13/02/2020
BIKINIS & MALDIVES.
You may have recently seen controversial footage of an (allegedly drunk) British woman being manhandled & arrested on local island, Maafushi, for wandering the streets in a bikini & refusing to simply cover up when requested. After a lot of negative comments even suggesting boycotting Maldives, I feel the need to comment.
Maldives is a 100% Muslim country, meaning Sharia Law applies & the (majority) of women cover from head to foot, in line with religious belief, in THEIR own country.
Maldives is made up of over 1192 Islands, of which 200+ are Resorts & as many, home to locals.
Here's where the issue lies: Resorts are built on a single Island purely for Tourists to holiday. Staff become accustomed to seeing women wandering around in strapless dresses, bathing suits & bikinis.
However on local islands, tourism has gradually increased over the years, providing cheaper accommodations - often against the wishes of the older generation Maldivians & quite suddenly their quiet, traditional lives are transcended upon by the outside world, with very different attitudes on culture, values & dress codes etc.
For these two polar opposite worlds to co-exist there has been compromise. Island council's have created designated beaches for foreigners to enjoy tanning, by introducing 'Bikini beaches' (which of course must already seem ludicrous to the locals, seeking shade from the hot sun).
They steer clear of these beaches so as not to be offended.
The least we can do as tourists; visitors to another way of life, a strict religion of different beliefs than our own, is show respect to these people, who allow us to indulge their HOME land, which we seek as a Paradise break for a week or 2.
Having lived in Aus, Europe, USA, South Pacific & UK where near naked bodies are 'the norm' I personally have never seen women wandering the streets in bikinis. Everyone shows some modesty & covers up even if just in a sarong. It's just the decent thing to do, surely?
To brazenly cause offence in a very different society is extremely disrespectful.
PLEASE: respect the cultural differences of any other country you choose to be a 'guest' in.
YES, you can wear bikinis, just be mindful where.
