Swim England criticised for telling women how to disguise their 'flabby stomachs'
![The article advises women on how to flatter their bodies in a swimsuit. [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3WZD23ptD0RdXBbY.UizMg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02Nzc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/87913af973c60f05fe6400bfd4322a53)
Swim England is under fire from Twitter users thanks to an article on its website offering advice on how to pick a swimsuit for your body shape.
The website for the national governing body for swimming in the UK featured a page offering advice on how to pick your swimwear.
While you might expect advice from a national sports site to be about the functionality or comfort of the garments, instead it had subheadings on how to disguise a ‘flabby stomach’, how to ‘add curves’ to boyish hips and what colours best flatter a ‘pear shape’.
The webpage has since been taken down, after being called out by Simone Webb, a PhD student in gender studies.
The organisation has since been accused of body-shaming and slammed on Twitter for its tone-deaf feature.
Wow @Swim_England, national governing body for swimming in England, is this REALLY what you want to be seen advising women on when all they want to do is to find a swimming pool?? https://t.co/h2r5sHMbql
— The Unholy Nightmare Know As Dr (@FernRiddell) October 30, 2018
Wow!! Way to encourage people to swim! On Saturday I went for a spontaneous swim while on a walk to see waterfalls in Wales. I’m a size 22, have a belly the size of a planet and went in the water in my bra and knickers. Because I enjoy swimming and DO NOT CARE how my belly looks!
— Smunkybee (@smnkb) October 30, 2018
Absolutely ridiculous @Swim_England Are we living in the 1950s? https://t.co/H5NS4wusFd
— Chris Dean (@cheerycd) October 30, 2018
Swim England have since apologised for the webpage, claiming it was ‘old’ and does not reflect their current values.
We pride ourselves on being inclusive and respectful to all. Earlier today it was brought to our attention that one of our old webpages was neither. This does not reflect our values and we took it down immediately. Thanks to everyone who brought this to our attention. #Sorry
— Swim England (@Swim_England) October 30, 2018
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