The Burqini

[X-ray]

"...In a way, it's a bit sad that we are sitting here taking the p!ss when, as nadoom suggests we should be happy that there muslim people out there training to save lives as opposed to the flavour of the month stereotype of their scheming to destroy them..."
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No no no, that doesn't come into this thread at all. It's not like this Muslim woman is the first one to render a vital service to humanity. There are many Muslims doing that already. I should know, I work alongside and indeed FOR them in many cases.
The issue here is the suitability of that swimsuit for the job. It's not a political issue.
It might be a religious issue, but I rate it as a general coffee house topic, know what I mean?
If I was in her position (and this may seem revolutionary) I would probably choose a wetsuit and a swimming cap.

[nadoom]

This burqini isnt just for a job its for recreation.

I think no matter what a person is wearing they should be given the opportunity to find out if they are suitable for this job, maybe they will, be maybe not. This person seems very keen on trying so good luck to her.

This was on bbc news, apparently they have sold over 9000.

[Cymric]

To be perfectly honest, I don't understand the need for a burqini. I'm of the firm opinion that it betrays an unhealthy obsession with sex to the point where someone else has to take measures so you don't feel the need to screw like crazed rabbits. Honestly, there is nothing remarkable about arms, legs, shoulders and the like---we all have them. Acting if that were different is silly cultural nonsense to say the least.

There's one application where a burqini might be genuinely useful: if you happen to have a skin disease, or lots of disfiguring scars from burns and the like, then such a full-body swimming outfit could very well offer you a chance to enjoy a day at the beach again. (Pools I'd avoid if the disease were contageous.) A burqini might be a bit more fashionable than a neoprene wetsuit---besides, the wetsuit has the disadvantage of showing all sorts of body curves: this sets the pervert's heart racing again, and we can't have that, can we?

However, the burqini is quite impractical from a swimming point of view: it's not very streamlined, it introduces tons of friction from air pockets and losely flipping textile, and once you emerge from the water you face the problem of having a few kilos of wet garment clinging to your body. Enjoy the next hour while you wait until it is sufficiently dry---given the rather limited effect of towelling wet garments I would recommend against wearing it unless it is well over 25 degrees C outside.

One little plus: it offers protection against solar UV radiation which does not wash away.

[Karlos]

@Cymric

Regarding the hydrodynamics of said outfit, I would imagine the designers had thought of that to some extent. It's made from the same sorts of materials (according to the site x-ray linked in his post) as "conventional" swimwear so I don't think you'd have to wait for it to dry and we're just assuming the material flaps around like anything and catches nice big air pockets just because it seems not to fit like a second skin. Without actually seeing one in action, how can you be sure? It might be the case the design squeezes any air pockets out as you enter the water, who knows? A single shot of a woman running somewhat comically in the spume is no indicator, really.

On a straight out comparison, I am sure a normal bodysuit would win a hydrodynamic performance test. However, unless this suit absolutely cripples swimming performance as opposed to just being marginally worse, then I don't see an issue.

[PMC]

I still can't get my head around the modesty issue...  Back in Victorian times for example, it was considered impolite for a tablecloth to leave more than a foot length of table leg showing for fear that the skirt/leg analogy would be considered indecent.  

I applaud anyone who volunteers their time to save lives and especially so in the case of muslim women to find an ingenious solution to reconciling their faith with their charity work.  

Question for the muslims here:  Does the Koran actually dictate that a woman should wear loose clothing or does it merely say that a woman should dress modestly?  Is the wearing of a burkha more of a cultural than a religious choice?

I used to know a muslim girl who had no issue with her hair being on show, but wouldn't wear makeup or revealing clothing for example.

[Karlos]

@PMC

The instruction given is that both women and men should dress modestly. Specifically, one should not wear clothes designed to "show off", wether it's your body, or you wealth, status or power.

Relatively simple clothes that cover the body are therefore deemed modest. However, try to get any two people to agree on the finer issues... ;-)