A French city approved burkinis in its pools. Then the backlash came

[Jilly_in_VA]

Grenoble Mayor Éric Piolle was the first environmentalist to lead a major French city, and this year his Alpine town has been named a European green capital. By the end of the year Grenoble will meet all its electricity needs with renewable energy.

But no one's talking about that, he says. Rather, Piolle is being assailed for allowing the burkini in his town's public pools.

"It touched some very intense emotions for people," he says during an interview in his office.

Piolle grew up Roman Catholic and he says 30 years ago, there were more signs of Catholicism in public. He says the religion that's more visible today in France is Islam, and that makes some people nervous.

"I understand that they struggle with religious expression in the public space," he says.

But the mayor says people are confusing things. While France bans outward religious symbols in public schools or in government offices to ensure neutrality, people are allowed to wear what they want in public.

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/19/1105962389/france-burkini-swimsuit-islamic-women

[Tetrachloride]

1. Non Muslims use as well. Lots of them

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkini

In 2016, Zanetti estimated that 40% of her customer base has been non-Muslim. She stated: "We've sold to Jews, Hindus, Christians, Mormons, women with various body issues. We've had men asking for them, too."[10]

Notable non-Muslim wearers have included Nigella Lawson, who wore a burkini in Australia in 2011, not out of religious observance, but to protect her skin.[20] When introduced at Marks & Spencer stores in Britain in March 2016, burkinis sold out.[21]

The burkini has also found popularity in Israel, both among Orthodox Jews and among Muslims, and is called either burkini or simply "modest swimwear".[22]

To avoid sun exposure
Edit
The burkini has also been adopted by cancer survivors and others who are at high risk of skin cancer.[23][1] Like other types of sun protective clothing, people who wear burkinis may reduce their risk of skin cancer.[24]

In Asia, where light-colored complexions are fashionable, the burkini is used by women who want to be outside without tanning.[25

[Azathoth]

10. "to protect her skin"

A quick google search of Lawson shows she didn't wear it to "protect her skin," but to avoid a tan because her then-husband had a fetish for pale skin. So ironically, the control-of-women aspect remained even when you take away the religious doctrine.

[alphafemale]

23. How is it any of your business?

Please explain how you get to decide or judge what people wear?

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. A woman should be able to wear what she wants to

without stupid laws about it. Some women don't want to be stared at. Some want to be modest. Some have an allergy to the sun or just want to protect their skin. GET OVER IT ALREADY!

[JI7]

3. Is burkini just a Wet Suit ?

[CrispyQ]

5. Sort of.

Almost all of them include a headwrap & some include a skirt. I can't imagine swimming in one or even playing in the water in one. IIRC, Sports Illustrated featured a model wearing a burkini, although hers was more of a wet suit with headwrap, no skirt.

[JI7]

7. I don't swim but I do enjoy the ocean and to me being totally covered up would take away

from enjoying that experience.

But when it comes to swimming I think it's different and it's more about moving in water so I can see the appeal there. SAme for things like surfing where it's more of an activity than just enjoying the water .

[haele]

6. It doesn't fit skin tight, but yes, it's pretty much the same.

It's designed with fabric in a way that allows water to pass through without dragging the swimmer down, yet supposedly continues to provide modesty and skin coverage outside the water.
I've heard of them being used in swimming competition, but I can't imagine those suits being much different than body fitting wet suits.

My experiance- Because of scars and a hereditary pot belly, I wear swimsuits with a thigh length "skirt". That "skirt" tends to float up in the water and stretches out when one gets out (showing that wobbly tummy I have, no matter how fit I may be, sigh....), so I wonder how much body modesty a burkini would actually give after exiting water other than the cultural practice of hiding the hair and not exposing skin.

I don't really see a form covering suit like that as strictly Muslim, or religious. Of course, being in a California beach city, seeing people swimming in a form covering wet suit is a common sight not worth wondering about. A burkini would be just another wet suit

Haele

[CrispyQ]

4. I'd totally be into a modest swimsuit.

No head wrap, although I'd wear a swim cap. Love those unitard types that the Olympians wear.

So tired of the constant shaming of women. You're dressed too modestly. You're dressed too provocatively. Why do you wear so much makeup? Why don't you wear a little makeup? Your skirt's too short & you look like a hooker. Your skirt's too long & you look like a prude. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[Tree-Hugger]

8. So many options nowadays

There has been an explosion of new swimwear designs in recent years, which includes a large variety of fuller coverage suits. You can now find high-backed, high-necked, long-sleeve one-piece suits at places like Target. Rash guards are easier to find and in more cool prints than they used to be as well. It used to be very difficult to find suits with full coverage and for a decent price. I burn easily - thanks Celtic ancestry - and prefer fuller coverage, especially on my back. I used to wear t-shirts over my suits, but now I can find actual cute suits that offer more skin protection.

Also....agree 100% about the constant shaming.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I'm in a different type of bikini now

Tankini top and swim 'shorts'.

I'm comfy and just trying to swim and sun - at 49. . . I'm past the point of showing off.

[Me.]

9. Wondering

do Muslim men have to be covered up when they swim> Baggy pants, some type of shirt?

[Tetrachloride]

12. Baggy short pants are popular for the men, yes.

Not every person can afford the beaches in my area. I know of no free sandy beach within several miles.

[Me.]

15. But Are They Required?

[Tetrachloride]

16. I sent a message to a Cairo friend. will see

[Me.]

19. What An Amazing Response

[Tetrachloride]

17. Answer from Cairo friend: "Yeah but not everyone wear it."

some male clothing style may be required “officially “ as it pertains to popular areas such as Alexandria, Egypt.

[Arazi]

18. No. Muslim men are usually bare chested in regular swim shorts

I find the burkini hilarious (and a bit hypocritical) tbh. If your goal is modesty, then wearing clothes in the water isn’t modest in the least. They only accentuate a persons body and certainly draws the eye instead of a person’s view skipping past “just another swimmer”.

[Me.]

21. So Then, This Is A Control Issue

just as with the requirements to cover up if they visit the pope

[treestar]

11. There's a trend for more cover in bathing suits anyway

If the place was Roman Catholic, you'd think they'd like it.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. How silly

Modesty - religious or not - shouldn't be punished.

[Jilly_in_VA]

20. +1000

[marble falls]

22. WTF ever happened to just going for a simple freaking swim ...

I don't care if you swim in a Burkka or swim nude, just don't make me wear one or keep me from wearing one.