Organizers with the cheekily named “Equalititty” and GoTopless groups walked about with a simple proposition: In 2024, there isn’t a particularly good reason to bar women from taking their shirts off entirely in the summer heat wherever men are allowed to do the same.
The double standard of topless & male-presenting being ok but topless & female-presenting not being okay is confusing and pointless. The rule won't force anyone to go topless if they'd prefer not to. It just levels the playing field for everyone.
I've seen men with much bigger boobs than women proudly display them at every beach, lake and festival I've ever been to. Why is that ok but not ok for women? Nobody can give me a good answer that's not tied into some patriarchal, thought-terminating religious BS. Everyone should have the option to go topless, irrespective of chosen gender.
I'm all for a level playing field... but it's a complex issue. Beyond the basic: "it's hot out - free the tiddy!" There are some complexities that will arise from the resulting freedom.
Many women who want this still may get uncomfortable if people stare / check them out etc... While it is rude to give anyone a thorough look over - I imagine many women may become deeply offended or uncomfortable if this were to happen. Eyes up here may be expected but it cannot be demanded. Equality is just that.
What about incidental contact? Public transportation, festivals, busy spaces... I have, many times, had someone come in contact with my body in cases like these. If I have exposed skin it is possible it will get touched. Nobody enjoys getting touched or having their space invaded by others but there is a stark difference between this contact and sexual assault. Imagine how some of these occurances will play out from both perspectives.
Like it or not women's breasts have been sexualized and undoing that is a Herculean task. Regardless of where you stand on the topic there is collateral damage that can occur as a result of something that seems, on the surface, to be a simple change in law. I'm all for the change but everything gets messy in a hurry by just flipping that switch.
So there are lots of cultural and societal reasons that a woman won’t want to be topless in public. But it shouldn’t ALSO be a crime which is the point of this, right?
then wear a fucking bra/shirt. that's part of what they're for. I own several! but also, I don't always want to wear them, or care. do you understand what a "choice" is?
what about incidental contact
yeah, topless dudes on the train can be annoying. im sure topless women on the train would be almost as annoying. and don't care! also, have you heard of a "choice"?
undoing oversexualization is hard, so lets just not
shit, okay, you got me. too bad I need to either decide everyone must go topless, or nobody can, and we can't each choose from day to day. oh well.
then make it illegal for men to be topless wherever women can't be topless. making it illegal for women to be topless "for their own safety" and "to protect them from the evil men" is not based. the solution to men staring at women that wear or don't wear certain clothing is not to make it illegal, I hope we can agree on that