Seattle P&R allows BMx woman to swim topless

In my mind, it just is. It's a private, sexual body part....unless I guess, a guy happens to be a leg or butt man.

Gracie1, I'd like to respectfully inquire as why you think Jodi Jaecks' decision to forgo swimwear that is both uncomfortable and unnecessary has hurt our cause and herself.  I'm not sure what you mean by "our cause." Can you please  explain?

I'd also like to address the issue of trying to avoiding actions that might make  others  uncomfortable.  I'm not sure this imperative is always in our best interest.  Obviously, there is a rightful desire to work together to create a sense of harmony in our communities.  I try to be polite to people and I appreciate it when folks are polite to me.  Yet I can think of many historical examples wherein  discomfort engendered action and change.  Secondly, I wonder what would happen if we were made to confront the painful realities of breast cancer on a more everyday, interpersonal basis? Perhaps it could spark some important conversations about research, detection, prevention and treatment.  We need more of these conversations, on both the dinner table and national level.  Yes, the news and the internet are all fine ways to disseminate information about these issues.  But I'm not convinced these mediums should be our exclusive methods of (you'll excuse the pun) exposure. 

Lastly, I don't live in Seattle, but if I did, I'd be happy and relieved to see Jaecks in the lane next to me.  Her brave choice reaffirms a message I am desperate to hear these days:  There is life, a good life, even without breasts.   For those of us who have elected (or been forced) not to reconstruct, seeing women like her may in fact help us heal.

"Lastly, I don't live in Seattle, but if I did, I'd be happy and relieved to see Jaecks in the lane next to me.  Her brave choice reaffirms a message I am desperate to hear these days:  There is life, a good life, even without breasts.   For those of us who have elected (or been forced) not to reconstruct, seeing women like her may in fact help us heal."

Wrongchick, I agree. 

Wrongchick, cause - Breast Cancer Awareness and all the horrors that go with it.  I simply can't explain why I think it's the wrong way to go about it...to me it just is. I'd much rather people be aware that this is going to kill me. I could care less what they think about my body.

River_Rat - like I said before, to me it's just a matter of modesty. To me it's no different than not walking around in public with my a$$ hanging out. I honestly can't explain it so that's why I'd like to respectfully bow out now.

crystalphm...yes you are right. I probably don't have the right to comment, but trust me, I look way worse with my hacksaw job of a lumpectomy than this women does with her clean mastectomy. I get it though, not my place to have gotten involved in the conversation in the first place.

Edited to respond to crystalphm.

Stormynyte, they let her swim during the adult swim time.

Stormynte,

It is interesting that you bring up the point about children, as we had a similar experience last week during my 6 year old's swim lesson. There was a gentleman at the pool who had several amputated toes. As he walked past us, my daughter stared for a bit and asked the usual age-appropriate questions. I frankly want her to be exposed to this kind of stuff, because: a) it is a part of life; b) I want to be the one helping her to understand why difference does not need to be feared or devalued, and c) I believe children can handle more than we think.



I believe all of us, with and without breasts have the right to an opinion. And I always enjoy a respectful exchange. I would simply ask that others remain mindful of the forum the OP chose to post this information.

Wrongchick, I agree. I would personally have no issue with this myself. As you said, I know my kids and they wouldn't be bothered by this kind of thing at all.

But, I also believe people should not be blindsided by something like this in a public place that is known to be full of children. Not all kids would deal with it well and neither would all parents.

If it was a gym type setting rather than a public pool where there are almost exclusively adults, go for it.

IF she really could not have anything (clothing) touching her upper body then perhaps there would be a reason to allow topless swiming in public BUT clearly she is able to wear a shirt (from her picture) so there is no reason that she has to be naked from waist up to swim in public - other than she wants to be an exhibitionist and to attract personal 'notoriaty'.

Only after the early 1960s when wholesome Annette Funicello wore a bikini and exposed her naval in her famous beach movies did American women feel it was acceptable to wear such revealing swimwear. In France they had been wearing for a number of years, but it took an American movie star to destigmatize the sleaze factor of baring that much skin publicly. American women eventually embraced the idea and saw it as a way to exhibit their bodies with pride.




My point is, just because people aren't comfortable with exposed mastectomy chests and scars at this point doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed. New ideas push society's comfort levels and can lead to acceptance. The bikini allows women to expose their body in a way that is designed to be highly sexual, yet most of us accept this. We now see women wearing bras in commercials, cleavage spilling over, which makes women want to wear bras that make their breasts look voluptuous and enhance their sexual attractiveness. Men and women have become used to seeing this kind of content on TV, when not that long ago bras demonstrated on women had to be worn over a turtle neck top.




The Seattle woman wants permission to exercise and swim, a completely neutral activity vs exposing one's body in a way that would be considered sexual or titillating. I have truncal lymphema (a permanent condition that resulted from mastectomy) and have been struggling to find a comfortable bathing suit I can wear to swim, as it is considered an excellent form of exercise for LE. While I personally might not have the confidence to go topless in public, I can relate to this woman's request to swim without a top that causes her pain. You may see me properly dressed when I go out in public, but I find it difficult to find comfortable undergarments. I wear what is the least painful or likely to cause swelling because I have to. Exercise garments are even more frustrating.




I think it's bizarre that as a society we have become comfortable with the over-exposure of flesh in a deliberately sexual manner, yet we feel "uncomfortable" and the need to "protect children" from a bare woman's chest with mastectomy scars in a setting that promotes health and fitness. Perhaps if a famous movie star who has undergone a mastectomy is seen romping topless on a public beach our society would become more accepting and comfortable with this kind of exposure of skin. Clearly, we are a culture hung up on breasts and yet have no tolerance for the beauty of imperfections and scars.




Edited to add: Coincidentally, I just happened to watch a show on the history of the bikini, which I thought was kind of interesting in its contrast to the story we are discussing.

I'll probably hear about this bu I think the older kids (unless they really know about it) would probaly giggle and think it's funny. After all if they don't know it's unlikely they have been ezposed to this--younger kids are more questioning and seem to get it better---so in a sense this topless thing can be very questionable---not to me but to others.

Rvrrat that's so tru, I didn't even thing the whole thing thru LOL