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 .
When you see the negative comments and downright hostility on social media platforms aimed even at buff guys who wear swim briefs, then just what chance do the rest of us have if we dare to bare our bods in anything that shows off our naked flesh above the knee and below our belly button. That video clip of those TV presenters slagging off and trying to shame the young father of three for wearing a speedo at the beach with his kids really made my blood boil. I hope they received a well deserved backlash from their viewers for being so nasty.
Every guy has a right to wear whatever swimwear makes him comfortable, no matter what age, shape or size he happens to be, especially when women can do as they please in the skimpiest bikinis imaginable. The slogan “every body is a speedo body” says it all for me.
The thing is, I see the negativity from the arm chair warriors, but rarely in person. I headed out to 2 nude beaches this summer. Both times, I did the walk to the beach in my swim brief. Most people didn’t bat an eye. and the only comment I heard (and I have fairly good hearing) was a girl telling her male guest (boy friend/husband/just friend — who knows) “Man you’d really rock that. If I bought one for you would you wear it?” He responded “Really? Maybe. I’d give it a try.” I also loved speedos recent ad campaign that did snow a variety of bodies in swim briefs. I think the real world is far less close-minded than the internet
I agree with Rick, most of the hate is from trolls on social media or from the media itself. I’ve been wearing speedos for over 10 years now at pools and beaches, and never really had a bad “real world” experience. I’m not a model by any means, but I’m slim and in shape. I don’t think most people really care, even here in the US. Someone might mentally register, “oh it’s a guy in a speedo, that’s different”, then likely go about their day without giving it much more thought.
There is no doubt that the package is more on display with swim briefs than with the likes of board shorts and other bulky styles. I don’t think that was ever the real issue, as it was more that an erection was more obvious. That had rarely been an issue, as it was seen as natural and could happen, especially with teenage boys. For some reason, it became something to be avoided, hence the move away from the smaller styles like swim briefs. I know most teenage boys were embarrassed by an erection when it was so visible, but that was part of developing to an adult. Teenage girls were also embarrassed by it as well, but that was also part of their development.
I don’t know why a visible erection became taboo, but the change to (predominantly) board shorts happened over a fairly short period. The general fattening up of humans in the 1980s did not help, and I’m sure tubby boys were glad to be in baggier swimwear, but from my memory this whole change was driven by the visible erection issue. Consider also the issue that girls went through – allowing the outline of panties to show was also suddenly taboo.
So at one time you had older men in trunks, middle aged men in swim briefs, and younger ones in board shorts.
I have never worn board shorts, but have never had an issue with swim briefs either. But as always, it only takes one idiot to make derogatory comments and I wouldn’t blame someone for donning board shorts the next time he went to a public swimming place if he had faced such comments while wearing a swim brief.
The title caught me off guard for a minute. I agree with T, even very fit swimmers are taking slack and many now wear to the knee jammers or whole body suits. We (men) are taught we have to be modest and not show off – oh lord the bulge hide your eyes, you’ll scare the children. I wore swim briefs on the beach one week and no one said anything. I’m sure some thought I was crazy, as I was the only guy in a swim brief. I still wear my swim shorts, but I have bought the shorter ones – like 5 inch inseam, and they were shorter than most I saw on the beach. I think swim briefs are cool, they felt great in the water – but I have my own personal hangups about my body and mentally, I can’t make myself just wear the swim brief. But i think any guy that goes, regardless of body has top level confidence.