France, it seems, has embarked on to define its new identity. After declaring a war against ‘Burqa’, a head to-toe-veil worn by Muslim women, French cities have declared a war on toplessness. Perpignan city, following the footsteps of Cavaillon which banned toplessness early this summer, has recently outlawed bare chests in public places. Transgressors may be fined with up to 38 Euros. The law calls for “human dignity, decency, morality and protection of the young”, said Pierre Parrat, security chief of Perpignan.
Coastal cities and seaside resorts have outlawed bikini wearing and shirtlessness long ago. Now inland cities has also started to tell tourists to put their clothes on. "A girl in a bikini in the centre of town is lovely, but children should not have to see hairy chests," a waiter in the Pigalle area replied in a poll conducted by Le Parisien.
Banning on toplessness is in accordance with the changing trends in the country. The beaches of St Tropez and other French resorts - which still allow bare chests on display - are witnessing a continuous decline what was once a common site; ladies in topless swimsuits. Toplessness is not hot in France any more.
Topless swimsuits and bathing made their first appearance on French beaches in 1964 and they have been there ever since, as well on other beaches on which topless attires was permitted. The topless culture, however, is under attack now as more and more women do not like to be topless in public.
Ban on toplessness may be a bad news for nudists and exhibitionists but it is certainly a good news for those who felt embarrassed with the display of naked bodies in public.
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