As exposure of the body becomes more and more socially acceptable; Does the bikini as a garment empower women? Or does it construct a negative identity of the wearer and objectify us in a way that evokes negative attention, such as “the male gaze”? In the 19th century, women were forced to wear swimsuits that had weights sewn into the hem, to prevent them from rising in the water and to preserve the wearer's modesty. These swimsuits were essentially long flannel dresses, as discretion was an important social factor at the time. Throughout history swimsuits have evolved to become more revealing, most notably with the bold invention of the bikini by French designer Louis Reard in 1946. During this time period the bikini was perceived as too risky for post-war citizens; Reard declared that a two-piece dress was not a true bikini "unless it could be threaded through a wedding ring." This clearly illustrates how skimpy the design had become in such a short period of time. It later became popular among younger, bolder generations in the late 1950s, especially when marketed by celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot and Ursula Andress. object of wonder in art history, but today the media has made a woman's body an object of sexual gratification. For example, in the Sports Illustrated image, Kate Upton is shown wearing a skimpy bikini, revealing almost every part of her anatomy. it completely eliminates any trace of modesty and undermines the viewer's respect for her. Her red bikini connotes sexuality and passion and the use of direct eye contact implies that Upton is in a position of power and is able to influence men's response due to her gender... middle of paper... they have been told, both implicitly and explicitly, that bikinis are not for them. These women were encouraged to cover their bodies. In this context, a bikini on a fat woman could be seen as empowering that subverts social constructs of beauty to adhere to more realistic expectations. So why should a woman who cares about her appearance be criticized for showing off a body she's worked hard to build? In the novel 'The Beauty Myth' Naomi Wolf states: “A culture fixated on female thinness is not an obsession with female beauty, but an obsession with female obedience. Dieting is the most powerful political sedative in the history of women; a silently mad population is docile.” This quote reinforces the social pressures women face and implies that if you are able to achieve a slim body, you are therefore desirable and in control of yourself..