Women Covering Up On French Riviera

Even during the days of the "free love" generation in the late sixties and early seventies, it was not considered appropriate for women in America and the United Kingdom to go topless on public beaches. Doing so was a sure way to get a ticket, or even be arrested. But things were not the same in France.

At that time, it became the rage for women to go topless on France's many beaches, and the French Riviera in particular became world famous for it. It was not considered immoral or immodest there. In fact, it was even supported by feminists. After all, if a man could go topless, why not a woman? Feminists considered it a sign of equality.

French beaches still allow women to go topless, but here in 2009, most women choose not to do it. Wearing a top with the bikini has become the fashion in France, even on the famed French Riviera. The few women going topless are usually 50+ years old -- veterans of the feminist battles of the sixties and early seventies. What happened?

Some believe AIDS and ozone depletion have played their part. AIDS killed the "free love" movement, and the ozone depletion has caused quicker burns and more cancer. But it seems there's also been a change in attitude among younger women.

It seems that being able to go topless had morphed into being expected to do it. There is a big difference between being "able" to do something and being "expected" or "obliged" to do it. Once it lost its value as a sign of freedom and equality, young women (even feminists) began to cover up.

I am old enough to remember when feminists were burning their bras. And yet today, most women again are wearing bras. The point is that burning bras and going topless on beaches were not ends within themselves. They were symbols of the freedom and equality that women were fighting for. But symbols change, and these two do not have the same meaning they did 35-40 years ago.

It does not mean feminism is dead -- far from it. It has just moved on to new tactics and new symbols. The fight still goes on for freedom and equal rights for women, and it should.

It's just that going topless on the French Riviera is no longer a part of that fight.