I’m a momma and I was planning on driving my son down to the beach with some family/friends. I haven’t worn a bikini since my younger days since I’m super busy nowadays as a single mom working 2 jobs. As I was trying on some of my older bikinis, I couldn’t help but wonder how my younger self was confident enough to be this exposed. I’m not insecure about my body or anything, actually I’m pretty confident since I go to the gym often, so genuinely how do other women have the confidence to rock a bikini?
Context and culture and expectations. I agree with your point, but there isn’t a logical/sensible answer to these things.
I’m a man and I don’t think it would be acceptable for me to wear a Speedo swimsuit or have my bum exposed the way some thong bikini bottoms do. Communities, societies and cultures dictate what’s acceptable in an unsaid way. It is what it is.
Some commenters in this thread are reacting in a pointed way because questions like yours seem to imply that there should be a judgement of control of what women can/cannot do. People can do what they want, but it’s also OK to think about the absurdity of society’s rules…like why some women with a certain body shape can wear bikinis but others get disgusted looks. Or why it is so socially unacceptable to wear the Borat mankini. Or taking it further: why is full nudity so unacceptable and offensive? My answer is: there is no logical answer and this is what the societal collective seem to have agreed.