Why no swimwear in the streets?

As summer sets in, we, especially in the tourist areas, are already being inundated with semi-nudity on our streets: tourists, particularly students, coming up from the beach in different types of wear – not just beachwear but swimwear.

On our streets, in our shops and supermarkets they will quasi-flash us.

We are human and, because the way we cover or uncover ourselves does have an impact on each one of us individually and collectively, we need to ask: Is it a bad thing or a good thing to have all these bodies revealing their beauty, sexiness, obesity and hanging masses of flesh indecently?

Should we live and let live or should we speak up? What is acceptable and what isn’t? Whom can this swimwear on our streets harm? Is this an annoyance only to a few scrupulous churchgoing self-righteous people or does it irritate many of us? Is it our business to voice our concern as to how others are dressed or is this a personal moral issue that each one of us has to deal with in their own way?

For some, this is a trivial matter and, therefore, not worth the fuss, the reading or commenting.

We humans play about with the way we look. We do all sorts of things to ourselves to achieve goals related to our sexuality in the broader sense. We go to gyms, we control our food. We insert silicone, gel, Botox, collagen and stuff to achieve the shape we want. We wear fake nails, eyelashes, eyebrows, hair colour and all sorts of piercing to modify ourselves.

We decorate our bodies, we tattoo ourselves and hang all sorts of gold and precious stones to add to our attraction. But, above all, we manage our clothing. Our bodies matter and so do our looks, to many of us.

The fact is that what we wear and how we present ourselves to society has an effect both on us and on those around us. At times, we are conscious and aware of what we do to our bodies and we do it with intent. At times, we just follow trends or fashion. Most times, we are oblivious and naive to the impact we have on others and how it affects them.

But in the cloistered complexities of our minds, how are we being affected by what others wear? How are we affecting others? Are we all affected in the same way? 

Does a teenage boy, grappling with his new emotions to sexuality, understand this raw sexual feeling and urges when faced with a quasi-nude body on a beach or on social media? Does a young girl, keen to wear a cropped top, realise how men are fantasising and devising ways to abuse girls if the opportunity comes their way? 

What goes on in one’s mind when faced with provocative clothing? Does it help human loving relationships when our minds are drawn to the distractions of brazen bodies? Does it instil a sense of joy, jealousy or envy in us when we are faced with tangas and bare chests on our streets?

Should anyone wishing to go around naked be allowed to? Where is the line drawn for a good thing to become a bad thing? Does society collectively benefit or lose?

From a moral religious perspective, this type of wear is not acceptable for many reasons but, ultimately, because it does not help in our goal of holiness for happiness.

Should we live and let live or should we speak up?- David Pace O'Shea

From a popular perspective, I believe it is not acceptable either. Though many people accept that many a scantily dressed man and woman are sexy and attractive, most people are against this wear on our streets.

From a moral but not religious perspective, no arguments have been made in favour of this type of wear on our streets except that we are living in the year 2025, so, come on and get on with it, there are many other things that we should be working on. If you don’t like it, just don’t look.

From a legal perspective, it is very clear that it is illegal (Criminal Code 338q). The people who devised the laws in Malta, stating clearly that nudity and indecency are not permitted, were surely expressing the sentiment of the Maltese people when they passed this law. 

The economic argument is that stopping people in this type of swimwear on our street is harassment and damaging to the tourist industry. The reverse of this is that, probably, many tourists agree with the Maltese and want decency on the streets. This would encourage them to visit us not for our decadence but for the sun, the sea, the food, the history and hospitality.

Then there’s the argument of feeling hot. Probably many will say that it is very hot in Malta and this is a cooling remedy. Perhaps, but decency needs to be prioritised and the word swimwear in itself draws the line on what is decent.

Whichever way we look at it, most of us know that this is just not right. It is disrespectful – it makes us angry. Gradually but surely, we have had to accept many similar situations. Our social well-being is no better for that. We fear for what our youths will be facing in this modern liberal society, whether it’s on their mobiles, in their social attitudes, in their values of life, in social activities or on our streets.

So, what about enforcement? Will the local councils take action by putting up signs? Will the Malta Tourism Authority warn against swimwear on our streets? Will hotels, language schools, Airbnb hosts and others hosting tourists inform their guests about decency on our streets? Will the arrogant prevail on the people of goodwill? Will the police and, especially the community police warn and enforce? 

Summer is still young. We’ll just have to wait and see.

David Pace O’Shea is an observer, thinker and well-wisher for a better society.