in favour of annette kellerman and against the freedom of choice
They were familiar with the swimsuit in prehistoric times. Raquel Welch’s interesting animal skin model in One million years before Christ is the clearest proof of that. We, if pushed to choose between the veracity of the bible or cinema, place more faith in the latter. That was followed by Egypt, Rome, etc... But we are not here for a historical review of swimwear. We would like to make a quick mention of the revolutionary role of female swimwear in the last one hundred years.
In Boston, in 1907, the Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman was arrested for wearing a tightfitting swimsuit that covered her from her ankles to her neck but which left her arms uncovered.
Though in vogue in the Europe of that time, it was a step too far for the moral puritans of the USA. Following the arrest, the letters and opinion pages of newspapers were filled for many days with outpourings of shock and anger at the filth and shame of Kellerman’s behaviour. In 1920, Harper´s Bazaar magazine was the first to row against the current when it declared that: . In 1952, Esther Williams made the film Million Dollar Mermaid based on the life of Kellerman (the film was renamed The One Piece Bathing Suit in the UK). And almost 40 years on from the incident that inspired the film, the story and different swimsuits that appeared in the film caused outrage again. We’re pretty sure that back in pre-history there were those who wanted Raquel Welch to cover up her breasts. Nowadays, the burkini swimsuit is becoming accepted as normal swimwear in more and more countries, and not only in Islamic countries. In Christian countries, swimming pools with strict bathing dress codes are increasing in number also. Yes, we are aware of the line that “each woman decides what she wants to wear”… but we disagree. There are some things that cannot be left to choice. Freedom, for example. Because there are those who, if given the option between freedom and slavery, would opt for slavery.
In Boston, in 1907, the Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman was arrested for wearing a tightfitting swimsuit that covered her from her ankles to her neck but which left her arms uncovered.
Though in vogue in the Europe of that time, it was a step too far for the moral puritans of the USA. Following the arrest, the letters and opinion pages of newspapers were filled for many days with outpourings of shock and anger at the filth and shame of Kellerman’s behaviour. In 1920, Harper´s Bazaar magazine was the first to row against the current when it declared that: . In 1952, Esther Williams made the film Million Dollar Mermaid based on the life of Kellerman (the film was renamed The One Piece Bathing Suit in the UK). And almost 40 years on from the incident that inspired the film, the story and different swimsuits that appeared in the film caused outrage again. We’re pretty sure that back in pre-history there were those who wanted Raquel Welch to cover up her breasts. Nowadays, the burkini swimsuit is becoming accepted as normal swimwear in more and more countries, and not only in Islamic countries. In Christian countries, swimming pools with strict bathing dress codes are increasing in number also. Yes, we are aware of the line that “each woman decides what she wants to wear”… but we disagree. There are some things that cannot be left to choice. Freedom, for example. Because there are those who, if given the option between freedom and slavery, would opt for slavery.
