Why Are The French Turning Their Backs On Topless Sunbathing?

One of the best things about European journalism is that they ask the questions no one else is asking. For example, The Guardian (link below) recently chatted with two French women to find out why the French have turned their backs on topless sunbathing. The answer may surprise you...

Elle Magazine recently claimed that women has stopped topless sunbathing for three reasons. 

First, an increased concern over health and the dangers of skin cancer; second, the "pornified" perception of topless women (indeed Elle suggests the death of the monokini – ie swimming briefs – was linked to the idea that topless women are seen as "loose"); and third, the rise of breast-affiliated activism – chiefly Femen, who use their naked breasts as a means of attracting attention to various causes, and Free the Nipple, a recent campaign that encourages women to go topless to end the stigma surrounding female bodies. 

One French sunbather has a different view of the issue, however.

Alice Pfeiffer, a 29-year-old Anglo-French journalist (who, incidentally does sunbathe topless in Biarritz, Guéthary, Monaco and surfing resort Hossegor), thinks the decline is inextricably linked to social media: "Young women in their 20s do it less because they are aware that ... you can end up topless on your own Facebook wall."

"Globalisation and Americanisation of women's portrayal and sexiness in France has pushed away gentle (and generally harmless) French eroticism towards porno, frontal, hyper-sexualised consciousness," she says. "Nudist, beach-like freedom is not what it used to be ... breasts no longer feel innocent or temporarily asexual."

Paris-based writer Valeria Costa-Kostritsky does acknowledge the health concern aspect of the argument, but not for the reasons Elle posited.

"Women of my generation have always been told that the sun was bad for our skin. But add sun damage to gravity and the fear is you won't have pretty breasts."

Pfeiffer agrees: "The ones who do it all look the same – slim and small breasts, which contributes to keeping a social order and aesthetic norm in place."

But both agree that the issue is not one of self-consciousness. "[French women] feel comfortable doing it!" says Pfeiffer. The real reason French women cover up, says Costa-Kostritsky, is because "it makes uncovering them for a lover more interesting".

That is infinitely more interesting, no doubt, but it's depriving those of us who'll never be intimate with any of these ladies. We definitely thank the heavens for the exhibitionists of the world. 

Via The Guardian