modesty sweeps the beaches in France!
Is this another sign of the end of the world ???????????
IMAGES of almost naked women in advertising are being blamed for a “new modesty” among young French women. They worry their bodies do not match the glossy ideal and are covering themselves up on the beaches.
Long regarded as a naturists’ paradise, France this summer is a far cry from the heyday of topless sunbathing in the 1970s, when many women regarded baring their breasts on the beach as a demonstration of their equality and freedom.
“Now the tendency is all the other way,” said Christophe Granger, author of Summer Body, a history of nudity over the past century. “In the 20th century we became more and more naked. Will we be corseted in the 21st?”
The debate has flared in France since the publication of Granger’s book and a poll showing that, in a dramatic departure from the age-worn stereotype, the vast majority of French women would not dream of taking off their bikini tops on the beach.
Most French people, it turns out, do not even like the idea of having sex with the lights on or being naked in front of their children. Only a narrow majority thought topless sunbathing was acceptable in the privacy of their own garden.
“Le monokini, c’est fini!” announced one Parisian newspaper last week, in a reference to the demise of the bikini bottom-only fashion and the return of traditional one and two-piece swimsuits.
Experts such as Granger believe France’s “rediscovered modesty” is attributable to far more than a growing awareness of the skin cancer dangers of sunbathing. They point to the prevalence of naked women in advertising as a reason for the outbreak ofpudeur.
“The magazines impose as the norm images of fine young, beautiful, naked women,” said Damien Philippot, the pollster responsible for the survey. Most women questioned in the poll were not happy with their bodies because they did not match up to the feminine ideal imposed on them by advertisers and fashion gurus.
Source : The Times
no one is changing his "us and coutumes"; french r french they're not gona change. they're still very xenophobic, and r still like they used to be. the author wants to sell his book. a poll showing demonstrated... a poll, A poll? what if that poll was not rights?
I have never understood why something Natural is considered Taboo, yet un-natural deeds (violence, greed etc, etc, etc) are perfectly acceptable.
History shows that he attacks a topic the stongest is most probly guilt of the same.
I reserve my judgement of the French!!!!
We've always known that the French are preverse... Glad that the world now knows too :)
"Most French people, it turns out, do not even like the idea of having sex with the lights on or being naked in front of their children. Only a narrow majority thought topless sunbathing was acceptable in the privacy of their own garden."
What?????? All my long held beliefs about the perversness of the French are being destroyed!!
not to compete with air-brushed perfection is a sign of the end of the world? Sounds more like common sense to me.
better cancel soon harry...
I'll just have to cancel my holiday to St. tropez then,,