Geneva's War on Swimwear

There is a certain administrative genius in attempting to solve one perceived problem by creating several new ones. The canton of Geneva has provided a masterclass in this particular art with its new regulations for public swimming pools. In a bid to address the politically charged issue of the burkini, legislators have cast a net so wide it has ensnared sun-conscious parents and their children.

Since last Saturday, swimwear in Geneva's pools must be a one or two-piece affair, ending above the knee and leaving the arms bare. This rule, which makes no distinction between adults and children, effectively prohibits full-body swimsuits worn by some Muslim women. But in a clumsy attempt at neutrality, it also outlaws the long-sleeved UV-protection suits commonly used to shield children from skin cancer. The irony appears to have been lost on the lawmakers.

The reaction was immediate and entirely foreseeable. Parents at crowded pools like Genève-Plage expressed their disbelief over the weekend. Protecting children from the sun, once considered responsible parenting, is now a violation of cantonal law inside the pool. Outside the water, of course, one is free to dress as they wish, a distinction that only highlights the arbitrary nature of the rule.

Even those tasked with enforcing this edict are sceptical. The operations manager of the Genève-Plage, Christian Marchi, noted the logistical nightmare of policing thousands of visitors on a busy day. How, he wonders, is his staff supposed to confront every person wearing a long-sleeved shirt or trousers in the water? The question is a valid one, and it points to the fundamental disconnect between legislative ambition and practical reality.

The law's origins lie in a parliamentary manoeuvre. Passed in March, the measure was shaped by the Centre Party, which opted to define what is permitted rather than what is forbidden. Their faction leader, Jean-Marc Guinchard, presented this as a way to avoid discrimination and create a uniform standard. The result is a regulation that treats a child's sun shirt and a religious garment as equivalent threats to public order.

Opposition is already mobilising. A coalition of organisations has announced its intention to appeal, hoping to suspend the law. Aude Martenot, a spokesperson for the alliance, labels the law islamophobic for its clear targeting of Muslim women. Yet the critique goes further, suggesting it also discriminates against overweight individuals who may be uncomfortable in conventional swimwear and is sexist for dictating women's attire. One is left to ponder whether the pursuit of bureaucratic uniformity was worth this much trouble.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com