One summer afternoon, eight-year-old Ella was getting ready for a beach day with her family. Excited to build sandcastles and jump over the waves, she ran into her room to grab her swimsuit. As she held up her bikini, she suddenly paused and looked at her mom with a puzzled expression.
“Mom,” she asked, “why do girls have to wear bikini tops, but boys don’t?”
Her mom, Lily, who had asked the very same question when she was a little girl, smiled and sat down next to her. “That’s a really good question, Ella. Let’s talk about it.”
The Start of the Conversation
Lily explained that a long time ago, everyone both men and women used to cover up a lot more when they went to the beach. Over the years, swimsuits became smaller as people became more comfortable with showing skin. But even though men started going shirtless, women and girls were still expected to cover their chests.
“Why?” Ella asked, still not quite satisfied.
“Well,” her mom said, “part of it is because society has these old ideas about what’s considered appropriate. It’s also about the idea of modesty covering up certain parts of our bodies because of how people might react.”
“But that doesn’t seem fair,” Ella said. “I don’t see why girls can’t wear what they want, just like boys.”
Learning Through Experience
Later that day, Ella ran down to the beach with her mom, wearing her bright blue bikini. As she played in the sand, she couldn’t stop thinking about their conversation. She noticed how the boys were wearing swim trunks and nothing else, running around freely. She couldn’t help but wonder why things were different for her.
Ella asked some of her friends on the beach how they felt about it. Some shrugged and said they never thought much about it—they just wore what they were given. Others agreed with Ella, thinking it was strange that girls had to follow rules that didn’t seem to apply to boys.
That night, as the sun set and the day grew cooler, Ella asked her mom again. “Do we have to follow those old rules?”
Lily smiled again. “You know, Ella, society’s rules can change over time. What’s most important is that you feel comfortable and confident in what you wear. Some girls like wearing bikini tops, and that’s okay. Some girls might prefer not to, and that’s okay too.”
A Lesson in Choice.
As Ella grew older, she began to understand more about how society works. She realized that while some rules and expectations exist, it’s important to question them, especially when they don’t make sense. One thing her mom always reminded her of was the importance of choice.
“You get to decide how you feel about your body and what you want to wear,” Lily would say. “What matters is that you feel good and that you’re happy.”
This idea stuck with Ella. She became more confident in speaking up, not just about swimwear, but about any rule that seemed unfair or outdated. She learned that while society has its expectations, each person has the right to decide what feels right for them.
Conclusion.
Ella’s story is a reminder that sometimes, society’s expectations don’t always make sense, especially when they seem unfair. Asking questions and understanding the history behind these rules can help us figure out what matters: feeling comfortable and confident in our own choices.
As Ella learned, it’s not about following old norms; it’s about making decisions that make you feel happy in your skin. So whether it’s a bikini top, a one-piece, or anything else, the most important thing is to wear what makes you feel like You.
