There has recently been a call to ban g-string bikinis on Gold Coast beaches. The idea was presented by community worker Ian Grace, who put his concerns in a letter to Gold Coast mayor, Tom Tate. The letter has been published by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Tate has since made a statement saying there will be no bans on g-string bikinis.
If you're anything like me, Ian Grace's opinions on the matter will have your jaw on the floor. Here are some of the things he has said:
'While any man would enjoy 'the view', I believe women are very much demeaning and cheapening themselves, portraying themselves as sex objects, then decrying it when men see them that way.'
'Innocently I admired a shapely bare bum on the beach, and was taken aback and felt uncomfortable when that same young lady was later serving me coffee. I almost felt like I had inadvertently violated her privacy.'
'It also goes far from the beach and bikinis, when you look at the 'crevice filler' outfits women wear, whether exercising or just out and about. When walking behind women with these skin-tight outfits, you can see every single movement of each buttock – a pleasant view, but is this not the wrong message?'
Apart from bikinis and activewear, Grace also seems to have a problem with women just having breasts, with the statement:
'I attend numerous business networking meetings, often coming across ladies who are pointedly 'leading with their breasts' so to speak, but they have immediately lost business credibility.'
Men like Grace think they're doing women a favour, and hide their misogyny under the guise of 'protecting' young girls and women, claiming they want us to be confident and have self-respect. When really, the only thing Grace has managed to do is reveal himself as the problem, in his own words saying he looks and 'enjoys the view'. Congrats Ian, you've outed yourself as a creep!
Clothing is not the problem. If you want to look at it that way, should we not ban budgie smugglers? Or shirtless men on the beach? Why is it only ever women's clothing that is seen as sexual, revealing, and inappropriate?
This sexualisation of the female body is the exact reason we don't feel safe. We as women do not view ourselves as sex objects, it's men who cast that label on us and make it impossible to escape. We should not be trying to control what women wear, and telling them to cover up. We should be teaching boys to respect women and their bodies. The female body is not inherently sexual.
Women do not exist for the male gaze. We should be able to feel confident and safe. We should be able to wear what we want without feeling violated. And if you don't like it, don't look. No one is forcing you to. One of the best things about having eyes is that you can control where they look.
If you, like Ian, feel uncomfortable seeing skin, my only advice to you is this: get over it, and maybe don't go to the beach?
