At times, it may seem that amid the ongoing wars and global conflicts, protesting about water quality may seem misplaced or even trivial. However, there are clear links between the political interests that privatise shared resources like water for profit and greed and the polarising narratives which legitimize violence and repression. Drawing connections between these…
Category: Swimming Accessibility & Protests
The campaign for bodily autonomy and belonging in Grenoble France: resisting epistemic violence, media discourse and othering.
It has taken quite a long time, but I’m happy to say that the article written with Souad Boumechaal on the experience of a group of brave campaigners fighting for more inclusive swimwear regulations at municipal swimming pools in Grenoble, France has finally been published. I plan to update the research and literature pages of…
You’re darn right! GO SWIMMING
Kinder Swim Trespass 2023 My dog Ed and I made the journey over the Pennines on a grey Sunday on 23 April for the Kinder Swim Trespass. We trekked up from the village of Hayfields following groups of hikers and swimmers gripping ‘Go Swimming’ signs. The location of the trespass is not accidental and has…
They did it! For now, at least.
On Monday 16 May, 2022 the Municipal Government of Grenoble, France voted to remove the restrictions on full-bodied swimsuits in local swimming pools. This vote was in part sparked by the long and tireless struggle by Citoyenne Alliance who ran a creative, resilient and imaginative campaign not helped by the attempts to reduce the debate…
Swimming Accessibility Protests in France: Alliance Citoyenne in Grenoble
In many places in the world, day-to-day survival takes precedent over all other activities and swimming is just another non-essential activity that gets very little thought. Yet, in places where swimming pools are abundant, the suggestion that swimming should be made available to all is not unreasonable. On the surface, France is one of those…
An Anthropology of Swimming 