Why Do Guys Look Bad in Swim Briefs?
Summer may have wound down here, but I think this is a topic worth talking about before we put the swimsuits away for the year. And really, it’s not just a summer issue. The way we view men in swim briefs has been shaped by years of jokes, stereotypes, and the idea that a guy in a brief is somehow doing something wrong.
So, why do guys look bad in swim briefs?
Want a hot topic? Bring up a guy in a swim brief, sometimes referred to as a Speedo, which, technically, is a brand. Just look at what you read, hear, and see through various outlets, and you might think swim briefs are a swimsuit that simply must look terrible on guys. A lot of times, the reaction when they’re mentioned is simply, “Eww.”
I mean, look at the Jenna Bush Hager and Dwyane Wade swim brief debacle from a while back. Television personalities talking negatively about guys wearing swim briefs. All starting from a photo a guy posted of himself and kids in a swim brief that went viral. It would definitely be considered a no-no if the situation were reversed.
Here’s Inside Edition’s story on it. https://youtu.be/x36R4E8ha0c
So why do guys look bad in swim briefs?
That’s how they’re being represented.
Swim briefs are presented in a negative manner all the time. They get used for laughs in animated kids’ shows and movies. So kids grow up seeing them as a joke or as something embarrassing. The message being planted is pretty simple: If you wear a swim brief, people will laugh at you.
But in reality, guys don’t look bad in a swim brief.
We’ve been conditioned to think they’re not what the average guy wears. They’re seen as something meant for competitive swimming, if they’re acceptable at all. And even there, jammers have increasingly become the norm. Still, you’ll see swim briefs on divers and water polo players in competition, and people generally don’t seem to have a problem with them in those situations.
Why is it okay then?
Another reason I believe people are against swim briefs is that they put a man’s body and especially his package—more on display.
But let’s look at that argument for a minute.
When you look at a majority of women’s swimwear, is it loose and baggy fitting? Not usually. Much of it is form-fitting. And do Olympic swimmers wear loose-fitting swimsuits? Of course not.
There’s a reason for that. Form-fitting swimwear works well in the water.
So why is it suddenly a problem when a man wears something form-fitting?
It doesn’t seem fair that women can wear form-fitting swimwear while men are expected to cover themselves up with loose-fitting trunks. Yes, some guys are trying to show off. But let’s be honest—some women are too. That doesn’t mean everyone wearing a particular style is trying to draw attention to themselves.
It’s simply about what you enjoy wearing and are most comfortable in.
And maybe that’s the part we’ve lost sight of.
A guy shouldn’t have to choose his swimwear based on whether someone else thinks his body looks good in it. If a swim brief fits well, feels comfortable, and lets him enjoy being in the water, why should that be a problem?
Maybe it’s time we stop treating men’s swim briefs as a punchline.
Guys don’t inherently look bad in swim briefs. We’ve just been taught to think they do.
Maybe it’s time to unlearn that.
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Nate I agree, it seems to be ingrained in most people that swim briefs are only for swimmers. I just wish people would be more open minded and think past this .