OK, I figured that title would get peoples' attention! I think this is an interesting topic and I debated posting it to the non-swimming related forum, but it is swimming related.
Anyway, here's the story. A woman in Seattle has been fighting the rule that women need to wear tops while swimming in Seattle pools. She had a double mastectomy and her contention is that the suit rubbing against her scars is very uncomfortable. The city Parks & Rec department finally decided she can swim topless--but only her:
seattletimes.nwsource.com/.../2018485244_swimmer.html
All this puritanical crap is irritating.
Maybe, maybe not, but it is no more irritating than pretending to be some liberated libertine and all Euro-fancy. Then again, this ranks high on the first world problems list.
Why on earth should she have to wear anything if she has no breasts, and why does it bother ANY of you? The prohibition against bare breasts is codified by law most places, she now meets the same criteria as a male swimmer.
If someones scars make you uncomfortable, that is your issue, not theirs. As far as "special treatment" goes, there isn't any being afforded, she simply meets the male standard now.
All this puritanical crap is irritating.
The picture in this story makes it even more clear cut in my book:
todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/.../12343787-***-cancer-survivor-can-now-swim-topless-in-seattles-public-pools
She has no breasts. What's the problem?
Not a problem. Go swim!
And from the article...
"It wouldn't be an issue for us because any woman can swim topless here," says Jodi Jay, the aquatics division program manager for the Austin, Texas Parks and Recreation Department
May have to check this out...
Kinda along this line, but opposite. I've seen a number of MEN that should wear some kind of top/shirt/etc. as well. Pool, backyard, beach, whatever. Sometimes they're bigger than the women, yet can go without any covering. :afraid:
Maybe, maybe not, but it is no more irritating than pretending to be some liberated libertine and all Euro-fancy. Then again, this ranks high on the first world problems list.
If you're saying I'm pretending, you're wrong. Thankfully I spent a large portion of my youth in Europe; it was great living where the human body isn't completely sexualized.
OK I have to take issue with the previous comment that a woman with a mastectomy is "not a pretty sight". This woman looks beautiful to me, and strong.
QFT.
Linda McGill swam the Engklish Channel topless in 1967, She also swam the round Manhatten swim about 1974 the same way, she did not like chafing from her suits on these long swims. look her up on google she was a great swimmer and probably still is. Shes a Assuie so there probably long used to the look down under.
The greatest woman freestyle swimmer ever always tried to swim topless if possible, but she really wanted to race topless. Back then womens suits had to have a skirt included.
