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There’s nothing more American than protesting. We’re a country of rabble rousers who change the world by fighting for our beliefs. With that in mind, GoTopless has been on a crusade for clothing equality between men and women — centered around what we’re allowed to show and forced to conceal in public. Through generations of gender equality struggle there have been leaps forward and disappointing setbacks, and America tends to be particularly puritanical when it comes to bare skin being linked with sexuality.
Back in 1936 ,men fought for the right to go shirtless in public. There were protests by male lifeguards and movie stars so that navels, nipples, and chests would be allowed out and about in public. Eighty years later, women still have to protest and risk being arrested for going shirtless in public spaces.
Uproxx
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They can count on my support.
As opposed to bra support?
I am a big believer in gender equality, but also will be the first to admit that I would find actual execution on this particular form of equality incredibly distracting.
Does anyone ever actually see topless women in the states where it’s legal? While I support boobies out in the open, it almost seems practically moot, like they’re fighting for the right to do something they will never actually do. If I’m wrong, and topless women actually exist in public outside of these protests, by all means let me know.
I’ve said the same thing on another site. It’s all pretty fucking silly. Aren’t there more important women’s issues than this?
Civil rights are not a non-renewable resource.
@Phrederic Well that makes sense, thanks for the clarification.
Rights support other rights.
When you ask “why can’t we have this?” and “why can’t we have that?” at the same time, it strengthens both arguments. Because it explains just how bullshit all these rules and restrictions are.
Why shouldn’t females be allowed to go topless? How does that hurt the wage gap?
heathens.
My goodness. It’s almost as if men and women are biologically different or something. Madness.
Men and women aren’t biologically different.
Males and females are.
Newspeak doubleplusgood.
If you think the separation of sex and gender are new I’ve got some real bad news to break to you about the 60s. Uh…John Lennon gets shot. People think leisure suits are a good idea, and we elect that actor Reagan.
Thanks, Hunter S. Thompson.
Yep, people seem to overlook in this quest for equality in all areas that men and women are different. To act like they should be equal in all areas dismisses reality. Clearly breast are sexual and please refrain from pointing out their “purpose”. I am aware. If they had no sexuality then there would be a lot of famous people that would not be famous. Kate Upton. Charlotte McKinney(?), etc. Its just a stupid argument for forced equality where it doesn’t make sense to. We have it pretty good when women can complain about not being able to show off their breasts.
“Clearly breast are sexual”
Because our society has made them sexual. I could list a bunch of cultures where female breasts are not sexualized. So clearly it’s not an inherent thing. It’s a cultural thing. And if it’s a cultural thing, than we can ask questions about why it exists and whether it should still exist.
Culturally black people weren’t seen as equal to whites. We’re now trying to remedy that.
150 years ago it was scandalous to see a women’s ankles. Her. Fucking. Ankles. Times/Society changes.
@Joe Carroll @Phrederic I think they’re trying to make a broader, bigger point. It’s more about legislation than whether people do it. Which, I believe is fair.
I’m not arguing about what the TopFreedom people are doing, I’m arguing against any point about inherent sexuality.
Which is such a ridiculous statement I’m finding it difficult to create a starting point for it.
Sex is so far removed from biological imperatives that making any sort of ‘naturalistic’ argument reeks of desperation.
I’m all for anyone who wants to take their shirt off to play by the same rules, but I do have a question. If a topless woman is no more sexual than a topless man (or should be considered no more sexual), than would you consider grabbing a woman’s breasts to be no more inappropriate than grabbing a man’s? Actual question I don’t really have an answer for, but I find it kinda hard to reconcile this with my instinct to let the boobies fly free.
@ellyL – That’s exactly the case. Grab a breast and see how many of these women (and men) see this is as being no big deal.
@Phrederic – How many of those cultures are in western society? Oh, I know, how terrible to base our set of standards on that. But that’s how its been for how long now? In western society they have inherent sexuality. It is ingrained into our society. What a ‘ridiculous’ statement right? Yep, suddenly men are going to stop looking at breasts sexually.
I do think it’s complicated. Because if breasts are a sex organ, it would be easy to agree to cover sex organs. BUT I also very much get the idea of “everyone gets to take their shirts off and am generally great with it. I won’t be scandalized.
In truth, I think the legislation should be removed and people can do what they want — which is my general policy for anything that doesn’t hurt others.
@Joe Carroll Actually a lot of countries in Europe are way chiller about female toplessness. There’s a reason European actresses have a rep for doing nudity.
And shirtless men are sexual, and…I dunno if you’re aware of this, but male nipples are erogenous zones too. The problem isn’t “shirtless men aren’t sexual and shirtless women are” it’s a matter of male sexuality being seen as different and less dangerous than female sexuality.
Faces are sexual, and if you wear (legally) tight enough clothing, you can get a pretty good idea of what their body looks like. This isn’t about legislating sexual attraction, it’s about fixing hypocrisy.
Awesome to have this convo!
Agree with @Phrederic on our culture’s over-sexualizing of female breasts. You are now even seeing French women get arrested by overly conservative French police that side with Le Pen and the far right… IN FRANCE of all places.
It’s also about the law. If it’s legal according to the state’s constitution, then cities and counties are at fault for arresting women who go topless, full stop. Cops and prosecutors aren’t morality police outside the state’s law. And that’s how they’re acting in many places with a disregard for males doing the exact same thing.
God, the right is fucking up France? Is there nothing sacred? What’s next, making rock music suck?
After watching my neighbour mow his lawn shirtless all summer long, I’d rather have it equalized by making dudes cover up.
Man boobs no sexy????
This. The best solution is to make all of it illegal. Then outlaw spandex because I see as many dudes wearing it as women.
these images are not safe for my workspace
That can be read a variety of ways.
I’m with you ladies. I’m with you.
Sh*t, y’all ain’t gonna hear me complainin’.