Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunshine87
I am not sure why you want to show off a part of your body that is very unattractive.
But where do you draw the line between showing off what's unattractive, and trying to cover up everything that isn't attractive.
I think when you make it about "attractiveness" (dressing for everyone else besides yourself) it's very easy to feel that even a track suit doesn't provide enough coverage.
And that's the mentality I was raised with - "why would you want to show off your unnatractive body" meant "why would you want to go to the beach where there's no way to hide your unattractive body."
If "attractive" becomes an obligation, it means that if you're unattractive, you're obligated to never show off (or even never show your face).
I'd rather see an obese woman wearing a too-small suit, than staying home because she's too embarassed to let anyone see her arms and her legs.
I've been brainwashed by my family and culture to believe I'm morally obligated to protect the masses from the horror that is the sight of my bare flesh. I don't "believe" I should feel this way, but I do anyway. Personally, I prefer the look of swim dresses - they cover as much as possible. I also wish you could buy swimdresses with sleeves. Personally I would love that. My ideal swim suit would be lycra capris as the bottom (mid-calf length ideally). And a mid-thigh length lycra top with built-in, supportive bra, elbow-length sleeves, an empress waist and a deep sweetheart or v-neck neckline (because I've got great cleavage, and that's about the only thing I want to show off).
Even in lycra, that's going to be pretty warm on a hot day, but it's the only way for me to avoid "showing off a part of my body that's very unatrractive."
Trying a swim suit that combines comfort, function, and social acceptability is a tall order, and often a losing battle.
It's kind of sad that I envy the swimsuits of 1910, that I'd rather be covered than comfortable. I wish I didn't feel that way. I wish I could feel comfortable in a "normal" swim suit - but my choice is either a freakishly out-of-style suit, or showing off parts of my body that are very unattractive. I don't want to show them off, but I also don't want to feel obligated to try to find a skirted wrist and ankle length scuba suit.
That's not really an option, so I then have to decide which of my very unattractive bits I am most obligated to cove.
In the USA, you can't find swim suits that cover all the very unattractve bits, which is why it often feels as if the water is forbidden to the "too fat," because of the social obligation to protect others from the horror of our naked flesh (even if only the back of our knees and our batwing upperarms).
It's sad because the water is the best place for fat folk to exercise, not only for comfort and safety, but for ability. The freedom from discomfort and gravity increases the amount of exercise the person can do.
The best place for us is the most forbidden.