German authorities have said that women in Berlin can now swim topless in the city’s public pools if they choose to, just as men can.
This development comes after a female swimmer claimed she was prevented from attending one of the city’s pools without covering her chest in December 2022.
CNN reported that the unnamed woman, thereafter, lodged a complaint with the city’s ombudsman’s office at the Senate Department for Justice, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination.
The justice department agreed that the woman had been a victim of discrimination and this week said that all visitors to Berlin’s pools, including women and those who identify as non-binary, are permitted to go topless.
In a press release on Thursday, Berlin’s state government confirmed the move, stating that “As a result of a successful discrimination complaint, the Berlin bathing establishments will in future apply their house and bathing regulations in a gender-equitable manner.”
As well as being hailed as a step forward for gender equality in the German capital, the measure introduced this week is symptomatic of Germany’s love of Freikoerperkultur – literally translated as ‘free body culture’ – which has its roots in the late 19th century.
The head of the ombudsman’s office, Dr. Doris Liebscher, has also hailed the move as a step forward for gender equality in the city.
She said, “The ombudsman very much welcomes the decision of the bathing establishments because it creates equal rights for all Berliners, whether male, female or non-binary and because it also creates legal certainty for the staff in the bathing establishments.”
