A G-string, thong, or tanga is a narrow piece of cloth or leather that passes between the legs, usually between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips, worn as a bikini bottom or as underwear.

Etymology

The term G-string is first attested as American slang to describe the loincloth of Philippine natives in the late 19th century. This style of loincloth was the traditional 3+ meter long wound strip. Later, probably through a chain of social contacts through the US military, the term "G-string" was applied to the breechcloths of American Natives overseen on reservations.

Origin

Although it was worn for decades by exotic dancers, the thong first gained mainstream popularity in South America, particularly in Brazil in the 1970s. In Brazil, where the buttocks ("bundas" in Portuguese) are especially admired and emphasized, it was originally a style of swimsuit whose rear area was so thin—often just a string—that it would disappear between the wearer's buttocks.

Its earliest form was a strip of cloth between the legs secured by a string around the waist and called a "G-string", a name that was in use at least as far back as the late 1800s. Today, a G-string is generally thought of as having a "T" back whereas a V-String has a "V" back.

The origin of the word "G-string" is uncertain. Some speculate that it may have been an analogy to the thickest string on a violin or a euphemistic abbreviation of girdle string or groin string. G-strings can be seen being worn in some old photographs.

The origin of the word thong is from Old English thwong, a flexible leather cord.

It is sometimes derogatorily called floss.

Many tribal peoples, such as some of the Khoisan people of southern Africa, wore a similar style of clothing for many centuries. Their word for it, tanga, is used in languages such as Spanish to refer to the garment, sometimes specifically the type with cloth through the legs and string around the sides. (In English, tangas are briefs that have full rear coverage but only a waistband at the sides.)

Popularity

By the late 1980s, the design had made its way into most of the Western world, and G-string underwear became more and more popular through the 1990s. As of 2003, thong underwear is one of the fastest-selling styles among women. One advantage attributed to the wearing of thong underwear is that no visible panty line can be seen even under a thin, light-colored, or skin-tight garment, which makes for a more attractive appearance. Although the popularity of wearing thong underwear in America has taken off only in the last decade, in Eastern Europe it has been common for many more years.

The main drawback to G-string underwear is that the fabric must be pulled directly between one's buttocks, which some people find unattractive and/or uncomfortable, but which others enjoy. A positive aspect is that because the cloth makes direct contact with the anus and genitals (unlike most underwear), the requirement for good personal hygiene is increased to avoid stains or marks on the material.

Today, there are a number of intermediate styles between full rear coverage and a string rear. They include the rio, tanga, thong, string thong, and micro bikini, among others. A style that has a narrow band of fabric in the rear that just covers the cleft in the buttocks is often called a "Brazilian" rear, because it is often seen at Brazilian Samba carnivals.

In recent years the hip hop and R&B music industry has also helped to promote the G-string, mostly under its American nomenclature of 'thong' by composing songs about it and featuring artists clad in them. Artists include Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Lil' Kim among others. One example of music that popularized this undergarment is the "Thong Song" by Sisqó, which was released in 2000. G-strings have become icons of pop culture, often with pop female artists wearing clothing that is revealing enough that their wearing of a thong is obvious, and thus the younger generation of American females following suit has increased the popularity of wearing thong underwear.

As is the case with many icons of pop culture, G-string underwear is not without its own controversies. In 2002 American clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, known for their racy catalogues, launched a line of G-string underwear marketed specifically at girls aged 13 to 16 years old. Several consumer advocacy groups objected to marketing of the G-string, claiming they are too sexually suggestive. Although others claim that if they choose to buy it, then it is perfectly acceptable.

In April, 2002 G-string underwear was at the centre of a media uproar after a vice-principal at Rancho Bernardo High School in southern California forced female students to lift their skirts before entering a school dance, in a so-called crackdown on G-string underwear.

In May, 2003, the head teacher of a British primary school voiced her concern after learning that girl pupils as young as 10 were wearing thong underwear to school. This incident [1] led to a media debate about the appropriateness of G-string underwear and the sexualization of children.

Many beachside municipalities in the United States have legislation forbidding G-string swimsuits in public, while others governments such as that of Virginia have attempted to pass laws forbidding the exposure of underwear. These actions are believed to have been prompted by both the deliberate and inadvertent exposure by young women of their G-string as well as a current trend at the time of men wearing their pants so low down that the pubis was exposed. Virginia's so-called "droopy-pants" bill failed to report in a state senate committee two days after having been passed by the state house.

On European and Australian beaches, wearing swimwear in G-string style is fairly common, especially on the Spanish Mediterranean islands like Ibiza and Mallorca, and on some Italian and Greek beaches. Also on Baltic Sea beaches and in public pools in France and Germany, women and men wear G-strings or G-string-style one-piece suits.

While this type of swimsuit has been quite common for European women for quite some time, more and more men like to wear them not only as underwear but as swimwear in public. Although it is likely that this is a consequence of the more liberal society in many European states that results in a preference for sexier clothing, there has also been an increase in demand for male G-strings in the U.S. male population. Likewise, Australian society is relatively liberal when it comes to nudity and many women can be seen wearing G-strings (sometimes without bathing suit tops) on famous Australian beaches like Bondi in Sydney and Surfers Paradise in Queensland. Wearing of G-strings among men is much less common, however, considering the possible consequences.

In other languages

In the Japanese language, G-string is widely known as T-back. This naming is after its shape seen from behind. The sound has been causing some confusion among Japanese speakers (especially the elderly) with a tea bag, which is also common in today's Japanese dictions.

However, there are several usages of the term "T-back" in English as well (i.e., Children's literature author E.L. Konigsburg's T-backs, T-shirts, Coat and Suit).

From Wikipedia