How Swimsuit Season Turns Us Into Big Fat Liars

on June 14, 2011 at 11:58 PM

bathing suits This can easily become of the most dreaded times of the year for many of us, if only because it's bathing suit season. Media and advertising have us believing we're practically supposed to sweat bullets over what styles look best on our body types, what cover-ups look the most chic and least muu-muu-ish, what kinds of cellulite cream will do nothing for "reduce the appearance of" our various lumps and bumps. That's just what we do every summer, right?

But according to a new survey of about 1,000 women 18 years old and up, conducted for ShopSmart (which is from the publisher of Consumer Reports), we're not falling into that trap of self-hatred so easily anymore!

Only about 18 percent of respondents didn't like how they look in a bathing suit, while 40 percent are impartial, and 36 percent are "OK with it." Apparently, this is good, exciting, happy news, because so few women reported being unhappy with how they look.

The editor of ShopSmart attributes this "encouraging" news to "more flattering, slimming bathing suits" being available now than ever before. Yep, sounds great. It would be even better if it was true.

First of all, to say a sampling of just over 1,000 women represents all women or even all American women is ridiculous. And maybe 18 percent of these respondents admitted that they didn't like how they looked, but I'll bet the other 76 percent were trying to sound blase or more positive than they actually were. Who can blame 'em? Are you going to admit to some random magazine-sponsored survey your real, potentially negative feelings about your flabby tummy, droopy breasts, or chunky thighs? Doubtful.

Because as fear-mongering as the media and fashion industries can be about bathing suit season, we suck it in and up, and put our best bikini or one-piece forward. Most of us think, "I am going to put on a bathing suit whether I like it or not, because my other choice would just be to refuse to enjoy myself at the pool or beach all summer, and that's not gonna happen!" And not letting on that we're not thrilled with how we look is a helpful defense mechanism that goes right into our beach bag, along with our sunblock, sunglasses, and sarong.

Sorry, but one dopey little survey can't convince me that because there are more flattering swimsuits out there now, more women have a healthier self-image. We might be more pleased with our selections, but most of us are still beating ourselves up mentally ... and sometimes verbally, usually behind closed (fitting room?) doors. I've heard it from friends and strangers in retail stores time and again ... "I feel fat," "I can't believe I'm a size (fill in the blank)," "My stomach that," mixed in with a not-so-healthy dose of "My breasts this" and "My butt, OMG."

Yes, there are women who are in love with how they look in their bathing suits, but they're still the minority. It's sad, but true. We still have to shake the years of cultural scare tactics and discrimination against all different types of bodies. We have a long way to go to fully accepting ourselves as we are ... and in our swimwear.

Do you like how you look in a bathing suit? Be honest!

Image via Jenene Chesbrough/Flickr

About the author Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

Filed Under: body image, self esteem, swimwear

Comments (15)

Nonmember comment from getreal

on Jun 15, 2011 at 2:19 AM

I don't wear a bathing suit...I wear a t-shirt and shorts. So, no I don't like the way I look in a bathing suit.

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jalaz77

on Jun 15, 2011 at 5:22 AM

Nope!!!!

Kat.M.

on Jun 15, 2011 at 5:58 AM

Definitely not.

Nonmember comment from Annie

on Jun 15, 2011 at 9:27 AM

Polling a sample of 1000 is actually pretty good. We publish medical research including drug testing for side effects with group sizes of around 100. Presuming they chose their sample well, the answers of 1000 women could be very telling. And don't you think its silly to just assume that women lie? The women I know would openly admit to when they do not like a bathing suit-clad look.

Nonmember comment from Gertie

on Jun 15, 2011 at 9:40 AM

I didn't. (And this is going to sound like a commercial, but it's really true...) I didn't until I bought a really well fitting suit from Lands End. And for the very first time in my life, I strutted around the beach and pool full of confidence. Honest.

Facebook comment from Katie Thomas

on Jun 15, 2011 at 9:41 AM

Most of the time I do, and I wear a bikini! But I have days where I feel fat bloated and hate my 'mummy tummy' but I always get over it when I get to the pool and look around and realize that no one there is perfect and at least I'm not hiding myself behind a 'miricle suit' that looks like a dress or something my mom would be wearing. At least I'm being me. And like I said on the other swim suit post, why should I hide something that created two miricles? I may have stretch marks and some left over baby skin but I refuse to hide it anymore. So I came to terms with my body and then started to love it :)

hoticedcoffee

on Jun 15, 2011 at 11:03 AM

I don't have a problem with how I look in a suit, but I rarely wear one. I detest sand, so getting me on a beach is near impossible, and chlorinated pool water gives me a rash, so I avoid pools.

Nonmember comment from DawnK

on Jun 15, 2011 at 11:26 AM

I agree with Gertie. Buy a really well made bathing suit from Land's End. They fit well and are flattering...even the two piece bathing suits! I am a 50 year old mom of two and for the first time in years I am wearing two piece bathing suits on the beach and at the pool and I feel pretty OK with it!

Bethsunshine

on Jun 15, 2011 at 11:34 AM

I don't like how I look in a bathing suit but I wear them anyway. I found a couple that cover up most of my flaws ( walmart.com and target.com) that are cute and stylish. Up until this summer, I wore a bikini for the last few years but for some reason, I'm more self-conscious this year. I have stretch marks, sagging skin and surgical scars and although I earned all of it, I just feel weird this year about wearing a bikini. We have a pool, we go to a local park with a swimming lake frequently in the summer, and we are going to the beach next month, so even if I feel self-conscious, I have to get over it. It could be worse!

TraumaRadio

on Jun 15, 2011 at 11:37 AM

I like the way I look in what I wear as a bathing suit: board shorts and a bikini top. I'm uncomfortable in regular bathing suit bottoms, so I can't like the way I look in them if that makes sense.