This was published 4 years ago
"It's tacky": French women turn their backs on topless sunbaking
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Topless sunbaking is no longer popular in France.Credit: Alamy
FRENCH women used to be famed for sunbathing topless on Riviera beaches, but it seems the practice is no longer considered chic with fewer disposed to bare their breasts in the MeToo era.
The Sixties idea of liberating yourself by burning your bra now seems outdated, and women are more concerned about not attracting unwanted male attention, according to Francois Kraus, who directed a survey of 5,000 female respondents.
"You can say there's a MeToo effect on the beach," Mr Kraus said. The movement prompted by the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer, has had a huge effect in France.
French women have formed their own campaign under the Twitter hashtag, "BalanceTonPorc", which translates as "denounce your pig", and encourages women to go public with the names of men who have groped, threatened or harassed them.
"A new factor is that among under-25s there's a fear of leering looks, and 51 per cent of them fear being assaulted," Mr Kraus said.
The number of women who regularly sunbathe topless has plunged in the past three years, from 29 to 19 per cent, according to a survey by the French Institute of Public Opinion published yesterday. In 1984, 43 per cent did so. More middle-aged women are still seen topless in France.
Janine Mossuz-Lavau, an academic, said that for French women in the 'sixties and 'seventies, "going to the beach topless was a way to show that they were liberated from patriarchy, sexual restraint. But the current generation consider themselves sufficiently liberated not to have to prove it." Another reason for the waning popularity of topless sunbathing is fear of skin cancer.
Michelle Leclerc, 23, said: "You don't want to be pestered, but also it seems a bit tacky to take your top off these days and you certainly don't want to be photographed by someone on a mobile and the picture shared on social media.
"And some women are concerned they may expose themselves to negative comments about their bodies."
On the Costa del Sol, however, topless tanning is still all the rage. The survey showed that nearly half of Spanish women have bared their breasts on the beach. In Germany, 34 per cent of women have gone topless, compared with 22 per cent who say they have done so at least once in France, 19 per cent in Britain and 15 per cent in Italy.
Women's beachwear has become controversial in France. The current heatwave, with temperatures of up to 40C, has reignited a row over the full body burkini swimsuits worn by some Muslim women.
"Our survey shows that the French are more uncomfortable with the burkini than with a completely naked woman," Mr Kraus said. "There is an element of Islamophobia, but also a sort of misunderstanding as for the past 50 years the beach has been the place where you take off your clothes."
The Telegraph, London
See also: Photos: Tourists seek ways to cool off as heatwave hits Europe
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