Every Sunday, weather permitting, the guy down the street mows his lawn without his shirt on—and nobody gets their panties in a bunch about it. But if I stripped off my Dunder Mifflin T-shirt while clipping the hedge? There’d probably be a cop car and the crew from America’s Most Frightening Videos in my driveway faster than you can say “put on a pair of pasties.”
The feminist in me feels that just isn’t fair. If baring chests in public is legal, then it should be legal for everyone—especially since I’ve seen many a shirtless man who has far bigger boobs than I do.
GoTopless.org agrees with me. Members of the organization (started by Rael, the spiritual leader who claims to have been visited by aliens…but that’s another story) believe that as long as men can go topless, women should have the same right.
According to GoTopless.org, the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law for women to go top-free in public wherever men are allowed to, which is almost everywhere in the 50 states. (I did find one township in Maryland where men can’t parade their pecs.)
Lest you think this Go Topless movement is organized solely by men with breast fetishes (which would be most men, based on my informal surveys), you should know that women are fighting the bare-boob battle everywhere, from Florida and Maine—where citizens of one town made “Topfree Lawnmower’s Association” T-shirts to show their support of one free-spirited woman—to Canada.
And on Saturday, August 23, Go Topless rallies will be held at noon local time in cities across America, from Los Angeles and Santa Fe to Omaha and New York—even though it’s been legal for women to go bare-chested in NYC since 1992. (In fact, a woman was recently awarded $29,000 by the city for being wrongfully detained for being bare.) “All women are encouraged to join us at these rallies with their peaceful femininity and unshakable determination,” says Nadine Gary, a San Diego Raelian helping to organize the event. She adds, “A change in the law and in mentalities will prove to be a healthy change for the American population as a whole.”
Most of the women I asked about equal boob-baring rights are for it, although they’re not raring to rip off their tops (except maybe at the beach). My co-worker Susannah echoes the majority when she says, “Americans are far too uptight about matters of the body, so yes: Women should have the same rights as men. In theory, hell yes, I would do it. In practice, legality wouldn’t stop my fellow Americans from being uptight and judgmental, so I’d likely hold back in most circumstances—which is how I’ve (slightly resentfully) approached public breast-feeding.”
I guess I think that’s the point of having rights. You don’t have to exercise them if you don’t want to. And when others are exercising theirs in a way that’s repulsive to you? Just don’t look. That’s how I handled it when Pierce Brosnan ripped off his shirt near the end of Mamma Mia. I understand why some folks may not want to look at my middle-aged boobs, because I sure didn’t want to look at his.
(PHOTO: JORDAN MATTER)
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Comments (66)
It’s about time!!! I can’t wait.
Hell yes!
Have we lost our fear of God? He tells us that women should dress modestly.
I agree that a woman has a right to bare her breasts in public if she chooses to. However, there are implications to de-sexualizing breasts.
this is lame, woman should always be exposed, anytime possible
Amen!!!!! My wife and I will be joining you in the best capacity we can while in the Chicago area! It will be, shall we say, very entertaining I am sure!
I agree with the first two comments! And Betty, I think you misheard what God said. He actually said that he WANTS women to walk around topless.
This just sounds like a way for men to get to see more tits. Why would I give creepy oogling men the advantage of seeing my breasts??
Save the flashing for attention whores, please.
Yeah! God created Eve in his image and she was nekkid. It wasn’t until she sinned that she had to cover up. So bring yourselves back to godliness and uncover! Uncover for Jesus!
Yep god is actually all about the naked. Haven’t you read the bible?
I have to agree with betty c.The bible says that we should all live in a God fearing manner.All I know is it is hard enough to raise children these days with what we as a generation permit in our world.God has already judged the world we live in and what is happenning around us is the curse from not putting God first in our lives.We are at the door of Revelation coming to life upon the earth.No wonder no one is scarred of being judged when we live in a world that condones every sin in the bible.Modesty is important no matter what your religous beliefs are.Isn’t it enough that there are places that women can go if they choose to sunbath topless.Nobody seems to care about young children and what they are subjected to in this world.There are standards which are important.Breasts are a sexual simulent as much as showing a males penis.It is a sexual part of the body that calls for modesty.,but of course most in todays world are over sexually stimulated already and do not see it for what it truly is.A demoralization of society
To betty c:
This country was not founded on Christian principles. Your ‘god’ has nothing to do with this.
Steven, it would be nice if we could all live in your fantasy world of gods and devils, but we live in the real world. Breasts have nothing to do with supernatural beliefs. They are a natural part of the human body. The only reason they have sexual connotation is because society has given it this.
‘Modesty’, as your put it, seems to be synonymous with embarrassment. Why should anyone be embarressed? Why should we hide?
Like I said previously, this country was NOT founded on Christian beliefs, nor any religious beliefs.
As an interests point though, I must say, the Bible says God gave us embarrassment because of original sin. Wouldn’t it stand test to prove God you are above that by not being embarrassed any longer? That you are ready to accept him and show that you are no longer embarrassed?
Cheers!
You can get away with that in Maryland or San Francisco, but try that over here in NYC and you’ll get more than looks. In my opinion the whole feminist movement has become a joke, whatever happened to morality and values, aren’t those more important then showing off your jugs, that’s equal rights??
Breasts feed babies, they did not evolve, ahem, were not created, to get you off. Young children aren’t corrupted by the breast, breast feed them and nurture them. If you are following the bible it was shame of the body that was involved in that whole getting kicked out of Eden bit. If you follow science, most mammals don’t have pasties or jugs magazines. I just keep mine in because they’re too heavy to bounce around in without some support.
“tk” had one of the most intelligent and non confrontational comments I’ve ever seen. I’ll post it again: tk-
“Breasts feed babies, they did not evolve, ahem, were not created, to get you off. Young children aren’t corrupted by the breast, breast feed them and nurture them. If you are following the bible it was shame of the body that was involved in that whole getting kicked out of Eden bit. If you follow science, most mammals don’t have pasties or jugs magazines. I just keep mine in because they’re too heavy to bounce around in without some support.”
It is no secret that men find womens breasts much more enticing/erotic than women find mens, to the same sort of level that the lower private parts are erotic. Our customs are based on presumed increases of social costs like harrassment, rape, jealousy, infidelity, unmarried parents (statistically kids of unmarried parents tend to have more social problems).
Morals Morals Morals! if you want to fight for rights how about getting the first ever female president or even a VP in this country. Third world countries, that are usually blamed for lack of democracy and human rights, have had female heads of states - even muslim countries that are stigmatized for not respecting women.
Talking of rights how about getting “respect” & dignity” back for women who are more of an “object” for sexual interest than a “person/equal human” in this conservative society trying to be liberal in exercising their rights. How about stopping abuse against women. Getting respect and rights for single women etc etc etc. list goes on.
Pathetic!
I’m all for equality in this matter (very much so), but personally I’d rather that it be no one can go topless than everyone can. There are PLENTY of male chests I’d rather not see out there. Until then, I hope that women going barebreasted highlights the hypocrisy of current laws/attitudes and I will consider joining in.
what is wrong with these women,everyone knows the first thing a man looks at on a woman is her breast.they are sexual objects,so what if a man comes on to one of these topless women or says an offhand commint are they going to yell sexual herasment.i say if its not for sale don’t advertise it.there are men out there who will think this is an invetation.things like this are just asking for throuble.you all give women a bad name.you apparently aren’t getting enough attintion so you are doing this to get your need meet but you may get more than you ask for & if that is the case you should not be allowed to complain when it happens because you are asking for it.God is going to get tired of the way this world is going and endit!!!
Dont worry so much-it’s cool..
I find it rather sad that the idea of bare breasted women is somehow linked to ideas of infidelity and unmarried parents….(though perhaps I misunderstood the meaning)… and that someone implied that it would invite rape….I doubt any of these women want to run topless through a dark alley….
Speaking of other countries, in many parts of Europe it is quite usual for women to go topless in parks or at the beach, and breasts are not treated as taboo on television. These same countries are also highly religious, have strong family values, and less incidences of violence against women than we do here.
This sort of thing is inextricably connected with women’s rights and respect. Before we can have a female leader, before we aren’t discriminated against in politics and business and science, and before we can reduce the incidence of women being abused, we have to gain equal footing,and men and women both will have to start treating the female form as more than just erotic eye candy.
To wrap up my spiel….come on people, they’re just boobies.
Chris, that is pretty neat how you have figured out how to be above sin. Care to share?
I don’t think Zeus would mind a half naked chick. Go for it.
Newsflash! God doesn’t exist!
Breasts are sexual organs. The male chest has no reproductive function.
You may not care, but please stop using the tired argument that male and female chests are equal.
Laws are in place to keep us from from harming ourselves and each other. They are not in place to uphold your religious beliefs. This is a ’somewhat’ free country and you are welcome to believe in the tooth fairy or a flying spaghetti monster, or even a divine orator of the universe if you must. But could all of you religious folk please understand that we don’t all believe as you do, and thus have no interest in laws meant to uphold ancient doctrine. FREE THE BOOBS!
God created breasts, but didn’t create clothes. We are all born naked. Don’t these facts mean anything to anyone? I’m going to ask a simple question; Does any artist ever create a work of art that he doesn’t intend people to look at? We are the art of God.
Oh and Sandie, God is also going to get tired of zealots who use improper spelling, punctuation and grammar. Hopefully God smites only them, and not the whole world for their transgressions upon the written language.
Waitwhat? - What in the world is your problem.
Have these women looked at the registered sex offenders list in their area. In most cities? This list can run into the hundreds.
And they believe they live in a vacuum? They think nothing ill-toward will happen to them?
We live in a world with rapists, fiends, and perverts. THIS IS - asking for it.
“God is going to get tired of the way this world is going and endit!!!” - sandie
Better start holding our breath then.
Someone can have a different belief than you, and you totally misinterpreted him. Learn to be accepting, not accusing, and maybe you’ll go somewhere in both your spiritual and non-spiritual life.
When people bring up “The Bible” I have to wonder which Bible they are referring to?
There is no ‘one’ Bible. The majority of the original texts that have been incorporated into what we know as the ‘Old’ and ‘New’ testaments were written in Aramaic (ancient Hebrew). I wonder how many of those who claim to know what the bible says speak Aramaic, and have read all of the original testaments (many of which were removed by the Roman Catholic Church)? Because if they haven’t, then they are reading someone else’s interpretation of the texts. And it’s not hard to see how personal values affect the interpretation of text, just look at how widely the constitution is interpreted.
Bottom line. Stop invoking the Bible to justify your own personal beliefs, or if you insist on doing so, make sure you really know what it says before spouting off.
Forgive my ignorance, but i feel i’m going to need a photgraphic example to help me retain the belivablity of this story in its entirety
The male chauvinistic pig in me agrees with you, but not for the same reasons.
@waitwhat
Simple: god does not exist. If god does not exist, then there is no such things as sin.
And what is worst? Thinking there is no god, or following the wrong one? either christan, muslim or jews are right, not all of them. That’s not counting the old Greek gods, the old Roman and Egyptian gods. Let’s add the Aztec, the mayan etc. Who is/was right?
You THINK you are right, that doesn’t mean you are. Maybe Rael is right too, and we should all have sex everywhere like crazy folks. Or maybe it’s the scientologist, or maybe they’re all, since the beginning of time, a bunch that wanted to control the population by making them fear something in order to be able to control and take money/advantage off others.
Think about that. Religion was a good way to promote some “laws” when there was no such things as enforcment. If you can’t control the population 100% of the time, make them think there is some divine power “watching them”. Yay! Cheer on Big Brother!
good thing you’re not “god”, sandie
especially with your terrible spelling…
also, women who would like to go topless want to undo all this controversy about how “right” or “wrong” it is to do so. if a man can go around without his shirt on a hot day, then why not a woman?
women who want to part take in this even feel that breasts are not a taboo part of the body. they recognize that the breasts can function as an erogenous zone but then, so can skin….or lips.
and we don’t have lip guards, so we?
no, because we use lips to eat so the function outweighs the sensuality of that body part.
men cannot bring themselves to believe that the breasts’ main function is for nutrition for the young not to excite them in their pants.
this society is just so sex-obsessed & image obsessed & religion obsessed to see that we’re making a bigger deal of this than it is.
Seriously, why are we supposed to live in fear of anything? I think god has ruined things enough. I can understand comments about modesty or respect, but empty threats of a supreme being not liking topless women is pretty amusing.
Eh I live in Eugene OR where the joke is that if a woman brings up said topic everyone looks at her and says “You can”. So I guess we’re special in that right…
You are all ignorant. I personally believe in God and modesty, but just because you don’t doesn’t mean you should disrespect me by trying to tell me my beliefs are false. I respect your beliefs, so why must everyone constantly fight about it. Stop being immature and learn to respect each other. This discussion is about being bare breasted, not God. If someone makes a comment that they’re for modesty because of their beliefs, it is rude and disrespectful to tell them otherwise and vice versa. Grow up.
Also, I believe we should have equal right, but because of my beliefs, I will choose to be modest.
Anyone who doesn’t realize that women and men are wired differently is an idealistic fool. Men are sexually stimulated by the visual; it’s not learned or programmed and it cannot be unlearned or deprogrammed. Viewing female breasts, especially exposed, is sexually arousing for men. Women don’t understand this because they don’t experience the same physiologial (species preserving) response. It’s fine to not understand, but it’s not fine to admonish men for it, rude behavior notwithstanding.
Excepting discomfort of “boobies set free”, conformity to keeping breasts covered and in bras is mainly driven by vicious, back-stabbing judgement of other women. Frankly, most men would favor or be neutral about bare breasts in public where not grossly inappropriate, and wouldn’t think any less of woman who does. True, many men can’t seem to control themselves and simply enjoy the sight without being an ass, and unfortunately women who want to mow, bikeride, or stroll topless would have to put up with this boorish crap for a generation or two, but the struglle against other women is more formidable.
More power to you. I’d say start small - host a topless party with people you know and are comfortable around … and send me an invite.
The U.S. was/is founded on the Christian moral code. The first amendment restricts Congress from establishing by law a particular religion, preventing the government from forcing people to church under threat of fine or imprisonment. Nowhere in any founding document is God or Christianity denied or repudiated. (In fact, the Decl. of Indep. explicity attributes the origins of natural rights to a “Creator” with a capital ‘C’.
The modern representations of the Christian faith are a sham. Anyone can prove this to himself by studying the first 4 books of the New Testament. About 80% of Christ’s teachings admonished against rituals, idolatry, and symbolism. Not a word about nudity being a sin.
Today’s churches are bold-faced scams. They look dismiss basic Christian doctrine in order to keep the coffers full. The members go around parroting unsubstantiated “rules” while feeling smug in their “Christian” Country Club to which they pay weekly dues.
Jesus on clothing: Matthew 6:25-32
What does this have to do with god and religion? I agree with Chris. Who said the world revolves around Christianity? and just because YOU believe that God exists, it doesn’t mean that he actually does. That’s just your opinion. Why should everyone’s rights change because of YOUR religion? What about mine? I wouldn’t mind the laws revolving around my religion, but you dont see me shoving it down other people’s throats.
why do all the news articles online always tunr into something about god? can anyone keep it on topic???? the subject is women going outside topless….which has nothing to do with god in any way,shape or form. stay on topic. no1 really cares weather or not god is real or what your beliefs are. and since their nothing more than beliefs since no1 here can really know if god exists keep them to yourself until you go to church, your temple, or mosque to worship. weather or not you believe in god has nothing to do with this. and caroline you contradicted yourself. you BELIEVE you should have equal rights but based on your BELIEFS you choose to be modest.
This can not be happining, I can believe were going on a debate over this. We should start thinking and working on real stuff not on bubbs give us a break.
Aren’t there enough kids dying of hunger,poorness,and sufering all the consecuenses that people like us do, worring ourselfs about”it should be OK to show bubbs” think about this. And it’s not all God’s problem and say, we are here and can do something about it. Let’s stop fighting over stupid things like this one.
All I know is, I’m gonna get to see some boobies! (and some bare breasts too)
I didn’t contradict myself, I’ve always thought we should be able to do what guys do in that respect, but I believe the body to be sacred, so I will control myself from doing it xD
I hate the Feminist movement, not to gain more rights, but the way they go about it. Instead of expressing their femininity, they strive to become more like a man. They have a word for that, it’s called selling out. I’m a male and I wear a shirt in the pool and such not because I have boobs but quite the opposite, I expect both sexes to dress modestly. I think it is disrespectful to look at someone else’s “aspects”. And, I think it is vain and unfair to display yours.
WOW… I cannot belive how ignorant some people are, the fact is some women are going to do it and some are not, its their choice and noone else’s. If they get raped/harrased or w/e thats their fault and the concequences will be on them. God has nothing to do with it, weather you belive it or not, weather he exists or not, leave religion out of it. Just stay on topic. Personally, im a guy and ya that would be somewhat enjoyable but at the same time I have a girlfriend and im devoted to her so ill choose not to look if the oppertunity arrises. BTW anyone who uses their god(s) to justify themselves in such a way apperently hasn’t learned much from their religion if they know anything at all which is doubtful.
Reasoning behind men finding women’s breasts attractive is because they give (Gave, when the world ran on the instinct to survive..) the man a good idea that she will be able to take good care of the baby that is created from this attraction to the woman.
I agree that ‘god’ has nothing to do with this. If you believe in god, then why would you think he would want us to cover the bodies he gave us? Also, someone here said breasts are sexual organs. So, if a woman has breast cancer and gets a double mastectomy, she can no longer have children? Basic biology is a fact, not a belief system. As far as the comment saying “Men are going to look,” well, yeah, and some men are going to stare at your feet when you wear heels, or your legs when you wear hose, or yes, your breasts when they are covered by a bra and 2 sweatshirts. Men are going to look at your face and be attracted. Perhaps we should force women to cover legs, feet, and faces? Come on, be reasonable.
If a man shows his underwear or his crack in public, ppl get grossed out…if a woman does it, it’s very sexy and guys will stare upon hours; so talk about trying to be fair!!! These days it’s not cool to be a guy anymore. The women are in the mindset of “i don’t need a man”!!!
Keep your tops on!!! No-one wants to see you hang to your knees!!!!
‘god(s)’ have nothing to do with boobies here. let them alone. anyways.. I will be there (to watch :P)
To tk who said that breasts are not sexualized.
Not to be rude but you are wrong. In many ways are breasts sexualized from the beginning. Men have an instinctual drive that lead to many of them to “get off” on breasts. Bigger breasts for the most part, mean more fertile mother. More fertile host, means better chance of conception. It’s coded into our minds to be attracted to those, some more than others for social/cultural reasons, but for the most part, yes, the breast(s) are very sexualized.
Breasts aren’t arousing. TRUST is arousing. The reason people get turned on by nudity is because it’s not something you usually see. When someone is naked in front of you, they’re showing that they trust you.
I’ve gone camping at a site where women can go topless. Only a handful–maybe half a dozen–actually do it. But they don’t make it sexual. They just go about their business. And you see them, and it’s arousing at first, but not for long.
If uncovered breasts were common, they would no longer be sexual. I support topfree women.
(Though, as an out-of-shape man, I prefer to keep my shirt on as a matter of self-consciousness.)
“God is going to get tired of the way this world is going and endit!!!” –sandie
Surprisingly, I don’t think that’s the worst option for our global future.
But then, I also don’t believe in a Christian god.
Nobody seems to care about young children and what they are subjected to in this world.There are standards which are important.Breasts are a sexual simulent as much as showing a males penis. -steven,
Hate to break it to you but many children are breastfed from the day they are born…its human nature, & breasts are as natural as any other part of a human body so whats the problem, Kudos to you ladies for living what you believe despite ignorant judgements.
Simple minded people that can’t think for themselves always invoke the bible, regardless of the topic - remember the thing about sheep?. Funny thing is, these same people have most likely never read it or certainly don’t understand it, because face it, who in their right mind could actually read and comprehend any of the nonsense in that poorly written POS. If ever there was a book that should be burned, it’s that one.
Unbelievable commentary here. Apparently most of the commenters don’t know how to use spellcheck, which is not really all that surprising considering their convoluted grammar.
The argument ranges from “god don’t like titties” to “tits are sexual objects.” Jeezus, this is the state of “education” or “knowledge” in America today.
Objectification of the female’s breasts is a social construct, people. We instill whatever value we find in breasts; if we see them all the time, we tend not to see them as emblems of exotica. In many countries and cultures, there are no restrictions against women going topless because those societies have instilled a different value to breasts.
Other cultures wrap women in burkas. Which society seems more reasonable to you?
you know i’ve read a few of these comments and some of them are fairly funny, and other are just really closed minded, our society has created a place where breasts are taboo, a place where breats are sexual objects… oh but wait, what am i forgetting? OH yes that’s right, in the 17 to 1800’s ankles were considered taboo and sexual objects as well… but what’s the difference between then and now, we see ankles all the time, and no one cares. why? because we see them all the time, plain and simple, breasts are no exception to the rule, if you see them all the time they cease to be sexual objects and just part of everyday life that no on will pay attention to anymore (with the exception of the fetish types).go to a strip bar sometime, and take a look at the staff that work there… the bouncers are making sure no one is causing problems or starting fights, the manager is counting money and making sure there’s enough alcohol and ordering supplies, the dj playing the music isnt even listening to the music, he’s too busy cueing up then song for the next dancer, what do all the ppl have in common… none of them are staring at the ladies while they are dancing because it’s something they see all the time, day in day out, it’s not taboo to them anymore. this whole thing is only a big deal because we as a society have made it such. i say if women want to be topless than it’s thier choice. why cant they join some of the men that have bigger breasts than themselves and not be forced to cover up… and for those that think we should all dress conservatively, if you go out to a nice resturant, please by all means dress conservative, but hitting up micky d’s i dont think is considered a black tie affair and i’ve seen many go inside to eat with jeans and a t-shirt, and yes sometimes without a shirt, but it’s mcdonalds… you kinda come to almost expect it especially in a area where pools/rivers/lakes are present. but i digress, everyone wants change for the better but most conservatives are unwilling to take the steps to make things better, to those i would say: pick another battle, feed the homeless, find homes for children, stop poverty, stop abuse, it’s only breasts… wether you admit it or not everyones got em… my 2cents
oh yeah… one more thing… no where in the bible does it say thou shalt not bare thy double d’s, but it does say you will not add to or take away from this book, read it for what it is, not for what others give of thier interpretations.
Somewhere in this conversation, somebody actually said that breasts are sexual organs! What planet did he come from? Breasts are mammary glands - a kind of specialized sweat gland, that miraculously produces milk instead of sweat for consumption by babies. Men’s breast can also produce milk with a whole lot of hormonal manipulation. Now you have the facts. What a concept!
I’ve been on certain european beaches where topless sunbathing is allowed and quite frankly, most of the exposed flesh is a bit nasty and not very attractive (hairy nipples, sagging busts, etc.). Sure, you get some pretty ones mixed in with the bunch but usually what is shown is not a turn-on. After about ten minutes of head turning one usually goes on about their own business. It’s really no big deal unless you are a Puritan.
Be warned, this is a long post – it will take time to read and understand.
There are those who say that just because something is legal, doesn’t make it right. However, the opposite is also true, just because something is made illegal doesn’t make it right either. That is why laws against same-sex relationships or inter-racial relationships don’t exist anymore and that is why there are laws against other types of gender discrimination. All of which has occurred in the same 75 years that men have been able to go bare breasted and women have not. Bare breasted men are safe for workplace and bare breasted women are not just as male swimsuit models are safe and women in bikinis are not. Discrimination can be subtle and, except for activists like abolitionists, suffragettes or feminists, has always seemed reasonable at the time.
There are those who said that there are more important things to worry about and they are right. So, with that in mind, why are people so concerned about bare breasted women to begin with? Perhaps it should not be acceptable for either men or women to walk down a city street without a top, but why is it only a police matter when a woman does it? Why must the legal system be involved when an even a young girl sunbathes topfree when all the males around her, regardless of age, can do so without concern? Topfreedom, and even something as healthy and innocent as breast-feeding, must be made specifically legal, rather than not illegal, just to protect women from harassment by the authorities. Even then people try to get around the law by using misdemeanour charge that doesn’t go to court or citing child protection laws. As in Utah, you have to say that interfering with a breast-feeding mother (or topfree woman) is itself an offence. Sad really.
Who is to say that topfreedom is the only issue that these women are involved with? Any of them could be soldiers or police or preachers or teachers. Some could easily be volunteers at the local food bank or who help women escape spousal or cultural violence. There are cultures that will kill a woman for just showing her face or saying no to her husband or father. All quite reasonable, of course. Perhaps it is a trivial thing, right up until you are harassed, arrested, booked, tried and found guilty of either disorderly conduct (or some similar contrivance) or a sexual crime. Then, on a personal level, it becomes a very big deal. That is really the only reasons these women are doing so, in protest, on a city’s streets rather than a beach or park. Freedom of Speech is clearly protected under American and Canadian law, while taking your top off at a park or beach or pool on any give day will get a girl in trouble in most places in the USA. Yet that is exaclty what women need to do, not in a few placed on one day a year, but in any place a man can at any time.
There is lots of rhetoric against the form of equality. Female breasts are pornographic (in a male-centric society), at least the people who make money form this idea want you to think so. Young girls who go topless are in danger from pedo’s, as if young males are not, when the evidence shows that almost all victims of sexual assault (from sexual harassment, to molestation, to rape and regardless of age or gender) are fully clothed at the time of the initial attack. Seeing a naked female breast harms children, even though all the evidence says exactly the opposite. Breasts were made for children! People will get used to seeing women’s breasts the same way the got used to seeing men’s breasts, by actually seeing them. It took a famous movie star to jumpstart public acceptance for men then, perhaps we need an equally famous and popular female star to do the same now for women- openly, non-sexually and unapologetically.
Honestly, I think it’s great that women are exercising their rights. If men can go without a certain article of clothing, why can’t women? Personally, I wouldn’t go topless, but that doesn’t mean that other women shouldn’t. It’s the same idea as men wearing skirts/dresses. They have legal rights to wear them if they want to, but most men won’t.
I’m a Christian, and I’m all for modesty, but what exactly is modesty, anyway? I mean, I believe that we were created and we were without clothes at first. Wouldn’t that have made us “immodest” by most people’s terms? As soon as sin came into the world, we were embarrassed of our bodies and tried to cover them up. So maybe most people are still embarrassed of their bodies, but those who aren’t should be able to not cover them up.
And I’m not trying to say to everyone that I’m right and you’re wrong, that you MUST become Christians. If you don’t believe in a god, then why should you have to cover up? If it’s because you don’t want people staring, then sweet, don’t take off your clothes in front of others. If it’s because you want to fit in, then keep on fitting in. But just because you feel that way doesn’t mean you should condemn other people for not feeling the same.
If for some reason the U.S. goes nuts because there are a few topless women hangin’ around, then why not just make the laws so that everyone must be covered up? (And I mean including men.) If we want to have equal rights, we’ve all got to either have the right to be topless or else none of us can have it.
the first thing a man looks at is not the breasts…. superficially… a man looks at a beautiful face and thin waste way before the breasts.. and just as many men find small breasts more attractive than large breasts. If it became common for women to go topless, as it is in europe, men/boys would not focus on them any more than they do on beautiful women’s legs or backs or faces. the rapes and sex crimes that are more prevalent in america than in europe where it is almost non existent is due to the fact that there is legal prostitution in most other contries so the perverts can go get their sex in a legal, safe, affordable way instead of victimizing innocent unwilling women.
For those of you touting your religious views on the dirtyness of breasts, you need to get your historical and cultural views straight. The Victorian Era brought extreme modesty into Western culture. Wrists, necks, and ankles were erotic zones and were usually partially covered. Despite this modesty, one can easily find portraits of sophisticated and moral women where the bosom is partially exposed. Why? Because the functional aspects of breasts overrode the sexual aspects. For generations, women have pulled out their breasts to feed infants. (Note that God never tells anyone to not do so, nor does he make covering ourselves the 11th commandment. Jesus never mentions the virtues of covering up the body. Modesty is mentioned, especially in the creation story. If you’re Muslim, you can have issue with this, but that’s a different story altogether.) However, during this same Victorian period, sexuality became a dirty thing, and we as Americans have kept vestiges of this in our current culture. Breasts have lost their functionality due to the “dirtying” of breastfeeding and prevalence of bottle feeding, making them purely sexual parts.
I am not one to feel that going about naked is a good thing. However, as a model, I do not see ANY problem with breasts being used in an artistic, beautiful way– breasts do not have to be dirty, immoral parts that need to be hidden. For modesty’s sake, they (just as men’s chests) need to be reasonably covered in most social situations, but there is a time and place for them to be uncovered. Women need to stop stigmatizing other women for seeing past the social stigmas associated with our bodies. NO PART OF ANY PERSON IS “NAUGHTY” BY NATURE– OUR OWN PROJECTIONS MAKE THEM SEEM THAT WAY.