Catalan government reminds local pools that they can’t bar topless women

Whether going bare-chested or donning burqini, the stance of the authorities is that equal access must prevail

Women in Catalonia have had the right to go topless to a public swimming pool since 2020 when an equality law granted it. However, since then the reality on the ground hasn’t played out accordingly as many municipal pools have continued to turn away bare-chested women.

The issue has become so contentious that the government's department of equality and feminism decided to send out a letter to all municipalities reminding them of their obligation to respect the law.

The statement makes it clear that no city council can apply municipal regulations that go against these principles because it would be a violation of each person's right to "decide about their body". 

Victory for summertime equality

The letter, in fact, goes beyond the particular case of topless bathing and also states that municipal pools cannot discriminate against breastfeeding women or women wearing long swimsuits, that is the so-called ‘burqini’.

The regional government, led by the pro-independence Catalan Republican Left (ERC), can in theory fine any town hall found to have breached the norm up to 500,000 euros.

Many of the complaints filed against town halls, where going topless has not been allowed have been members of a feminist group called Mugrons Lliures (Free Nipples).

"It's a victory. We trust that this will be the first summer of free nipples in the municipal swimming pools" said Mariona Trabal, spokesperson for the group, as quoted by Ara.

The activists were instrumental in leading the movement to grant women the right to do as they wish with their bodies.

The German capital, Berlin, is another place in Europe, which recently allowed women to be bare-chested while being at a public pool, so perhaps this summer a new trend is emerging.