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Topless men versus topless women
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“Gotopless.org claims the constitutional right of women to go topless in public in the name of gender equality.” Rael who is the founder of gotopless.org stated “as long as men can be topless, constitutionally women should have the same right, or men should also be forced to wear something hiding their chest."
Go Topless day, which is August 23, was a huge success this year. Women all over America participated this year by going topless and protesting in their city. The reason go topless day is on August 23 is because that is the day that congress declared “Women’s Equality Day.” GoTopless plans to have a large nationwide rally in 2010 in honor of the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
GoTopless explains on their web-site that they are helping both men and women with their struggle. They are “helping women perceive their breasts as noble, natural parts of their anatomy (whether they are nursing or not). Breasts shouldn’t have to be “modestly” or shamefully hidden from public view any more than arms, legs or feet.” GoTopless clarifies on helping men by stating “helping men differentiate between nudity and sexuality. If the presence of a topless woman in public triggers a sexual impulse, it can easily be controlled in the same way men control themselves when they see a woman wearing a mini skirt or revealing ample cleavage. Men manage to appreciate these things while still showing respect! Choosing consciousness above hormones leads to a peaceful, respectful society providing additional freedom and beauty.”
In 1986 a woman represented herself in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and won a court victory stating that the District of Columbia nudity law didn’t apply to any body part but genitals. Ever since that case District of Columbia has been legally female top-free. In Ontario Canada it is also legal for women to be topless.
In 1998 three women were arrested in Moscow, Idaho for not wearing shirts on a hot day. The following is a paraphrase of the judge and how he ruled in their favor, “(1) the existing local ordinance dealing with indecency was too vague, (2) that there was a state law banning the public exposure of genitals, but chests are not genitals, and (3) even if they were, he could not enforce such a law because it would be blatantly discriminatory.”
After a 1992 ruling, New York is the only state where women can be topless legally. The majority of the population agrees that women should have the right to be topfree. Many supporters explain that breasts are just body parts and technically they are not genitals. I recently asked a fellow examiner Linda Gruno about the topic and this is what she had to say:
“I believe that women can't go topless because most people, and most police departments, unwittingly assume it is illegal. I guess it is probably illegal in some places. I also think it has something to do with the titillating (no pun intended) way that men view women's breasts. I don't know if that is just sort of misogynistic or stems from thinking with the small head instead of the big one. Unfortunately, when women do go topless, especially young women, it does tend to cause a scene in many places. This is a reflection of our society's puritanica viewpoints."
"When you think about it, there is no reason that men should be allowed to go topless in many situations, whereas, in the same situations, women are not allowed to. I believe it is sexual discrimination on a different level."
"I don't believe that women's breasts are any more indecent than men's breasts. Especially, when you think about some of the fatty boys have bigger tits than many women. Yet, they can throw off their shirts to sunbathe, play sports, walk around in the heat and a myriad of other situations where women can't.”
“I don't think that a lot of women would choose to go topless in most places. But I do believe that women would like to have the right to do so and not be hassled, oogled, or cited for indecency. Most of all, for me, the bothersome point of this topless debate is that women don't have the right to go topless. Whether many would, or not, is an entirely different discussion. It really shouldn't be a big deal, but it is something that has irritated me since I was in high school in the early seventies."
"Next August, on Go Topless Day, I will make a point to remove my shirt in some outdoor public setting, as a statement of freedom and solidarity. I will be 54 by then and I am sure I don't have breasts that would excite anyone. Some might even say the thought of a woman my age, sans top, is disgusting. Maybe so. But I want to have the right to do this. For me, it has been a long time coming.”
For more info: Gotopless.org
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