Why do we get embarrassed to be seen in our underwear yet we dont mind strutting around in bikini's?

Question

I've always wondered what the difference is?...

Answer 1

not sure....why do you get embarrassed when seen in underwear?

Answer 2

Thats a good question..lol...by the way, you have beautiful eyes ;-)

Answer 3

I've wondered this before and I think it's a culturally learned thing. When you are a toddler, being in your underwear might not be so big of a deal to you...but as you get older (school age) and more concious of the stigma associated with being seen in your underwear, it becomes a big deal. Your parents teach you to "cover" up those certain areas of your body and you learn that underwear goes under your clothes, not to be seen by others.  But your parents (or anyone else for that matter) never seem to make it a big deal to prance around in your bathing suit. I know when I was a kid, there were times I was in a bathing suit all day long...and no one cared.  And you just grow up with the idea that bathing suits are "acceptable" and showing underwear is "bad".

Answer 4

It's psychological, because you know that you're wearing something that the general public isn't supposed to see.  That's true even if your underwear covers more than your bikini does.

Another answerer mentioned context, which is also true.  In the context of the beach or swimming pool, it's perfectly socially acceptable to wear a bikini.  However, unless you're a lingerie model (or your name is Madonna) there's no public situation where it's socially acceptable to wear your underwear.

Getting undressed in the doctor's office, or for your significant other, isn't a public situation and the social norms don't apply.  So there's generally no awkwardness about wearing your underwear (or less) in those situations.

Hope that explains it!

Answer 5

Well i think its because we know that were wearing underwear

and when we wear a bikini i believe that we know its a bikini

Answer 6

context ...

and usually the fabric they're made of stands up to water and direct light differently ...

and don't forget this is the age of the low-rise-thong to accomodate the jeans ...  is that your bikini style, too?

Answer 7

because when people are wearing bikins theres usually lods of other girls wearing it too and men in there swimming trunks.

But if you get caught in your underwear usually it's just you

Answer 8

I guess it's just a matter of names, and that Underwear came before Bikini's. If Bikini was made before underwear, people would notice that it's almost the same but different names, thus not be embarrassed by it.

Underwear suggests something private, and thus the feeling that it should be hidden while Bikini is for swimming and showing off.  

Answer 9

Underwear is designed to be worn constantly to catch and absorb "soil" and to keep you from soiling your "outer" wear.

Bikinis are designed to be worn occasionally to cover naughty bits but allow enough skin to be shown for sun exposure.

People are embarrassed to be seen in their underwear because they don't want to put their hygiene (or lack of) on display.