If you've ever worn one, you know that there's more to it than fit and fabric. In my paper, I would like to research the history of the bikini and how its shape, design, and style have evolved. In today's society, young women are expected to wear bikinis and are looked upon as odd if they wear one piece bathing suits. I would like to answer the following questions:

• Why was the bikini created?
• What initial purpose did it serve?
• What cultural influences shaped the bikini's creation?
• How was the bikini received by society?
• What did people think?
• Why did some people accept it and others reject?
• What was it made of?
• Who wore bikinis?
• What was the bikini a symbol of?
• How were the women who wore bikinis different than women who did not?
• When did the bikini become a sex symbol?
• What does the bikini connect in society?
• Why did women initially begin wearing bikinis?
• Why did the bikini become a staple in every woman's closet?
• How did the bikini influence the way women feel they should look?
• How do women feel in bikinis as opposed to one piece bathing suits?
• What do women look for when shopping for bikinis?
• What has the bikini evolved to symbolize?
• How has the bikini influenced our idea of "sexy?"
• What kind of bikini culture has evolved?
• How has the bikini influenced our culture?

I would use books on the history of the bikini, video documentaries on the creation of the bikini, and interviews with teenage women to get a well rounded perspective.

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