Topless Issue?

Question

I saw a question on here asking why don't women go topless and I decided to ask some questions of my own.
If you think that women today are just as equal as men then why is it still illegal for women to go topless?
And if women were given the option of going topless, would you take it?
Would you feel safe going topless by yourself? Or would you only feel safe going topless with a group of women/people that would see to your safety if something happened?
With comments such as "Women don't go topless because men wouldn't be able to concentrate", does that make you feel like a piece of meat and disrespected?
Or does the comment ring true and that's just the way it is?
Do you think women would feel more sexually repressed by the way men would gawk at them?
What do you think contributed to the way men have sexualized women's breasts?
And finally (last question....I mean it!!) if women could go topless, do you think that men and women would interact differently with each other???

This question requires you to think.
Look at the question...read the questions and answer them.
If it's too much to do, then don't bother.
I don't need to hear how sexy it would be or where it is legal. Use your mind and think, people! It's not alot to ask.
Serious and intelligent answers only.
Thank you.

Answer 1

1) It's illegal to go topless because we're not equal. We've descended from puritanical values. Sex in our culture is more censored than violence. Some are also worried about the slippery slope of morality; if going topless is acceptable, won't people now challenge going bottomless, too? Only for women.

2) Hell no. May be liberating to some, but I'm not interested in making a social statement by going topless. There should be choice. It's not for me, but it should be available for those who like it.

3) No, it wouldn't be safe, it's bad enough with your shirt on. Groups give more a sense of safety than anything, so no there for me, too.

4) Women as a whole shouldn't have to bend for men, even if our culture is phallocentric. Yeah, word to the piece to meat thing.

5) Maybe it is the way it is, but it shouldn't be, and change is possible.

6) Yes, women would feel more repressed, at least until it became normal and the extra attention wore off. For those who say it wouldn't, you should travel more.

7) Breasts have been hot for ages. They're a sign of fertility. Someone sculpted the Venus of Willendorf twenty thousand years ago and gave her a, umm, sizeable chest.

8) After enough time passed and norms changed, probably not much change without the bras on.

Answer 2

I really don't think that this is a big issue to talk about. If the entire women population in the planet one day decides "OK from today we go topless" well first few days it would be a bit of a problem for all the men "Hey my wife is topless, Hey my daughter is topless. ".. but later they will fed up with it as like with every thing and it will not be a big deal at all.

Men and women would surely do interact different after this. And there would no longer be a thing called XXX. isn't that great.

Answer 3

Okay, I'll try to answer this one.

Obviously, banning women from not wearing tops while not barring men from doing so is unequal treatment. Why this is so, in America, is probably more a matter of age-old, and often unquestioned, assumptions about sexuality than it is a matter of persecution.

It's also reasonable to point out that these assumptions have detrimental effects on both men and women, instead of only women. For instance, part of your question asks whether women would feel "safe" going topless, implying that some people believe men would attack and maul women who weren't wearing tops. This is pretty insulting to men, and clearly not borne out by the behavior of people in societies, even Western ones, where women are allowed to go topless in public.

As far as men "sexualizing" women's breasts, well, both genders are attracted to healthy-looking members of the opposite sex, and many aspects of our bodies are a part of this. I suspect that a healthy man's chest is as sexy for a woman as her breasts are for a man.

I would also define sexual repression as the repression of sexuality, not the expression of it. By this definition, requiring women to always "cover up" is sexually repressive, and of course, going topless wouldn't be always, or even most often, related to sexuality.

I genuinely don't understand the "piece of meat" and "objectifying" arguments at all. People, both male and female, are interested in sex. Objects and slabs of dead meat aren't. I don't know where this started or what it means, but it sounds a little like some people think that sexuality, or sexual attraction, isn't human. It's a part of life, unrelated to objects or food, and part of that, for both men and women, is our appearance. Of course, it is not all of life, and so it's also a little ridiculous to assume that anytime a man looks at a woman it's sexually related. And I certainly wouldn't want to live in a society where people aren't allowed to look at each other.

The "getting distracted" thing is also a part of life. And mentioning it exclusively neglects the other side of the issue, which is that people also tend to be a little repulsed by unhealthy-looking members of the opposite sex. For every attractive woman who would go topless at the beach, swimming pool, gym or wherever else, there would also be several unhealthy ones that most people would think they're seeing more of than they would like. We don't throw fits about this when men go shirtless – it's just life, and a good reminder that we are not, as a society, very fit – so why make a big deal about it for women?

To answer the last part of your question, no I don't think the way we relate to each other would change a great deal just because some women might go topless from time to time. We can always hope that sexuality and gender won't be so political tomorrow, or the next day, but it's really up to us to stop playing games, or fighting with, each other about it. Clothing taboos are only a small part of this.

Answer 4

This is a good question and topic for discussion. I was looking at some pix of the Solstice Parade in Fremont, Seattle where people ride in body paint and nothing else. This is accepted, but if they were not painted it would not be. Curious!
I think society still has a long way to go to accept female toplessness, but it will come eventually.
As a male, I appreciate the female form, but feel sorry for other men who just treat women as sex objects.

Answer 5

Women do go topless in European countries at the beach and pool.The only men who gawk are american men because they are not used to it. While vacationing at a resort last summer where 90 percent of the vacationers were European I noticed that there is no staring at the topless women. Only we Americans stared. I ended up going topless twice that week and it felt very liberating. I loved being in the ocean without my top on and laying in the sun topless. I think if it were the norm here I would definitely do it.

Answer 6

I'd love to be able to go around completely naked. Women don't go topless in public because it can be view as indecent. Because the breast (the nipple especially) have been so sexualities it would be a distraction for others. Because of ****, strip clubs, the over-sexualization of people in their younger years, and the emphasis on bigger breast/implants, women's breast have become a highly ****** thing.

Because breast are a sexual symbol, many cultures feel that it is decent and proper to cover them.

In some cultures, it is normal for a woman to go topless. It is all in how the society views woman and sex.

Answer 7

I think we're looking at it from the wrong angle. I think guys should be required to cover up like women. I don't like seeing guys shirtless because either they look fantastic and I blush and can't concentrate and nearly crash the car, or they look awful and I feel sick. I'm sure it would be the same for guys if women went topless. I haven't got used to seeing men topless because I really like men's torsos; the only men who would get used to it are men who aren't into breasts that much.

Answer 8

God created a woman complete like the Planet Earth in all respects.A new born after having learnt the meaning of motherhood wants to get connected to the creator that is the mother.Not only in human beings but in every speci the breasts or the mothers nipples, are the source to connect the new born,who has uncorrupted religious knwoledge of god , with their God that is thee woman.A woman for me is complete temple of God and HER BREASTS my first prayer after being born.
After the birth of human religions the woman was considered lower and She like the earth used and exploited for physical pleasures.Sex in all piousty and divinity is a mode for handing over life to life and not a way to exploit and be used.Realization of this LOVE-BOND which is defined by God men and women will enjoy this relationship with utmost satisfaction like a prayer.It is the choice of the woman to be the way she wants to be and it is for the man to realize that without the brests he would have ceased to exist after being born.I am a man and in divine relationship with this planet and the woman who is a representative of a true GOD.Love [e-mail]

Answer 9

In Canada it is legal for a woman to walk around topless mf! They odd women do on occasion but its not nice to see in unappropriate places like at a shopping mall; or when walking downtown with your family! Keep it for the beach our backyard!!

Answer 10

A respectable question, Ma'am. However, women, (including feminists) forget, equality isn't always about laws. It is about nature. This topic is a perfect example. Both men and women have breasts, of course, but they are no way equal.

A woman's breasts is greatly linked to her sexuality. First, a woman's breasts developes as she sexually matures. In fact, their are products that can enlarge a woman's breasts by reactivating the hormones which were in effect durring her puberty. On of which is 'Blousant', I believe.

Also, a woman's breasts are effected durring sexual arrousal. When a woman is sexually excited, her nipples errect. Of course , this can also happen in cold temperatures. This does not occur with men. A man's breasts are not effected durring sexual arrousal.

If I may continue, imagine the social dangers that would develop if women were allowed topless. As you may know, pedaphilia is only increasing in the US. The child-pornography industry earns, and estimated, 3 Billion a year, (if I recall correctly). Imagine if girls 13-17 were allowed to be topless. Pedaphiles would be allowed to stare at topless girls all day without being in danger of sexual charges.

Think of sports. Imaging your daughter being required to play on the "no-shirts" team durring PE when playing 2-hand-touch football. This would be reasonable if a woman's breasts were considered no different than a man's.

Proving sexual harrasment would only increase in difficulty. If society, with time, viewed a woman's breasts as not different than a man's, (and ignored their sexuality) then the touching and fondling of them could not be considered sexual harrasment. At that point, the groping of a woman's breasts would be considered no more sexual than touching her shoulder. Which could be considered sexual harrasment, but not without stressfull evidence and testimony to coincide.

In continuance, constantly exposing men to bare breast's does NOT pacify the sensation. Women have been topless in the UK beaches and pools for decades. Yet, the UK is still the worlds headquarters for models and beauty. If constantly seeing woman topless/nude pacified all sexual desires, why is the UK still making billions from the beauty of women? Shouldn't the business has crashed by now?

I am aware women want equality. However, women shouldn't be looking for equality, but in stead, equity. We need to realize men and woman are different, but should not allow these GOD given differences to be used to undermine one another.