Berlin’s Justice, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Commission issued a statement last week stating that public swimming pools must have non-discrimination rules. The decision was made in direct response to a complaint from an unnamed woman who was discriminated against while swimming topless in a pool. The incident occurred in 2021.
According to the complaint, she alleged that she was not allowed to swim shirtless at a public pool like the men.
Berlin allows women to take off their swimsuits in swimming pools like men
Doris Liebscher, chief inspector of Berlin's public swimming pool authority - Berliner Baederbetriebe - said she welcomed the decision because it creates equal rights for all Berliners, regardless of who they are.
Previously, women who went topless in public pools in Berlin were asked to cover up or leave; or even banned from entering. "Now the problem is that the rule is applied consistently and there are no more expulsions or bans." However, it is unclear when this will be put into practice.
According to local media, one woman took legal action after being kicked out of an outdoor pool for sunbathing topless, while another woman complained after management forced her to cover her breasts at an indoor pool.
Germany is home to an informal nudist movement known as Freikörperkultur or FKK, meaning free body culture, which dates back to the late 19th century. Germany also opened its first official nudist beach in 1920 on the island of Sylt.
Last year, Goettingen, a city in central Germany, became the first place in the country to allow women to go topless in public swimming pools, following controversy after a woman was forced to cover up at her local public pool.
Also in 2022, Spain announced that women will be allowed to go topless (if they want to) in public swimming pools in Catalonia, in a bid to end “sexualization” and “fight discrimination”. Catalonia is home to Barcelona, the second largest city in the country after Madrid. Equality and feminist movements are calling for women to be allowed to go topless in all beaches and swimming pools in Catalonia.
However, the Italian city of Venice is different. In 2019, the Venice City Council implemented a regulation that tourists who are naked in public or walk around in swimsuits will be fined; regardless of whether you are sitting on a boat, sunbathing in a crowded place, or sitting in a private car... In fact, many tourists have lost money because of this "cool" hobby.
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