In the latest news of “women being condoned for trying to stay cool in the hot, summer weather, we bring you the story of Tori Jenkins – a 20-year-old woman who was “thrown out” of her pool club for wearing a swimsuit that the staff decided was “inappropriate” to be worn around children.
Tori’s fiancé, Tyler, shared the story on his Facebook page to raise awareness about his anger and opinions towards the inequality and sexism many women face. He also called it “sexual harassment” and “rape culture.”
I have never really witnessed sexual harassment and/or “rape culture” until today with Smoky Crossing Apartments. Today my fiancée was faced with either changing her bathing suit, covering up with shorts, or leaving the pool that we paid a $300 fee to maintain on top of a monthly rent of nearly $1000 (not including utilities and wifi). Tori was accused of wearing a “thong bathing suit” and told there were complaints about the way she was dressed after roughly 3 minutes tops, of us arriving there. We both kind of sat there in disbelief around five of our friends, some of which are residents and some not. So, Tori decided to go to the apartment office, which I regret not accompanying her on, and address the issue politely and calmly with the leasing consultant about the situation in a more private setting. In the office, the leasing consultant (who, for now, I will not name) insisted upon letting Tori take her picture to show “how inappropriate” her bathing suit was, and instructed her to look into a mirror at her own body. When my fiancée replied with “I know what I look like, I bought this myself, it’s not a thong” the consultant told Tori that if she didn’t have kids herself, she wouldn’t understand. She was told that the leasing consultant wouldn’t want her own kids around Tori. When Tori explained that yes, she does indeed have a larger butt than a lot of people, and that 95% of the things she wears ride up when she walks, the woman told Tori that a “normal bathing suit covers your entire butt” and again deemed my fiancée’s body inappropriate. Tori, however, refused this because there are obviously different types of bathing suits. She was told I wasn’t allowed to spray tanning lotion on parts of her body that she can’t reach because the consultant insisted that she could reach them herself. She was told that her body, because it’s built more curvy than others is “too inappropriate” for children to be around. She was told “there are a lot of teenage boys in this complex, and you don’t need to excite them.”
Today my fiancée was told that she is less important than how men feel around her. That Tori is less important than a man’s urges to be sexual towards her. I think she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, but I also respect her. I would never make her or any other woman feel less than what she’s worth because of her outfit or her looks. This is how rape culture continues to grow.
I’ve never seen my fiancée embarrassed to the point where she can’t even look her best friends in the face. I’ve never seen her cry like she did in our apartment today. Never seen her want to be isolated like that. All because some ignorant assholes think they can police the size and shape of her body. I’ve never seen a woman so disrespected.
Mind you, the Pool Rules sign states on “duly appropriate attire must be worn at all times. No cut offs.”I’ve included some pictures of what she was wearing, which is a one piece. Please if you’re considering Smoky Crossing apartment complex, don’t. For this reason and many others. I’m honestly still in shock from what I’ve seen today. When I went down to get some information from them myself on the woman who demeaned my fiancée, I was met with a whole lot of blank stares and stutters. The woman who demeaned my fiancée “wasn’t present in the office” when I went up there to discuss the incident. This will not be the last that’s heard of this issue.
MY POINT: My fiancée being told she should cover up on a 90 degree day in our own apartment pool because she will “excite teenage boys” is bullshit. I will not stand for this. My fiancée should be able to wear a bathing suit without being sexualized and demeaned. She shouldn’t feel violated. I will make a live video of my personal opinion and reasons why this is unnecessary soon.
Tyler included these photos of his fiancé.
Tori also posted a photo to her Instagram page of her and Tyler – but from the view of her sitting down.
Many people commented in support of Tori and her fiancé for standing up for her. Others thought that the suit was a little too racy to be worn in a pool around children. You can view all the comments on Tyler’s post here.
So, what do you think? Was this bathing suit inappropriate?