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New data about topless sunbathing in France has left the internet stunned. Women have been exempt from indecent exposure laws for topless sunbathing in France for a long time now, yet the data shows that the number of women doing it has been drastically reduced in recent years.
The Toronto Sun writes: “The French have never been prude about their toplessness. It was always more about gender equality and a sign of France’s progressiveness. These latest numbers, however, seem like more of a step backward.”
One would think that women’s empowerment and the obsession with body positivity nowadays would lead to an increase in topless sunbathing. Unfortunately, that’s not true.
A recent poll shows that only a fifth of women in France will go topless on the beach, according to reporting from Le Parisien.
The poll revealed that 48 percent of women fear being attacked or harassed by men, and 46 percent are concerned about being secretly photographed and having pictures of them posted on social media.
Others cited health concerns as their reason for wearing a bikini top, with 53 percent saying they are trying to avoid skin cancer or damage.
Only 19 percent of French women today say they take their top off, compared to 34 percent in 2009 and 40 percent in 1984.
Outside of France, the tradition is still alive in other countries. According to polling, nearly half of women in Spain report sunbathing topless, and 34 percent of German women say the same.
