments has been engaged:

• not a mention of : do not tempt your weaker brethern. instead repeated remarks about how lusting is just the guys’ problem. but that’s not what Scripture says.
• not a mention of the catechism i posted. no response to protecting the mystery of the person.
• not a mention of this in-our-faces fact. regardless of what she’s doing and what her intent is, this gal’s behind is still hardly covered.
  as the OP titled this thread: bikinis are immodest-- why exactly?
  here’s why. exactly.

 

[laariii2]

I like wearing a bikini because i find it more comfortable.
I always wear it with board shorts & if i am at the beach i wear a T-shirt for most of the time anyway.
Wearing a shirt over a bikini top is just more comfortable ( the top doesn’t stick) & drys out quicker.

 

[OSUbride0708]

I actually posted the volleyball players because I find them to be modest bikinis.

 

[Litcrit]

• not a mention of : do not tempt your weaker brethern. instead repeated remarks about how lusting is just the guys’ problem. but that’s not what Scripture says.

If a boy is used to seeing his grandmother, mother, aunts, and sisters in bikinis, he will not be automatically tempted to lust the moment he sees a woman wearing one. Just like a boy from an African village will not be excited to see bare breasts. In a culture where bikinis are the norm, young men are not tempted by the mere fact that a woman is wearing one.

• not a mention of the catechism i posted. no response to protecting the mystery of the person.

A matter of degree. It can be interpreted from not exposing one’s sexual organs to not exposing one’s ankles. Again, cultural.

• not a mention of this in-our-faces fact. regardless of what she’s doing and what her intent is, this gal’s behind is still hardly covered.
  as the OP titled this thread: bikinis are immodest-- why exactly?
  here’s why. exactly.

When the pics were posted, I was going to say that I find those quite modest and they cover quite a lot. No cleavage, even

Wouldn’t a one-piece cover as much, or even less, of the ‘gals’ behind’?

Doesn’t a bikini only show extra tummy and back, which no one has suggested are sexual?

Why is a bikini then specifically immodest? Why not any swimsuit? If it’s about the behind?

An interesting thread…

I must say that after all that’s been said here I do agree that it might be wiser not to wear a bikini, or even a regular one-piece maybe, in at least some parts of the US.

When I say these things are cultural, that’s what I mean by it: one acts accordingly to the customs and ‘rules’ of one’s culture and only challenges them if finding them contrary to the faith or safety or common sense.

If I ever visit the US, I promise not to go swimming!

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

When the pics were posted, I was going to say that I find those quite modest and they cover quite a lot. No cleavage, even

As far as for swimming, yeah, they would be a modest suit in my opinion. But for a volleyball player, not so much

Wouldn’t a one-piece cover as much, or even less, of the ‘gals’ behind’?

Very good point. I’d love to hear the answer. If the issue is with that much bum showing then shorts would be the only answer…it has nothing to do with it being a one or two piece:thumbsup:

 

[embwt]

What an interesting thread . . . probably the most interesting part (to me) is that in 5 pages of posts, it’s been all women posting with one (maybe two?) exceptions. So let me give my two cents worth as a man. I make no judgments on what people choose to wear or why. I just give you my thoughts as a man. Take it for what it’s worth.

I thought it was only men who didn’t understand women. This post has shown me that perhaps I was wrong . . . women also don’t understand men. Do men look at women in bathing suits and it triggers sexual thoughts? Yes. And when I say yes, I mean ABSOLUTELY!!! What a man does with this is up to the man. In my younger years, I searched for more. In my return to the Church and to the confessional, I try to distract myself with anything I can. I try to remind myself that yes, she is beautiful . . . a beautiful child of God.

In trying to follow the teachings of the Church, trips to the beach have become VERY difficult for me. Avoiding the near occasion of sin pretty much means avoiding the beach for me.

Do bikinis attract men’s eyes where they shouldn’t be? YES!!! The tops accentuate and say, “Look at these!!” The bottoms, as someone said in an earlier post, are a triangle. YES! Where does that triangle point?

That’s the nature of the suit. And truth be told, it has more to do with the suit and not the body in it. To you women who think you are not the one being looked at in this way because there are younger women with “better” bodies around, think again. The nature of the suit draws attention from men to where it shouldn’t be, regardless of how “unattractive” you may think you are. Your attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder . . . and I can assure you that EVERY SINGLE ONE of you in these bikinis are being looked at in this manner. Without exception.

Does a one piece bathing suit do this for men? Not nearly to the extent a bikini does. Not even close. I was at the beach last weekend and saw a young woman in a one piece suit. It really caught my eye because she was the only one. And I thought, “wow, this is a beautiful girl yet the one piece suit doesn’t draw the same attention from my eye.” I wish more women would start this trend. (And she happened to be Catholic, because I saw her make the sign of the cross!)

To all of you who will say that this is my/other men’s problem, I understand. I try to stay close to the sacraments, particularly confession, and always remember that Jesus said to look at another woman with lust in your eye is to commit adultery. I will continue to try to avert my eyes at the beach. But how many men at the beach will be going to confession afterwards? What do you think the rest are doing with their thoughts?

Something to think about, ladies, the next time you put on your bikini. I hope I don’t offend anyone, just trying to give some truthful, helpful advice. Take it or leave it. At least you know.

 

[whatevergirl]

What an interesting thread . . . probably the most interesting part (to me) is that in 5 pages of posts, it’s been all women posting with one (maybe two?) exceptions. So let me give my two cents worth as a man. I make no judgments on what people choose to wear or why. I just give you my thoughts as a man. Take it for what it’s worth.

I thought it was only men who didn’t understand women. This post has shown me that perhaps I was wrong . . . women also don’t understand men. Do men look at women in bathing suits and it triggers sexual thoughts? Yes. And when I say yes, I mean ABSOLUTELY!!! What a man does with this is up to the man. In my younger years, I searched for more. In my return to the Church and to the confessional, I try to distract myself with anything I can. I try to remind myself that yes, she is beautiful . . . a beautiful child of God.

In trying to follow the teachings of the Church, trips to the beach have become VERY difficult for me. Avoiding the near occasion of sin pretty much means avoiding the beach for me.

Do bikinis attract men’s eyes where they shouldn’t be? YES!!! The tops accentuate and say, “Look at these!!” The bottoms, as someone said in an earlier post, are a triangle. YES! Where does that triangle point?

That’s the nature of the suit. And truth be told, it has more to do with the suit and not the body in it. To you women who think you are not the one being looked at in this way because there are younger women with “better” bodies around, think again. The nature of the suit draws attention from men to where it shouldn’t be, regardless of how “unattractive” you may think you are. Your attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder . . . and I can assure you that EVERY SINGLE ONE of you in these bikinis are being looked at in this manner. Without exception.

Does a one piece bathing suit do this for men? Not nearly to the extent a bikini does. Not even close. I was at the beach last weekend and saw a young woman in a one piece suit. It really caught my eye because she was the only one. And I thought, “wow, this is a beautiful girl yet the one piece suit doesn’t draw the same attention from my eye.” I wish more women would start this trend. (And she happened to be Catholic, because I saw her make the sign of the cross!)

To all of you who will say that this is my/other men’s problem, I understand. I try to stay close to the sacraments, particularly confession, and always remember that Jesus said to look at another woman with lust in your eye is to commit adultery. I will continue to try to avert my eyes at the beach. But how many men at the beach will be going to confession afterwards? What do you think the rest are doing with their thoughts?

Something to think about, ladies, the next time you put on your bikini. I hope I don’t offend anyone, just trying to give some truthful, helpful advice. Take it or leave it. At least you know.

I love your candor–thanks for such a well thought out (and tactful) post. I think it opened my eyes a bit.

 

[JimG]

I thought it was only men who didn’t understand women. This post has shown me that perhaps I was wrong . . . women also don’t understand men. Do men look at women in bathing suits and it triggers sexual thoughts? Yes. And when I say yes, I mean ABSOLUTELY!!!

Hmm, I think perhaps women really do understand men…at least on an instinctive level, if not intellectually. I was going to try to explain further why baring just a little more of the back and stomach should make much difference, i.e. bikini vs one piece or more modest 2-piece. But re-reading your post number 75, made it quite clear. So for any women who are still wondering,
re-read post #75!.

 

[Caesar517]

What an interesting thread . . . probably the most interesting part (to me) is that in 5 pages of posts, it’s been all women posting with one (maybe two?) exceptions. So let me give my two cents worth as a man. I make no judgments on what people choose to wear or why. I just give you my thoughts as a man. Take it for what it’s worth.

I thought it was only men who didn’t understand women. This post has shown me that perhaps I was wrong . . . women also don’t understand men. Do men look at women in bathing suits and it triggers sexual thoughts? Yes. And when I say yes, I mean ABSOLUTELY!!! What a man does with this is up to the man. In my younger years, I searched for more. In my return to the Church and to the confessional, I try to distract myself with anything I can. I try to remind myself that yes, she is beautiful . . . a beautiful child of God.

In trying to follow the teachings of the Church, trips to the beach have become VERY difficult for me. Avoiding the near occasion of sin pretty much means avoiding the beach for me.

Do bikinis attract men’s eyes where they shouldn’t be? YES!!! The tops accentuate and say, “Look at these!!” The bottoms, as someone said in an earlier post, are a triangle. YES! Where does that triangle point?

That’s the nature of the suit. And truth be told, it has more to do with the suit and not the body in it. To you women who think you are not the one being looked at in this way because there are younger women with “better” bodies around, think again. The nature of the suit draws attention from men to where it shouldn’t be, regardless of how “unattractive” you may think you are. Your attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder . . . and I can assure you that EVERY SINGLE ONE of you in these bikinis are being looked at in this manner. Without exception.

Does a one piece bathing suit do this for men? Not nearly to the extent a bikini does. Not even close. I was at the beach last weekend and saw a young woman in a one piece suit. It really caught my eye because she was the only one. And I thought, “wow, this is a beautiful girl yet the one piece suit doesn’t draw the same attention from my eye.” I wish more women would start this trend. (And she happened to be Catholic, because I saw her make the sign of the cross!)

To all of you who will say that this is my/other men’s problem, I understand. I try to stay close to the sacraments, particularly confession, and always remember that Jesus said to look at another woman with lust in your eye is to commit adultery. I will continue to try to avert my eyes at the beach. But how many men at the beach will be going to confession afterwards? What do you think the rest are doing with their thoughts?

Something to think about, ladies, the next time you put on your bikini. I hope I don’t offend anyone, just trying to give some truthful, helpful advice. Take it or leave it. At least you know.

Well said. As a man, I can confirm everything he wrote here.

 

[rusty20]

Well said. As a man, I can confirm everything he wrote here.

Agreed. Sadly, we all look at girls with bikinis on the beach. I blame God’s beautiful design of the female body

 

[embwt]

Agreed. Sadly, we all look at girls with bikinis on the beach. I blame God’s beautiful design of the female body

Try not to blame God for what you and I have to wrestle with . . . it’s our cross to bear. What you do with that cross is up to you. Just because “we all look,” doesn’t make it right. More of us men need to teach our sons better. And if any ladies want to help us avert our eyes, it would be much appreciated (at least by those of us trying to follow Church teaching . . . the rest will be disappointed).