Girls ought not to swim topless at 2?

CogDis · August 2014

Did any of you see this story?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/toddler-injured-in-dispute-over-child-s-lack-of-swim-top-1.2749520

The summation is that a physical fight happened between lifeguards and a mother because the lifeguards wouldn't let her female kid swim wearing only swim bottoms at a public pool. They stated girls can't be topless once they hit 2.

This totally enrages me!
Anyone have any thoughts? I'm curious if I'm missing something other than our societal sexism and sexualization of young girls?

jennjilljo · August 2014

Why? What is a 2 year old showing off without a top? I'd personally rather a 2 year be without a top than to be in a string bikini that would be considered sexy for an adult.

CogDis · August 2014

@jennwilhoite‌ I agree!

I just don't get this!

CogDis · August 2014

@Trin42‌
That's amazing! If I have a girl I hope she gets the opportunity for that, if she wants to.

sincerelyapril · August 2014

TBH children in bikini tops kind of weird me out... covering boobs that aren't there... kind of creates a suggestion that they are there. idk.

CogDis · August 2014

@Trin42 I know! Re: knowing the sex of the kid. I was thinking about that, too! Maybe they came out if the female change room? IDK

mandamoochie · August 2014

sincerelyapril said:
TBH children in bikini tops kind of weird me out... covering boobs that aren't there... kind of creates a suggestion that they are there. idk.

^^^^this! Totally agree.

WanderingA · August 2014

My nieces still go topless at my parents pool and they are 4 and 7. The 4 war old also recently went topless at a public beach. The fact that anyone would consider this inappropriate is ridiculous, they are little kids and the adults around them are the creepy ones sexualizing the situation!

HerHighness · August 2014

I think the rule is stupid but it is a rule. Rules should be posted so nobody has any questions. The lifeguards were just doing their job and enforcing the rules of the employer. If i dont like the rules of a particular establishment i dont patronize it but they better be obvious.

And seriously... What is wrong with a 3 year old topless?

CogDis · August 2014

@HerHighness‌
I agree, it definitely wasn't a matter for the lifeguards (at the pool I swim at, they're mostly teens themselves).

It is the rule itself that gets me. Why have a rule like that at a public pool?
It makes me think the rule makers are perves!

I'm not necessarily one to obediently follow all rules, but I wouldn't have handled it that way, that's for sure!

dreamof2 · August 2014

I think the bigger issue is that the mom allowed it to get to the point of a physical altercation where her child was hurt.

lulu4087 · August 2014

Trin42 said:
I went topless around my neighborhood until I was about 7. Not all of the time and I lived on a dead end street in the country with only 11 houses on the street.

Ya! I did too for a long time. No girls, only guys on the street. Saw them doing it, figured I would too. Didn't understand why I couldn't.

CogDis · August 2014

@dreamof2‌ and @miniwheat10‌
Yeah, I agree: it is nuts for this to end up as a physical altercation with an injured 3 year old!

I have a hard time determining who must have started it!

My bet is that one of the lifeguards tried to physically remove the child from the pool deck. Then the mother got all momma bear and tug o war started (with the kid as the rope) and it end as all tug-O-wars do, with kids in the floor. But I'm making this up entirely without a single shred of evidence!

nohalo21 · August 2014

My 3 year old is always running around naked. When we are out in public she must wear clothes though. She doesn't understand why boys don't need shirts and it has caused many meltdowns.

jennjilljo · August 2014

@HerHighness‌, @dreamof2‌ and @miniwheat10‌ have a great point. If the rules are there then they should be followed whether you agree or not and the mother or lifeguards should have never let the argument escalate to the point that a child was injured.

CogDis · August 2014

@nohalo21‌ how do you explain it to her?

jennasnipes · August 2014

There are always little kids (toddler- 3/4/5yrs old) that run around completely naked at the beach. I see no problem with them being naked, they have nothing to be ashamed of!
As far as this story goes, rules are rules. Everyone needs to follow them regardless of the logic. IMO.

MommyOfAMiracle · August 2014

Pffft. I still run around my neighborhood topless, while riding my bike and playing with my friends.

JenniferHedrick · August 2014

I personally find everything wrong with a little girl of any age running around topless. Yes it is due to societal norms. Like it or not they are real. As long as women have boobs and guys don't they will look. Women should cover them and teach their daughters to do the same. In addition, I believe mothers should teach their sons to be respectful of girls. This is about self respect and modesty not about being ashamed of anything in my opinion.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

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MapleMomma · August 2014

WanderingA said:
My nieces still go topless at my parents pool and they are 4 and 7. The 4 war old also recently went topless at a public beach. The fact that anyone would consider this inappropriate is ridiculous, they are little kids and the adults around them are the creepy ones sexualizing the situation!

This. My nieces wouldn't hesitate to swim with just bottoms on and there's nothing wrong with that.

mommie2bof6 · August 2014

Wow. My kids could win award for bein the town nudists. My boys are two and four and I have hard time keeping them dressed and my girls were same way. We are really working on them at least keeping their underwear on. A two yr old girl with a butch hair cut would prob never be questioned.

Mrs.EvilQueen · August 2014

I agree that at that age it shouldnt matter. But poolside with a teenage employee is not the time , nor an effective way of voicing your complaint. I find it sad that this mom cares more amout civil rights minutia then her childs safety. Nice priorities. Lets be realistic it' s a bikini top, not a blood diamond. I feel sad for the poor little girl whose fun day at the pool was ruined my her mom who thinks shes a suffragette.

nohalo21 · August 2014

CogDis said:

@nohalo21‌ how do you explain it to her?

I don't really explain it. I just say girls have to wear shirts. She is at that "why" stage so if I go into detail then I open a whole other can of worms.

CogDis · August 2014

@nohalo21‌
Thanks! I need tips on these things as a FTM!

mommy510 · August 2014

I personally wouldn't let my little girl run around topless. As a baby/toddler it would be more out of concern for protecting her skin from the sun.
After about age 3-4, it would just be a point of teaching modesty. It seems easier to have a set standard of what is OK and what is not and make as few adjustments to the rules as possible (not that the rules would never change, but at least have the rules build on each other logically).
There's nothing wrong with a 2yo running around topless or naked, but the mom should respect the rules of the establishment or leave.

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