Swedish Topless Women Win Victory at Local Pool

by stevesmys | June 26, 2009 at 11:14 am

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Women are now allowed to swim topless at the city's swimming pool in Malmo, Sweden.

The final measure of the city's sports and recreation committee's that stated "everybody should wear bathing suits" at the local pool, though it does not specify that women must cover their breasts.

The Bara Bröst network - which translates both as 'bare breasts' and 'just breasts' - last year started its campaign for women to be allowed to swim without tops by stripping off at a pool in Uppsala. The protesters were ejected from the pool. Since then, campaigners have launched protest actions across the country, which have usually resulted in them being asked to leave.

The decision by the pool is the first real victory for the group, which has around 40 members.

The issue had been quite divisive for the city of Malmo, leading to political wranglings between the left and right, which ended with the issue being wiped off the agenda in April.

The city deemed it necessary to vote on after two years of controversy in Sweden over whether women should have to cover their breasts while bathing in community pools.

The Bara Bröst network swept to prominence in late 2007 after two bare-breasted young women were called ashore by a lifeguard at a swimming pool in Uppsala. When they refused to cover up, they were asked to leave the premises.

Speaking to The Local at the time, Ragnhild Karlsson, 22, explained the womens' motives for swimming without bikini tops.

"It's a question of equality. I think it's a problem that women are sexualized in this way. If women are forced to wear a top, shouldn't men also have to?"