Mixed Swimming

A student of mine in Germany asked me this question. Not sure how lenient to pasken I have a question. In Germany, there are almost no opportunities for women to go swimming without men. I wanted to ask, what would be the main problem if a woman goes swimming and there are men around, but she is wearing a kosher tzanua swimsuit from Israel that covers everything? Well, it's clear that it won't work if she's only wearing a normal swimsuit/bikini etc. But is it a problem to be seen swimming in general? Or are men and women generally not allowed to be in the water together? Or is it a matter of women not being allowed to see men in just swimming trunks either?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question!

It is clear (and unanimous) that mixed swimming is forbidden. The ban for which derives from several sources.

The first source is the Talmudic passage that says that it is forbidden for a man to watch women do laundry. This is because, when the women did the laundry, they would roll their clothes up high on their body in order to avoid getting wet. It is forbidden to gaze at those parts of the body that would become exposed as a result. Another passage teaches that men who gaze at women in the river “lose their share in the world to come.” Another passage teaches that one who allows his wife to go mixed swimming is “evil.” Finally, there is a passage that teaches that a woman who bathes in the presence of men should be divorced.

Based on the above, it is clear that mixed swimming is forbidden.

There is a difference of opinion on the severity of the issue of women looking at men not properly dressed. Everyone agrees, however, that it is unbecoming for an observant woman to go mixed swimming. As such, there is little dispensation for women to go mixed swimming even if they were to be fully clothed.

There is much discussion as to the age at which the ban on girls swimming with boys begins. We hold that it begins at 3 years. The same is true with boys swimming with girls.

It is also worth mentioning that women are not allowed to swim if being watched by a male lifeguard unless they are fully clothed.

Bava Batra 57b;  Eruvin 18b; Gi ttin 90b