Mixed bathing

Mixed bathing usually refers to swimming or other water-based recreational activities in public or semi-public facilities, such as hotel or holiday resort pool, in a non-sex segregated environment.

In ancient Rome, mixed bathing at public facilities was prohibited at various periods, while commonplace at others.

The main objection to the prohibition to mixed bathing was that it prevented families and couples from enjoying the beach together.

The main reason given for this act of modernisation was because more women would be swimming there and higher standards of hygiene were apparently needed.

[2] London's Hampstead Heath has three open-air public swimming ponds; one for men, one for women, and one for mixed bathing.

Although mixed bathing is commonplace today,[7] this was not always the case,[8] and it continues to be illegal or contentious in some parts of the world.

[9][10][11] Strict Orthodox Jews,[12] Muslims, and fundamentalist Christians in the Southern United States (e.g., Southwide Baptist Fellowship and Methodist denominations that teach the doctrine of outward holiness, such as the Evangelical Wesleyan Church) do not engage in mixed bathing.