How can we be modestly dressed when we are swimming

[bella_mama]

Google for “Burqini”.

rossum

One forum member replied she used these because she is a skin cancer survivor and also she uses them for trail-biking (they do look like a mountain bike outfit), in both cases, that is practical for this person. For those of us without serious skin issues, if you think you need to cover-up this much in public or when swimming, and a modest t-shirt and bermuda shorts are too “daring”, you probably don’t need to be outdoors. Remember, we are Catholics, followers of Jesus Christ…we wouldn’t wear an outfit specifically made for a pagan or wiccan, why would we wear one geared towards Muslims?

 

[TLM08]

For those of you reading this that aren’t aware what a “muffin-top” is, it’s when someone’s abdominal flesh (uh…fat) is popping out over the top of their waistband because they chose to wear pants or a skirt that was too small and hence shoved all the excess skin and chubs up over the waist, kind of like a muffin when it raises up over the cupcake liner…not a pretty picture!

It might not be a pretty picture, but it is an extremely accurate picture! The funny thing is, that many of these are the same gals that just a decade or two ago with their designer jeans & long feathered hair caused me the most extreme distress in my effort to maintain any hope of a pure thought life.


Now, those same wonderful ladies with the roll or two (or three) around the middle and a couple of runny nosed kids pulling at her arm at every second, remind me of the true beauty of life and the importance of marriage, manhood, responsibility, commitment and family.

 

[dranzal]

Would anything be wrong with just wearing a regular shorts outfit with regular underwear? To be modest, make sure the shorts and shirt are darker material.

It may not be what is expected, but should be more modest than any regular swimwear offered in stores these days.

I often wonder if we can even go to the beach if we are truly “avoiding the near occasion of sin”. I have a 12 yr old girl and 10 year old boy. I have to be aware of what they will see, up close and in real life, at the beach.

Are there any beaches where modesty is the rule rather than the exception?

 

[PaulinVA]

You know, there are women and then there are WOMEN.

What I mean by that, is some women (and men) seem to be really well “put together” while others are not so much. I guess one problem with that is what “well put together” means. There’s really no objective criteria. But, some people are really attractive to everyone, you know?

The reason I say this is that some people (men and women) need to be more conscientious in being modest than others. That’s just a fact of life.

In my view, it’s not about skin. It’s about overall effect. A one piece can be much more “revealing” than a two piece, depending on fabric and the individual.

 

[mabibleteacher]

You know, there are women and then there are WOMEN.

What I mean by that, is some women (and men) seem to be really well “put together” while others are not so much. I guess one problem with that is what “well put together” means. There’s really no objective criteria. But, some people are really attractive to everyone, you know?

The reason I say this is that some people (men and women) need to be more conscientious in being modest than others. That’s just a fact of life.

In my view, it’s not about skin. It’s about overall effect. A one piece can be much more “revealing” than a two piece, depending on fabric and the individual.

I think the point of all this is that modesty should be practiced by all woman (and men) regardless of size or build out of respect for God who tells us to be modest, themselves to avoid putting themselves in compromising situations because of how they are dressed AND for the men around them to avoid the potential of tempting them into sin. It’s the kind and loving thing to do.

 

[mystified]

Well, I certainly hope I have not caused anyone to lust since tearing a hole in the knee of my bathing attire.

Seriously, I was unhappy when my teenager was refused admission to a swimming pool wearing a two-piece suit that featured (sorry, as a male I don’t know ther right terms for parts of women’s clothing) a “curtain” the covered her midriff from the top part to the bottom part. Seems the rule was one-piece swimsuits only. Overall, she was more covered than a female lifeguard in a one-piece sut that looked almost painted on.

The eye of the beholder?

 

[mabibleteacher]

Well, I certainly hope I have not caused anyone to lust since tearing a hole in the knee of my bathing attire.

Seriously, I was unhappy when my teenager was refused admission to a swimming pool wearing a two-piece suit that featured (sorry, as a male I don’t know ther right terms for parts of women’s clothing) a “curtain” the covered her midriff from the top part to the bottom part. Seems the rule was one-piece swimsuits only. Overall, she was more covered than a female lifeguard in a one-piece sut that looked almost painted on.

The eye of the beholder?

Ah yes but as a male you would not understand the details of wearing a two piece.
What do you think happens to a two piec bathing suit when someone dives or falls head first into the water…
the bottom part come off. Girls bikini’s do not have an interior string to tie them tight like men’s suits do. And, a lot of the current style sit so low on the hips that you need a bikini wax to be seen in public.so they slip off very easily.

Also, a bikini top often has to be secured in some fashion, usually by tying it… What a great temptation to an immature young man who is trying to get the attention of a young lady…why not just pull on the string and see what happens??? Do you see where this is going?

Men and women alike should observe modesty to the best of their ability. Am I inherently opposed to two piece bathing suits? No. But I think women have to ask themselves and be honest about their motives are for wearing them.

Speaking as a woman who has in her lifetime worn a bikini (and at that time filled it out nicely) we don’t wear them because they are “more comfortable” (because they are not) or because they look better (because unless you’re “built”, they don’t) . It’s because we are trying to get the attention of the males around us or make the other women envious. If women are honest, they would admit it. And THAT is deliberately tempting others into sin, which is wrong.

 

[bella_mama]

It might not be a pretty picture, but it is an extremely accurate picture! The funny thing is, that many of these are the same gals that just a decade or two ago with their designer jeans & long feathered hair caused me the most extreme distress in my effort to maintain any hope of a pure thought life.


Now, those same wonderful ladies with the roll or two (or three) around the middle and a couple of runny nosed kids pulling at her arm at every second, remind me of the true beauty of life and the importance of marriage, manhood, responsibility, commitment and family.

Amen!! I’m one of those ex-Calvin Klein jean-wearing girls that sported the big “Julia Roberts-Pretty Woman” hair. Now you can find me several sizes bigger in Land’s End clothes and a full-size van to tote my kids and the other homeschoolers around in…never would have guessed I’d be doing that 20 years ago!

 

[bella_mama]

Would anything be wrong with just wearing a regular shorts outfit with regular underwear? To be modest, make sure the shorts and shirt are darker material.

It may not be what is expected, but should be more modest than any regular swimwear offered in stores these days.

I often wonder if we can even go to the beach if we are truly “avoiding the near occasion of sin”. I have a 12 yr old girl and 10 year old boy. I have to be aware of what they will see, up close and in real life, at the beach.

Are there any beaches where modesty is the rule rather than the exception?

I don’t see why it would be wrong, it actually sounds very modest and very practical!

 

[Catholic90]

Google for “Burqini”.

rossum

I googled it…

NO WAY!

They look way to hot and uncomfortable. Not to even mention, how in the world does one get tan wearing something like that???

No way. I will stick to my spaghetti strap tank tops and shorts, thank you very much.

 

[apromisemade]

I’ve always worn a one piece just because I don’t think I look good in a two piece. But I’ve seen two piece bathing suits out there that are basically like tight shorts and a sports bra.

 

[Litcrit]

I don’t understand the inherent immodesty of exposing one’s stomach when wearing a two-piece as opposed to wearing a one-piece that may more easily expose more of the bottom, legs, cleavage - the parts that really cause lust, whereas a stomach doesn’t.

Ah yes but as a male you would not understand the details of wearing a two piece.
What do you think happens to a two piec bathing suit when someone dives or falls head first into the water…
the bottom part come off. Girls bikini’s do not have an interior string to tie them tight like men’s suits do. And, a lot of the current style sit so low on the hips that you need a bikini wax to be seen in public.so they slip off very easily. .

I never choose a two-piece that comes off anywhere. I like to actually swim. I usually shop for my two-pieces among ‘granny bikinis’ - the old-fashioned ones with no strings, which offer enough coverage (breasts, legs, bottom), comfort and safety, while not covering your stomach or back.

Also, a bikini top often has to be secured in some fashion, usually by tying it… What a great temptation to an immature young man who is trying to get the attention of a young lady…why not just pull on the string and see what happens??? Do you see where this is going?.

It’s possible, at least in my country, to get bikinis whose tops are like old-fashioned bras - sturdy straps, with clasps, no strings.

Men and women alike should observe modesty to the best of their ability. Am I inherently opposed to two piece bathing suits? No. But I think women have to ask themselves and be honest about their motives are for wearing them…

I like to feel the sun and the water on my tummy and back. I hate wet fabric on my tummy.

Speaking as a woman who has in her lifetime worn a bikini (and at that time filled it out nicely) we don’t wear them because they are “more comfortable” (because they are not) or because they look better (because unless you’re “built”, they don’t) . It’s because we are trying to get the attention of the males around us or make the other women envious. If women are honest, they would admit it. And THAT is deliberately tempting others into sin, which is wrong.

I don’t think you can generalize like that.

My two-pieces are very comfortable. I like my beaches as deserted as possible, empty ones are the best. After a baby, my stomach is far from perfect, but I don’t like wearing a two-piece any less. Where I go to the seaside, all the grannies, wrinkled or obese or with stretchmarks or cellulite, wear two-pieces, although they’re quite obviously not trying to excite lust - it’s just normal beachwear and no one looks or minds. This is Europe I’m talking about, though. These things ARE cultural.

If an item of clothing (e.g. a bikini) is deemed immodest and likely to excite lust in a country/culture, then it will - it’s as simple as that.

I’d follow the cultural precepts of where you’re living. If you’re in Saudi Arabia, swim in a burquini if you don’t want to excite lust - and be sure to cover the hair, because that’s a source of temptation. If you’re in an African tribe, you could even go topless and no one would get excited. In many parts of the US, it appears, a bikini might be too revealing.

 

[lenni]

I don’t understand the inherent immodesty of exposing one’s stomach when wearing a two-piece as opposed to wearing a one-piece that may more easily expose more of the bottom, legs, cleavage - the parts that really cause lust, whereas a stomach doesn’t.
…
These things ARE cultural.

If an item of clothing (e.g. a bikini) is deemed immodest and likely to excite lust in a country/culture, then it will - it’s as simple as that.

I’d follow the cultural precepts of where you’re living. If you’re in Saudi Arabia, swim in a burquini if you don’t want to excite lust - and be sure to cover the hair, because that’s a source of temptation. If you’re in an African tribe, you could even go topless and no one would get excited. In many parts of the US, it appears, a bikini might be too revealing.

honestly, i think it depends on the person or the particular guy. I doubt you can read every single guys different hormonal or ‘turn on’ level. Especially since in this day and age, most guys havent been told the truth about what lust, sex or purity is. so i would nail that down to about 80% of the guys on the beach or pool etc.

one of my friends mates was telling me from the guys perspective what sprung to mind when he saw a girl in a low cut tankini (which is literally like a bikini top, well the top half) with a revealing back. (mind you this is from a 15yo catholic boys perspective) He stated after a bit of embarrassment but he came out in an honest tone. That he has the urge to ‘peel’ her clothes off, like a banana. Meaning, guys arent satisfied with only half of what they see you wear. When you tease them, they take but inevitably all guys deep down want the full shabang. He also stated that by dressing like your in underwear helps them paint a picture because of this spark. Its like Jason Evert’s analogy of the car and the constant reving of the engine but it can not go anywhere. Inevitably, its not good for the car. likewise, it can be applied to the car as being the man and the driver the women. Anyways, all im saying is that if this boy is telling me this, can you imagine what other non catholic young teens and adult guys would be dreaming??

so bottom line, its more about pre-caution than anything.
and how do you know all guys or for even that matter women are going to interpret your intentions of dress, the way you see it. For instance, you had to explain that you prefer to wear a bikini because you enjoy the water on your tummy etc. In this day and culture, most teens and young adults now assume that a bikini will help you feel sexy, lure a guy etc etc. (o yes, teen mags like dolly and gf and seventeen are sure culprits of promoting this message. o not to mention most upcoming teen movies etc). Therefore, most teens and adults who see you out there, yes those that you may walk by etc etc may see your body as just a body. You wont be stopping to explain your intention of wear. Its because our ACTIONS speak louder than our WORDS.

i dont think really it has much to do with nationalities/culture persay. I think it has more to do with youth culture and the media within the Western World and its slow diffusion into surrounding developing countries. Its more of the way that the media or for that matter, humans have taken something soo sacred as our own bodies and deemed it in someway dirty through different clothes. I mean, is this the sort of temple that should be holding the holy spirit?? Just read the history of the bikini, it was an iconic piece which was apart of the women’s movement. Its purpose was to generate excitement on a similar scale as the noise generated by a nuclear bomb since it was named after Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, the site of the Operation Crossroads nuclear weapon test on July 1, 1946. but again, its sole intention was never really to make a women feel comfortable but to incite.

well, all im gonna say is, that its up to you to make the decision but its a pre-caution for both your body and the mind of a guy.

• Lenni

 

[GraceDK]

.

If women are really honest, the real reason why most women choose a bikini is because they WANT men to look at them or they WANT to show off their bodies.

Enticing men to look at your body (unless it’s your husband) is both mean and sinful. (It’s a sin of pride.) Men are visually stimulated. So when women prance around scantily clad, it’s like dangling a steak in front of a hungry dog. And purposely tempting your “brother” is also a sin.

I disagree with both statements. You cannot generelise: “if women are very honest…”. You can only say that this or that would be your own motive for wearing a bikini. Or you can quote a friend or two.
I know quite a few women who wear bikinis to get a tan on their belly, because they find bikinis funny and cute and lastly because they have never heard of the mindset that is described in your post about men… that they are like dogs.
Men are not dogs and whereas they naturally find the female figure fasciniating just like we find the male figure fascinating, the nature of this fascination has much to do with upbringing and culture.
Whereas a man may find a woman attractive or even arousing, this need not be sinful unless he indulges in looking at her private parts or objectivises her… this objectivation can occur even on the street and even against women who are extremely modestly dressed.
Let us not teach this generation of men that they cannot control themselves, that they are prey to enticement, that they are animals and without selfcontrol and responsibility over their way of thinking.

Grace

 

[mabibleteacher]

I don’t understand the inherent immodesty of exposing one’s stomach when wearing a two-piece as opposed to wearing a one-piece that may more easily expose more of the bottom, legs, cleavage - the parts that really cause lust, whereas a stomach doesn’t.

I never choose a two-piece that comes off anywhere. I like to actually swim. I usually shop for my two-pieces among ‘granny bikinis’ - the old-fashioned ones with no strings, which offer enough coverage (breasts, legs, bottom), comfort and safety, while not covering your stomach or back.

It’s possible, at least in my country, to get bikinis whose tops are like old-fashioned bras - sturdy straps, with clasps, no strings.

I like to feel the sun and the water on my tummy and back. I hate wet fabric on my tummy.

I don’t think you can generalize like that.

My two-pieces are very comfortable. I like my beaches as deserted as possible, empty ones are the best. After a baby, my stomach is far from perfect, but I don’t like wearing a two-piece any less. Where I go to the seaside, all the grannies, wrinkled or obese or with stretchmarks or cellulite, wear two-pieces, although they’re quite obviously not trying to excite lust - it’s just normal beachwear and no one looks or minds. This is Europe I’m talking about, though. These things ARE cultural.

If an item of clothing (e.g. a bikini) is deemed immodest and likely to excite lust in a country/culture, then it will - it’s as simple as that.

I’d follow the cultural precepts of where you’re living. If you’re in Saudi Arabia, swim in a burquini if you don’t want to excite lust - and be sure to cover the hair, because that’s a source of temptation. If you’re in an African tribe, you could even go topless and no one would get excited. In many parts of the US, it appears, a bikini might be too revealing.

I agree with you on all counts. My most recent response was directed toward a father objecting to his daughter being denied access to a pool because of her bathing suit attire. The scenarios I described are just some of the reasons that she may have been refused.
Additionally, the original post really was not a why questions but it was a how question. I think I provided my opinion and ideas about that intially.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with an exposed stomach or back either. But there are varying degrees of that. “Granny” two piece bathing suits are not generally considered to be bikni’s. A bikini is generally much less conservative. And even then, there are degrees to that as well.

It is impossible to address every specific situation in every culture and every environment, so you have to speak in generalities.

 

[mabibleteacher]

I disagree with both statements. You cannot generelise: “if women are very honest…”. You can only say that this or that would be your own motive for wearing a bikini. Or you can quote a friend or two.
I know quite a few women who wear bikinis to get a tan on their belly, because they find bikinis funny and cute and lastly because they have never heard of the mindset that is described in your post about men… that they are like dogs.
Men are not dogs and whereas they naturally find the female figure fasciniating just like we find the male figure fascinating, the nature of this fascination has much to do with upbringing and culture.
Whereas a man may find a woman attractive or even arousing, this need not be sinful unless he indulges in looking at her private parts or objectivises her… this objectivation can occur even on the street and even against women who are extremely modestly dressed.
Let us not teach this generation of men that they cannot control themselves, that they are prey to enticement, that they are animals and without selfcontrol and responsibility over their way of thinking.

Grace

Nowhere in my previous post did I compare men to dog. That is an assumption of your own finding. By acknowledging an inherent physical attraction between men and woman, I in no way indicated that men were dogs. Nor did I say that they could not control themselves.
What I implied is that avoiding temptation is a shared responsibility. It is unfair to think that women have no repsonsibility to consider the potential weaknesses of the opposite sex when choosing their manner of dress. That is not the same as saying that men have no ability to control themselves. Theydo and they should. But out of respect for one another, women should at least consider the feelings of the men around them when dressing. And for that matter, men should do the same. It’s a matter of respect.
Furthermore, while perhaps most men may not have any issues with temptation, unless you know ALL the men that you will come in contact with, a woman will have no way of knowing who struggles with temptation in this manner and who doesn’t. Therefore, she could not just assume that it would be “okay”. For example, a young woman might wear a revealing bikini in the pool at her own house and not worry that her father or brother will have any problem with it. However, if her father or brother bring home friends, can she assume the same about them? Then would it be fair of her to not consider their potential struggles?

Look, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with a two piece bathing suit. The original post was asking HOW to be modest, not WHY. I think I answered that sevral posts ago.

And finally, there are scientific studies that have observed that the closer a woman is to the fertile point in her mentrual cycle, the more inclined she is to wear more revealing clothing. That’s biology. But we are human and therefore have the ability to make choices outside of instinctive behaviors. Women can choose more modest clothing, and men can choose to look away from immodestly dressed woman.

 

[maize]

http://www.ahiida.com/img/products/large_thumbs/180-341-1150418059.jpg

 

[fannypanny]

http://www.ahiida.com/img/products/large_thumbs/180-341-1150418059.jpg

lmao…
today when i was in an area which is predominately muslim populated, i actually saw some muslim lady dressed in the sportswear version of the burquini. The one in purple that is the first link down when you type burquini in2 the google search engine.

 

[Eucharisted]

http://creartosona.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/2008-06-02160838-640x480.jpg

I propose we all use swimming robes in the pool

 

[eichenb2]

ahiida.com/index.php?a=results&subcat=59

That is the link to the Burqini. It, actually, is a clever invention. If Muslims, who have hard guidelines about how to dress, can come up with something like this, Christians should have an easier time. I am happy to see this thread. As a former Muslim, I think Christians (Men & Women) could do with a little more modesty. I am including myself, as well. The biological differences in my opinion are God-given. Women may not understand that men are so visually stimulated, but it does not negate its truth. Christianity does not give many hard and fast rules, but that does not let us off the hook. The chapter on Modesty in the Catechism beautifully articulates the Church’s stance on modesty. It is a spiritual concept and we (MEN & WOMEN) must negotiate between the letter and the spirit of the law. I hate to see Christians to define themselves morally as non-Muslims. Christians and especially Catholics have a long history of pious practices of modesty. Maybe we should reconsider them. The argument that we should adapt our standards to the world’s moral standards does not seem to resonate with the Biblical testimony or the Church’s teaching. Incidentally, many former Muslims convert to Islam because they see in Islam a lived-out morality. I have heard this from converts on several occassions.