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These two images show the ridiculous double standards women face when it comes to swimwear

This photo is being shared to illustrate the double standards women face when it comes to what they can and can't wear.
This photo is being shared to illustrate the double standards women face when it comes to what they can and can’t wear.

Photos of armed French police forcing a woman to remove her burkini on a beach in Nice, France cause a social media uproar on Tuesday.

The images show four officers confronting a woman who was at Promenade des Anglais, the location of a deadly jihadist attack in July that left 80 dead. The woman was seen complying with the police, removing a blue long-sleeved top, baring her arms.

This comes after a number of French towns ironically banned burkinis as they are a “symbol of oppression.” Those who flout the rules may be punished with a fine.

The images quickly went viral with many taking to social media to express their outrage.

But one poignant side-by-side comparison is perhaps the best indication of the ridiculous double standards that women face when it comes to what they can and can not wear. The first photo is of the police forcing the woman to remove her burkini. The second photo is a vintage photo of a 1920s-era woman having her bathing suit measured by a “Sheriffette” — or, morality police, who’d examine examine women’s bathing suits to ensure they met regulations.

Do you agree with the ban on burkinis? Let us know by tweeting us @YahooStyleCA.