cognitive dissonance

The same way that pigs are food and dogs are not. Cognitive dissonance.

I can’t speak from a women’s perspective, but wearing swimming trunks in public feels very different than wearing boxer shorts in public.

I can't contribute much except that I've asked myself this question many times. I guess some underwear is see-through but other than that it's kind of the same attire.

People are right in saying it's context and consent, and it's not completely gendered. Men's swimsuits are basically just boxer shorts. Normally I'm not self-conscious about that, but a few months ago I signed up for a toddler swimming class with my son where I wound up being the only Dad, and suddenly I felt a bit exposed. I think the normalcy of walking around in nothing but a small pair of shorts kinda evaporated once I was the only man in the room.

It's not just Bikinis. It's all swim wear, saunas in Europe, baths in Japan. It's just socially acceptable and expected in the right context, and that expectation plays a huge role in comfort. The context seems to flip a switch in people's brain.

I've never in my life been comfortable with anyone seeing me on a bikini, no matter how good I feel about my body. The "difference" between that and underwear or virtual nudity never permeated my brain 😂

Basically I think it's weird that they're treated so culturally different and don't feel comfortable in them myself, but also support the choice of whatever bathing suits people prefer or nudity in designated areas

social conditioning

Do what makes you comfortable.

You'll be out with family and friends, in an environment where most any swimsuit would be expected. Any lack of confidence would come from your own internal comfort, so you do you.

As a more practical suggestion if you're on the fence, wear a wrap? Then you can decide how you feel in the moment.

I wouldnt go out with my underwear in the garden.
But going with my bath shorts is totally fair game to my mind.

I would even hesitate dipping into the beach with my underwear even if it was with my mother/father.
It's somehow weird to me. Even if it's totally irrational.

Something about feeling like a mom I guess? Idk I don’t have kids! xD For me, rocking a bikini = feeling confident about my body. I used to wear smaller bikinis when I was younger but now I find swim shorts much more comfortable, practical, carefree. Why are us women wearing small tight swim clothes anyway, that you gotta adjust, fuss with the strings, prevent the nip slip, etc. Meanwhile men wear comfy shorts? Well it helps that I’m not at that stage in my life where I’m looking to date or impress anyone lol.

I will say that if I were diligent about going to the gym and had a rockin bod, then yes. I’d probably wear that bikini to show off my hard work😉💪🏼

People here saying consent (fair enough) but let me tell you, clothes are suggestive. There is more to suggestion and context than the actual content. Is anybody shocked to see a nude statue in a museum or something? Or in a painting? Now how about somebody wearing nothing but a g-string and a harness? You can argue the harnessed person in a gstring is less exposed than any nude. I say no. Clothing adds to the exposure sometimes. Underwear isn't meant to be seen, so when it's seen, it prompts judgement.

You get used to it, especially when nobody cares. Walking into a corner shop in nothing but shorts is pretty Sus in a city in winter, but if it's a hot summer day and the corner shop is near the beach, it's fine.

We are on vacation right now and my SO actually wears only the bottom of the bikini and goes bra less to the beach, because she says it's unfair I can free my nipples and she can not. Well that's pretty fair I would say?
We are European though and probably a bit less prude than US Americans.

We have an ad for ice-creams in NZ that covers this topic https://youtu.be/h-Lx2ihpGbc

I just got done working a comic convention this weekend. You might be pretty surprised by the general lack of clothing most people wear to those things (calling it a "costume").

Just this weekend alone, I saw at least five guys walking around without a shirt, and I don't know how many women wearing things that showed basically everything. Like so tight and thin I could tell what kind and color underwear they were wearing.

And this was in Indianapolis, far from a beach or lake, right in the middle of downtown.

Swimming apparel is explicitly made from slightly thicker and very different material, keeping you from looking like you entered a wet-tshirt-contest. That alone is a big subconscious help. Or are you talking about the amount (or rather lack) of clothing?