Speedo Shame Origin

[valorian2]

There's a stigma in the US about wearing Speedos and I know from reading a bunch of posts that people always start out being a little embarrassed about their swimsuit preference, and then you eventually build up the courage to wear one in public and you never look back.

But where did all that shame start for you, and when did you get rid of it?

I'm mostly asking because after going to a beach and wearing a Speedo out in public in front of a lot of people for the first time, really, I'm jonesing to do it again real bad. I loved it so much and felt so proud. But the next time I'm gonna be in a potential Speedo situation is with my family, and they are 100% the source of all my internalized Speedo shame.

Speedos were the butt of jokes for as long as I can remember. Wearing them, men that wear them, the way they look, all of that was always a big joke, like the men that wear them are inferior and not to be taken seriously and to be mocked. The idea of them or any of the men in our family wearing a Speedo was always laughable. I grew up around pools and water with my family, so this came up A LOT. And it really made all the desire I had to try on Speedos and make the switch to wearing them even more taboo, a lot more than it DEFINITELY should be since it is JUST an article of clothing.

So I now have to get through a whole weekend with them in a few weeks wearing trunks -- slightly shorter trunks though, 4-5" inseam, I've metaphorically burned all the board shorts in my possession, never looking back -- but still trunks and not the Speedo that I've packed. That'll be covered up by shorts all weekend.

Just counting down the days until I can get back to a beach myself.