Swim moms posting borderline inappropriate photos of their swimmer daughters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

I have 2 kids who swim, and I’ve definitely noticed this among the girls. I agree that it seems like it is coming more from a place of self confidence and not an effort to show off, because I have seen so many half wedgies - one side covered, one side not. I don’t think they are trying for that look. At first, I was a little taken aback, but now I’m used to it. I still notice, because I hate that wedgie feeling myself, but nobody seems to give them another glance. When you watch the Olympics, the swimmers have similar body types, but in age group swimming, it’s much more diverse. There are swimmers of all shapes and sizes, so it helps all the kids feel less self conscious.

My teenage daughter is a non-competitive swimmer and her swimsuit rides up. I hate it!

PP again. If she were a boy and her speedo rode up, I would be just as mortified.

[Anonymous]

1. The girls pull their Jolyn practice suits up on purpose, wear them like that all the time, HS and college. I don’t get it, but that’s how they do.
2. MOMS are not taking/posting pictures of that
3. Girls take any and all kinds of pictures at practice and meets, but for the most part, not straight butt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

Not all. Jolyn also makes full coverage suits. But regardless, the swim team girls aren’t taking kardashian type pics.

I have a girl swimming in college. Her photo roll has lots of but cheeks in it (hers, her teammates) etc. But I’ve never seen moms post these shots. It could happen like if there was a photo of a team huddle, the girls with backs to camera may be showing a lot of cheek. But just my kid from the backside. Not a thing I see moms doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

I have 2 kids who swim, and I’ve definitely noticed this among the girls. I agree that it seems like it is coming more from a place of self confidence and not an effort to show off, because I have seen so many half wedgies - one side covered, one side not. I don’t think they are trying for that look. At first, I was a little taken aback, but now I’m used to it. I still notice, because I hate that wedgie feeling myself, but nobody seems to give them another glance. When you watch the Olympics, the swimmers have similar body types, but in age group swimming, it’s much more diverse. There are swimmers of all shapes and sizes, so it helps all the kids feel less self conscious.

It absolutely is an effort to show off. All social media has gals showing off bums, this has now leaked into sports and even “cool” mothers are in on it.

[Anonymous]

I am with the PP who talked about suits riding up and cheeks. There is some of that. I will say I see less of that at the meets and in my kids club but I witnessed it to the extreme in our NVSL league for the first time. We had a lot of team out by GMU this year and WHOA. It was more than the bathing suits riding up. It was the Jolyn suits (and, YES, they offer less cheek coverage than other suits in most of their styles) and it was like they bought them intentionally too small. It was like the teen girls were wearing thongs. I am not exaggerating and I am not a prude. It did not look comfortable. We thought it was one team but it ended up several.

I have been in swim for ten years and that was a first (club and NVSL). So if a mom was taking pictures she would have no choice but to get butt - it was on full on display.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am with the PP who talked about suits riding up and cheeks. There is some of that. I will say I see less of that at the meets and in my kids club but I witnessed it to the extreme in our NVSL league for the first time. We had a lot of team out by GMU this year and WHOA. It was more than the bathing suits riding up. It was the Jolyn suits (and, YES, they offer less cheek coverage than other suits in most of their styles) and it was like they bought them intentionally too small. It was like the teen girls were wearing thongs. I am not exaggerating and I am not a prude. It did not look comfortable. We thought it was one team but it ended up several.

I have been in swim for ten years and that was a first (club and NVSL). So if a mom was taking pictures she would have no choice but to get butt - it was on full on display.

We had one extreme suit wearer on our summer team this summer. A shot of her giving legs to a backstoker made it into the banquet slide show. It is shocking, but oh well. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am with the PP who talked about suits riding up and cheeks. There is some of that. I will say I see less of that at the meets and in my kids club but I witnessed it to the extreme in our NVSL league for the first time. We had a lot of team out by GMU this year and WHOA. It was more than the bathing suits riding up. It was the Jolyn suits (and, YES, they offer less cheek coverage than other suits in most of their styles) and it was like they bought them intentionally too small. It was like the teen girls were wearing thongs. I am not exaggerating and I am not a prude. It did not look comfortable. We thought it was one team but it ended up several.

I have been in swim for ten years and that was a first (club and NVSL). So if a mom was taking pictures she would have no choice but to get butt - it was on full on display.

Exactly what I’m seeing on parents’ timelines. Disturbing to say the least.

[Anonymous]

White people problems.

[Anonymous]

Washed up sorority girl moms post their own asses on the timeline pretending they're 20 year old sorority girls, not surprised they see nothing wrong with putting their daughter's asses out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure they're intending to "highlight their daughters’ butts"? I grew up a skater and a dancer and I've consequently always been kind of whatever about skintight clothing/near-nudity because I spent so much time in it in a very non-sexy environment where it stopped being titillating really quickly.

Why else are there so many photos from the rear and side? It’s pretty obvious what the photos are focused on.

Side and rear, with butt-cheeks exposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

This is not how the girls wear bathing suits these days. This is how manufacturers make bathing suits and leotards these days. My daughter had two options for her swim team suit - minimal coverage, and cheeky. This was the racing suit! It was noticeably different (i.e. less coverage) from even two years ago. I see this in gymnastics too, and in the town pool female lifeguard bathing suits. I find it incredibly sexist that the girls’ attire is getting skimpier and more uncomfortable while the boys wear bike shorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

This is not how the girls wear bathing suits these days. This is how manufacturers make bathing suits and leotards these days. My daughter had two options for her swim team suit - minimal coverage, and cheeky. This was the racing suit! It was noticeably different (i.e. less coverage) from even two years ago. I see this in gymnastics too, and in the town pool female lifeguard bathing suits. I find it incredibly sexist that the girls’ attire is getting skimpier and more uncomfortable while the boys wear bike shorts.

I really really hate this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

This is not how the girls wear bathing suits these days. This is how manufacturers make bathing suits and leotards these days. My daughter had two options for her swim team suit - minimal coverage, and cheeky. This was the racing suit! It was noticeably different (i.e. less coverage) from even two years ago. I see this in gymnastics too, and in the town pool female lifeguard bathing suits. I find it incredibly sexist that the girls’ attire is getting skimpier and more uncomfortable while the boys wear bike shorts.

I really really hate this.

Eh, if we lived in Brazil this would be a non-starter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

Agreed. The cut of the suits the teen lifeguards (all competitive swimmers) wear are very high on the leg and narrow across the behind. They don’t have wedgies, that’s the cut of the suit.

OP - I don’t think the issue is the kids or the suits. The issue is YOU sexualizing children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former female swimmer here and now parent of a young swimmer. One thing I have noticed is that the teenage and college age girl swimmers are basically walking around with their butts hanging out of their suits. Like they have wedgies that they don't bother fixing. This was not a thing when I was a swimmer and I would have felt self conscious walking around like that. But these girls seems to have more self confidence than I do, or maybe it's just not something that anyone cares about anymore. They are more muscular than we were 20 years ago so maybe they're like hey it's just glute muscles. I think the popular training suits, like Jolyn, have less coverage in the back now too. If a mom posted some photos of their daughter's team on the pool deck all wearing their training suits (or just regular competition suits but not the leg suits), I can see how one might be a little taken aback. It raised some eyebrows among moms of tween boys on our summer team. But it's just how the girls are wearing their suits nowadays.

This is not how the girls wear bathing suits these days. This is how manufacturers make bathing suits and leotards these days. My daughter had two options for her swim team suit - minimal coverage, and cheeky. This was the racing suit! It was noticeably different (i.e. less coverage) from even two years ago. I see this in gymnastics too, and in the town pool female lifeguard bathing suits. I find it incredibly sexist that the girls’ attire is getting skimpier and more uncomfortable while the boys wear bike shorts.

I am telling you, there is a group of HS/college age ladies (including mine) who absolutely prefer to wear their practice/leisure suits this way. For example, in summer swim, many of the teen girls do not buy the official team suit in favor of a solid Jolyn with significantly less cheek coverage. Jolyn has a variety of coverage, they choose less. Girls who want more coverage tend to buy another brand.

I agree it is an issue if there isn't a choice for everyone on the team to be comfortable. The required suit on my daughter's HS team is a full coverage Jolyn. It looks like good coverage online, but I would hope that if there was a girl who still wanted more that she would be allowed to choose another brand with a solid suit of the same color. No coach should keep a kid from participating over this. There was a DQ issue a few years ago (in Alaska if I remember correctly) regarding proper uniform bum coverage. I believe it was overturned; if it is a required team suit, it isn't going to cover all bums the same, and I don't know how common a rule like this is. I have never seen anything like it in this area.

Personally, this is not an issue I choose to have. If my daughter is comfortable on a pool deck, I keep my mouth shut. She is old enough to choose every suit she wears.