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Support Topless Women
You Have the Right to Remain Topless! I believe women must have equal rights as men. How come men can go around topless without a cop stopping them while women can't? Unless, you live in New York. It's a little known fact that NY state is one of the very few places in the US where women can legally be top free (anywhere that a man can). We can change the law, but the cultural half of the equation is much more challenging to change.Photographer Jordan Matter defends womens’ rights to take the streets half-naked. For the past two years, he has been shooting 100 portraits of topless women in New York City's streets, restaurants and parks. Matter is also part of a project called "Topfree Equal Rights Association." TERA works to encourage women to walk around topless. In his own words:
"Challenging this inequity between the sexes is the purpose of my work. There has been a recent shift in America towards a socially conservative philosophy, so right after Janet Jackson's breast was exposed at the Super Bowl, I started asking women to appear topless in New York City. [Uncovered: Busting Out in the Big Apple] is a collection of photographs featuring bare-breasted women in public around NYC, often presented with interviews exploring the issues of body image and sexuality in America today. The informal and humorous nature of these images celebrates women without sexualizing or objectifying them, while creating the illusion of a tolerant world in which shirtless women go casually about their lives. Uncovered represents just one aspect of what America could look like if we were free of shame and liberated from moral judgment."
Many of the photos are paired with a personal statement by the subject that gives it context, which add to the power of the images. Even better are the thoughts shared by the women who have been photographed. I thought it might Not be Safe For Work [NSFW] to post the images here, so I uploaded them to Flickr.
Here is the photoset for your viewing pleasure. You can also see the photoset in detailed view. I also didn't link to the official website of the photographer before the NSFW warning because it contains nudity. Same goes for the official website of TERA. Not everyone lives in New York.
Please let us know your first thoughts by commenting here. If you choose to view the images, you can also comment on individual photographs on Flickr.
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137 thoughts:
Forgot to add.. if women want to go around topless, I think they should be able to. After all, we are nothing but mammals!
Or as Mason Cooley [NSFW] says:
"In the city, nudity means something. In the wild, it just exists."
For the United States, top-free states include not only New York but also Hawaii, Maine, Ohio, and Texas. Even though it's legal, police have the right to arrest for misconduct.
In Canada, sex equality is an amendment to the Canadian Constitution. Yet, there's still opposition there.
Many European nations allow being topless for beaches and pools where it would seem appropriate.
For God's sake, they're only mammary glands. Why should an obese 500 pound man be allowed to go about topless with his massive torso but not women? Women should have the right to be topless.
For the United States, top-free states include not only New York but also Hawaii, Maine, Ohio, and Texas. Even though it's legal, police have the right to arrest for misconduct.
In Canada, sex equality is an amendment to the Canadian Constitution. Yet, there's still opposition there.
Many European nations allow being topless for beaches and pools where it would seem appropriate.
For God's sake, they're only mammary glands. Why should an obese 500 pound man be allowed to go about topless with his massive chest but not women? Women should have the right to be topless.
Women used to be happily topless in Kerala, India just 60 years ago until the British with their Victorian eyes banished that practice.
i support this idea but dont know whether it will be appropriate for kids or not.
This has been a pet peeve of mind for years. I can't believe it finally has some traction, but I am pleased lots of other folks apparently realize the absurdity.
It's clearly discrimatory, and is not a moral issue, unless one takes the ridiculous position that morality for men and women is different?!
Mandating dress codes for grown women? Really, it makes as much sense as prohibiting Vans or requiring nylon underwear. Where the hell does government get off regulating this kind of stuff?
Breast exposure, like chest exposure, is self-limiting. Sometimes it's distracting, but that is true for both men AND women. Distracting shouldn't be preferentially illegal for one sex.
Hi Ilker that's a good idea. I don't see why not. You have it here in Spain at the beach and no problem. We look but we don't go blind because of it. You get used to it and it is fair. In summer we go around half naked and they don't.
Lol, Ilker! This is another great post. You are right.
In Romania girls go around topless at the beach or swimming pool, and no one seems to mind. In Germany... even tanga is a no-no.I think people worry too much about the wrong issues! Partial nudity is not a problem!
Whether it is appropriate for kids? Please! Kids know women's breasts better than anyone else!
I feel it will not be appropriate with the current mind-set that the people across the world have. There is no doubt that both man and woman are equal. But this practice may enhance crimes related to women, especially the sexual abuse.
I live in NY, and I had no idea that I have the right to go topless, but that doesn't mean that I will. Feelings and attitudes surrounding the female breast are so mixed up, and I have a hard time believing that those peope who would object to me nursing my 20-month-old in public (which I don't) would openly embrace my decision to walk around topless sans baby. People say "equal rights," that breasts are simply "mammary glands," yet woman are often looked down upon or even asked to leave a public facility simply for breastfeeding. And you all are all of a sudden saying, "Take off your shirt!" Ilker, in your post you used the phrase, "for your viewing pleasure," which totally gave me the wrong impression, that perhaps you were making us all privy to some free peep show. I know that wasn't your intention, but that's the way it came off as sounding. I just don't think this idea will be accepted in the US until the sexual stigma can be separated from the true nature of the female breasts. But when it can be, then perhaps I'll take off my shirt as well.
@Mig: Thank you. If you didn't make that comment about kids, I was going to.
@Melissa: I think the problem is due to what Sonja [NSFW] describes as:
"The reason men are so obsessed with breasts is because they never got to see them. In Europe, breasts are definitely admired and liked by men too, but they're not obsessed with them. I think that if men were more exposed to them on a regular basis, it would take away this obsession."
Currently living in Europe, I can agree with that bit.
Also, I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression there Melissa.. I use that phrase whenever I upload a photoset on Flick. I think of photography in terms of an art.
Though I agree that women should be allowed to go around topless if they want, I find pretty senseless saying that it's the same as topless men.
you know it isn't. it simply isn't. it's a culture thing.
First, I support women's freedom to dress however they want. I would love it if people could become more mature and accepting of their bodies.
But Melissa said "I just don't think this idea will be accepted in the US until the sexual stigma can be separated from the true nature of the female breasts." Certainly breasts do serve to feed babies. But what I'm afraid Melissa and some of us are not appreciating is that human breasts do biologically function to be sexually attractive to men. You can see this from men's natural reactions, but also in the way that the mammary gland of most animals normally only swell when they are lactating and how human breasts have extra amounts of fat to make them larger and stay big longer than the glands inside them really require just to nurse.
And I don't want to belabor the sexual aspect, but a contributing factor involves how humans can have sex face to face, instead of just from behind, which is much more emotionally and socially connecting than the acts of animals. I think it just makes human lovers so much friendlier to each other, and I think it has really advanced the kindness of the species. I wouldn't call it a "sexual stigma", except that sex itself is stigmatized in American society (from its roots with the Puritans).
Jordan Matter is one of my favorite photographers for that exact reason! Other cool artists/groups to check out for pro-nude work are Spencer Tunick and the Body Freedom Collaborative.
It is also a little known fact that during the 80s, there were a series of arrests made for BREASTFEEDING in public, so much so that there is a lawyer who has devoted her career to making sure that breastfeeding women can get justice in court. The most ridiculous things happen here...
I can't say I am going to argue.
So how long until some pseudo-celebrity gets free publicity by showing up topless in New York?
First off I would like to say, I absolutely "love" the images and the portrayal of woman in these images. All though I was a bit taken aback by that comment regarding "for your viewing pleasure" (as stated in another post) I gave you the benefit of the doubt and I am glad I did. :)
I like the idea of woman being equal but do I really think that will ever happen in our society? No! Even though, as a woman, I feel we should be equal we are not. I honestly don't think we will ever be equal; that is just part of who we are as a society. It sucks, but it is true.
Even if we were truly equal, I wouldn't necessarily want to go around topless. But that has too do more with my self image and less with rights. I think there is a time and a place. Does a woman really "need" to run around topless, na, it really isn't "more comfortable". It would be nice if you are at a pool or the beach to be able to go topless and sun without having to worry about whether or not you are going to receive a ticket for public nudity.
Or even being able to breastfeed without having to worry whether the other breast is showing or not. I know when I was breastfeeding, I didn't give two hoots who saw it. I was more concerned with feeding my child than other people. It is a shame that "feeding" your child in public is such a problem. I mean really, are we too sit at home just because we have a child. No and I don't think we should have to go "hide" just because it may make someone uncomfortable. That is their issue not ours.
All in all, thank you for this look into woman and issues regarding women. You have done a great job!
Can we allow motorboating in public too? pleaseeeeeeeeee
In Ontario, Canada the courts have ruled that it is legal for women to go topless in public unless they do it for a commercial purpose.
My only concern would be traffic accidents due to ogling.
On the serious side:
I personally think that women and men both should be able to walk around topless and/or bottomless if they should so choose. Breasts (thingies), vaginas (hoo hoos), and penises (willies) are natural, functioning, beautiful parts of the beautiful human body that, if you tend to be religious, were given to us by God. The only thing that holds our society back from something like that is the stigma attached to these parts. But that is the problem: our society has been for so many years browbeaten with the notion that sex is dirty and therefore any body parts associated with sex are dirty and shameful as well. In our society, words like "shameful" and "obscene" are used to describe an instance where a certain singer's breast pops out and a witch hunt ensues, yet, we criticize another country for their views against a woman not being completely covered from head to toe in public. None of this will be solved by a simple march or attempts to sway political happenings; there will always be too much opposition. This will only happen slowly, over time, a little bit at a time, changing society's views and the views of the opposition themselves. Unfortunately, I believe this is a long ways off.
On the not so serious side: I think we should not only support and encourage going topless, but I, and I'm pretty sure I could get a lot of others to join in, am willing to give financial incentive personally to each woman I meet that decides to go topless.
Ay yi yi - I laughed at the title and then wondered when I got the email: Is that a man or a woman in the pic on the left?
I bet you support topless women!
;-)
While holidaying in France two years ago, my brother was told by the police to put his shirt on - otherwise he'd be fined on the spot. So while femmes are trying to get their tops off without getting hassled by the authorities, one thought should be sent to the poor french police force which can't even bear looking at male tits. Equal rights? Yes, please.
"Nas said...
In Ontario, Canada the courts have ruled that it is legal for women to go topless in public unless they do it for a commercial purpose."
Yeah, and what did the big stink they raised get them?? NOTHING. Nobody goes topless now.
this is a matter of more of values or culture as elders put it... its not about rights... its all about social ethics... however one problem is that it isnt comfortable to walk around topless with something like 300 shameless men staring at your mammary glands like they'v never seen em before... wats worse even old men do it in india... iv had to glare off such old men on the street when i caught them staring at my sis or one of my girl friends... god how cheap these chaps are... anyways... i think its a good thing this jordan has taken on but even if he does manage to convince those bigwigs up there, he still has to convince all the girls whov been brought up in the conservative model. another thing is that women i think wouldn't be really comfortable walking around topless just as much as a man 500 pounds overweight. well thats my 2cents...
The photographer is talentless!
Hi... I'm another Melissa-- Ilker, you know my fiance, Justin.
As a female member of society, I agree-- it is not fair for the double standard to exist. However, I would go to the other extreme (which in fact, I have) and say that rather than women going topless, men should always wear a top, the same as women are supposed to (when in public-- I don't care about their bedroom).
Now, I have a good reason. While the earth was created as a sinless environment, Adam and Eve messed up majorly, in the first few days! They didn't even have a kid before they messed up. Anyway, having eaten of the forbidden tree, they realized they were naked, covered their nakedness, and they were ashamed. I don't imagine they were ashamed of seeing each other-- they'd seen it all already! I would imagine that their reason for covering, is because now they had a REASON to be ashamed, and the sinfulness of their action was the ultimate sin they could commit. They were booted from the garden of Eden, and GOD put clothing on them. Who am I to go against God's actions? There are many verses in the Bible referencing modesty and being properly covered, and it is not simply a "modern social construction" that we wear clothing on top and bottom. God implemented this "construction" back when there were only two people around to implement it with.
I'm told (by Justin) that you try to keep things on your blog as being "non-religious" so I apologize for not following that trend. However, I feel that the very nature of the idea is religious in origin-- when you get right down to it. So, as a Christian, I base my beliefs on what the Bible tells me is right. But, I happen to know that there are rules in almost every other mainstream religion, and they are either as "narrow minded" or more so than Christianity is.
@Melissa: I agree with your first paragraph.
Sorry, didn't read the second.
For the third: I think it's a culture thing.. if we mix faith in this, there is no way out. I'm assuming Ceteris Paribus (all other things constant).
And finally, yes. No religious discussions on my blog please. I will delete others of the same nature.
I will forever support topless women :)
Not to sound like a total pig though I agree that the double standard shouldn't exist. But, it can't be changed over night. It's the society we've grown up in that for some reason sees anything natural as disgusting.
Men and women aren't the same.
The sight of a topless woman is immediately arousind to a man.
Not so the other way around.
That's why there are two standards.
Why should women be oppressed because men can't control their hormones?
That spiel from the photographer about his battle against sexual inequalities and such is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to get some feminist backside waving in front of his semi-erect self, and to get some hench pictures of boobies and so forth.
Sorry for cynicism, but i'll bet you any money that no matter how much sanctimonious nonsense he'll spout, the motives are undeniably far baser.
Ta.
I'll be happy to support them provided only that they don't need too much support.
Your readers have plenty to say on the subject! Maybe you should create a topless blog too? ;)
Seems elementary---It should be a woman's choice.
(Having been to nude/topless beaches, I can understand why clothes were invented.)
Heh... there's an article on this, and the whole inequality thing, over in the Op-Ed section of The Everyman's Critic.
Funny that a lot of people see it the same way.
yes I started a comment here and it turned into a post!!!
Honestly? I have been waiting for a little over twenty years for the pleasure of walking down the street topless!
I loved this post, I love the campaign to go topless wherever men can. I mean come on have you seen some of these shirtless dudes? Some of them have breasts bigger than I do so what's the big hey?
I'd have left my support on the flikr pages but cant seem to remember my password :(
Hazel.
Anonymous said...
Men and women aren't the same.
The sight of a topless woman is immediately arousind to a man.
Not so the other way around.
That's why there are two standards.
xxxx
I totally disagree. I find topless men in decent shape to be very attractive, and I don't know a heterosexual or even bi woman for that matter who wouldn't agree with me.
Actually, I think you'll find that it's the covering up that makes men so especially fascinated by breasts. Many cultures don't require women to cover their breasts such as in many indigenous tribes; they also do not attribute the same sexual importance to breasts that we do in western societies.
Also remember than in cultures where women cover completely (ie. Burkhas) all kinds of body parts are sexualised... like ankles!
In the same way that society programs women to cover their breasts, men are programed to respond to them the way they do.
You can't claim women are the victims and men the villains!
http://maryannaville.blogspot.com/2007/03/us-discrimination-at-its-best-ilker.html
This is how it really woiks, Ilker.
I grew up where nudity wasn't anything big, both my parents are European. I've seen both my father and mother naked while growing up. My father is from Greece and we would go to Greece during the summers and the beaches are topless there. I don't think that people would be so uptight if it wasn't such a taboo, being topless or naked is not about sex and having sex, it is not immoral or sinful, it's our bodies, it is what GOD gave us, so why shouldn't we be able to walk around topless. This country was founded on Puritan values and that everything is a sin. I think it is liberating to be allowed to walk around topless and the pictures were absolutely beautiful. There was nothing sleezy or immoral about them. I hope more states allow for women to go topless and then for more women to actually go topless. I know I would. I support topless women!
Wikipedia has a list that says where it is or isn't legal to be top free: TopFreedom [NSFW]
umm..
where are the pictures?
Men's nipples serve no purpose. I believe a good point was made that men are aroused by the breasts of a female (of course, to each his own..). That would be a valid reason why modern society would reject the idea of topless females.
Would you want your g/f going around topless? I'd probably get p.o.ed
However, since the breasts aren't explicitly a sexual organ in the sense that they don't aid in the reproductive cycle, there really should be no reason why it is "indecent exposure" for women to have that part of their body exposed.
Hypocrisy at its greatest. You say topless women are OK, then you further support the idea that topless pics of women are NSFW..... Make up your mind.
Reasons we can't allow topless women in public:
1. Adam & Eve broke the law in the garden of Eden, which effectively ruined everything for everyone (including beautiful nudity)
2. You've gotta take the bad with the good. Star Jones, Rikki Lake, etc...
3. The bio/mechanical/techno - industrial complex would shut down instantly.
4. Women would (exlusively) rule the world.
5. Nipple Sunburn.
I had no idea that breasts were typically so ugly. I'm all for running around topless just as a man is, but sometimes you don't want to see it... just like it is with men.
you have to realize that if girls went around with their tops off they will be objectified by most men, cause most men look at or watch pornography frequently. and porn teaches you that woman are not people but things. i'm not saying that they shouldnt go topless, but just to think about everything not just one little part.
"Hypocrisy at its greatest. You say topless women are OK, then you further support the idea that topless pics of women are NSFW..... Make up your mind."
He's saying it "should" be okay. That doesn't change the fact that many of his readers would probably be fired or penalized for viewing nude material at work. Try some common sense before attempting big words like hypocrisy.
1. I should be illegal for men to around toppless.
2. How many men do you see with breast augmentation? There is a difference!
A NSFW tag isn't hypocrisy, it's warning that if you look at this while at work, you may get in shit.
It's basically what this is all about, making boobs 'SFW'.
Did you even read the article?
The reason women can't walk around without shirts on is because they don't want to. Just because a small minority of "liberated women" want to leave the house without a shirt doesn't mean they all feel that way. Woman make of over half of the voting population; if they wanted to go topless, they would easily have the votes. Not to mention all the guys that would supposedly go along with it. Most women don't feel oppressed that they can't show their chest in public and until they do, nothing will change.
I would be interested to see a pole that asked women the following questions:
1. Do you think women should be allowed to walk around topless?
2. Would you walk around topless if allowed to do so?
I feel like a lot more women might say yes to the first question, but I would be very surprised if many would say yes to the second.
I am all for democracy and if women voted to be allowed to go topless I would support it. I don't, however, think that many women want to. Maybe the fight should not be to get equality, but to convince woman that going topless is in their best interest.
It used to be legal in Ashland, OR. But not any more...too many people from CA moving up here. Why do people feel breasts are the devils dumplings? There is enough body shame already, humans are beautiful! They give life to children and pleasure to adults. Stop being sexist! Let em loose Girls!
I can look at a beautiful woman in a business suit or otherwise and not get aroused, but this would not be so easy were she topless. As much as I would like for our society to be in a place where these things aren't problematic, were not. Is this really a serious issue, or are people doing this for the sake of doing this? Sort of like rioters after a raiders game in Oakland, they don't really care about the game, they just like rioting...
You so totally got Dugg. ;)
We are the United States of America and topless women would go directly against our culture. Please think about the children instead of yourselves for once.
if women walk around topless, boobies will lose their novelty. i will thus become sad.
@Ken: Thank you for clarifying that.
load of shit, i don't want saggy women, keep your tops on those tits are your husbands
Oy... wow, I have a blogger account apparently... *shrug*
Anyway, the religious people need to take a few chill pills - it's religion that makes this an issue at all. It's the expectation that men will misbehave that gives them license to do just that. And for anyone that's keeping tabs, women rent more porn then men do.
Anyway, just my half a cent. If I had anything real to say i'd probably blog it somewhere with a real text editor. :)
When i hear this statement, "What about the children?" in this matter, I often think:
What about the children? What about the message that the fact that womens bodies, (clearly the most beautiful thing ever created), should be hidden. Do people ever think about the identity and sexuality issues brought about by self-loathing, and the general malaise of the current trend in conservatism?
Has anyone asked what effect this has on children?
It's a lump of skin. It's not a gun. And many would argue that's the problem. We encourage consumption of violent material, but shy away from our basic humanity.
What kind of progress can we truly report to all of those who have sacrificed their lives for our safety and freedom. How about you ask those people what they think?
Support topless women? Sure.
I think if men started to see boobs that are not in a magazine their hormones would be put in check real quick. Bras enhance the appearance
of boobs and most men fail to realize this.
On the subject of hormones, men have no control over them. I think its a question of controlling actions. A womans creditability is lost when she complains about men and their hormones. I work with many women and they transform once a month. So much for controlling actions.
So yea, go topless.
I'll not go into the topless or not debate,but I must say that I really like your work very much for succesfully illustrating your belief.Some of the photos are just great.
From a Dutch guy living in the Netherlands:
Why would you want to walk around topless everywhere? First of all lets get things straight: men and women are NOT equal. Men get aroused from breasts more than women get aroused from male chest. If you look sexy, be prepared for consequences. I definitely not approve on this but doing so increases the chance you get raped by some lunatic(s) (i think you can measure this :p). Walking around topless or with only 5 inches of fabric on your body just shows your disrespect towards men (unless approval by some low educated teenage boy is your good enough for you, duh men like breasts)
The problem is the large amount of immature people in the world. You can'd deny the men are attracted to breasts either...
I bet this issue is addressed more by the men than the women. I think the blog is also by a men as well as the photographer in the article. What my question is that when women are not talking about this, why are men so interested? Ah ha…..thought so…. "Men want to take the strip clubs to the streets". It has always been men who control women in whatever way possible. Before women were not able to work now they can. Women were not able to wear short clothes now they can. Now we are trying to get the women half naked on the streets by the logic that if men can why can't women. All these are our manipulations to fulfill our desires.
The logic is vague. Men can do illegal, indecent or illicit staff it doesn't give them the right to carry it on nor does that can be the base to measure equality between men and women saying that “oh! Men are doing that illegal or illicit thing so should the women for the “equality’s” sake”. Intellectually, equality should be that nobody should be allowed to do illegal, indecent or illicit act either men or women and this should be the bases of equality.
My questions as a man to you all who support this is can you start with you family members: your mom, sisters, wife or daughter if you men consider yourselves even nobler than women?
In Ontario, Canada, women are allowed to go topless, all thanks to a very attractive University of Guelph student with a habit of walking around downtown topless a few years ago. Fantastic!!
Yep its time that we consider br***ts as normal things..Perhaps toplessness can be a big problem for adult film industry too
I bet this issue is addressed more by the men than the women. I think the blog is also by a men as well as the photographer in the article. What my question is that when women are not talking about this, why are men so interested? Ah ha…..thought so…. "Men want to take the strip clubs to the streets". It has always been men who control women in whatever way possible. Before women were not able to work now they can. Women were not able to wear short clothes now they can. Now we are trying to get the women half naked on the streets by the logic that if men can why can't women. All these are our manipulations to fulfill our desires.
The logic is vague. Men can do illegal, indecent or illicit staff it doesn't give them the right to carry it on nor does that can be the base to measure equality between men and women saying that “oh! Men are doing that illegal or illicit thing so should the women for the “equality’s” sake”. Intellectually, equality should be that nobody should be allowed to do illegal, indecent or illicit act either men or women and this should be the bases of equality.
My questions as a man to you all who support this is can you start with you family members: your mom, sisters, wife or daughter if you men consider yourselves even nobler than women?
======================
Oh yeah! I defnitly agree with you! It seems that men only support this for their own pleasure. Maybe if this keep going on, maybe one day we start to support naked woman as well because they suppose to have "equal rights" as us! Haha, so if we support topless woman, maybe we should let our wife, our sisters, our daughters all walk around topless and one day, naked as well! Maybe we should all get naked and start acting like animals! Because animals are different from us for they don't really have a brain unlike us but since everybody supports walking around topless without any shame or moral, let act like animals shall we?
Haha, you guys are damn retarded for that. If you want gender equality, I would say that men are required to keep their shirts on.
"so if we support topless woman, maybe we should let our wife, our sisters, our daughters all walk around topless and one day, naked as well!"
- Yes.. if they are breast-feeding their baby, why not?
"Maybe we should all get naked and start acting like animals!"
- No.. you are being silly now.
"If you want gender equality, I would say that men are required to keep their shirts on."
- You totally missed the point.
Looks like I'm going against the majority of posters here, but I as long as people can't be nude in public I don't think women should be topless in public. The simple fact of the matter is that in American culture breasts are considered sexual organs. They should be covered in public just the same as any other sexual organ.
And calling this a discrimination issue is absolutly rediculous. No one is trying to subjugate women by making them wear shirts, its just a simple and obvious BIOLOGICAL difference. As long as the culture considers breasts sexual (which by the way, most smaller cultures don't) there's nothing you can do about it.
Conservative thinking, religious thinking and prudes are all what ruin free speech, artistic expression and nudity for the sake of nudity!
For those who argue topless women might cause more traffic accidents, here is how topless women help slow down traffic in Denmark [NSFW].
All women should definitely be able to walk around topless ...
If women were allowed to go around topless my imagination would have 90% more time to ummm ummm iam not sure what it would do with all that extra time.javascript:void(0)
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Boulder, CO it is legal to go around topless. Actually, it pretty normal to walk around on the Pearl Street outside mall and see random women without shirts on during the summer. Also - we have a naked bike run every year! And I'm pretty sure that's not entirely legal. But it's a yearly thing that the cops never do anything about. :) I'm all for it.
And yet, as a male in the United States of Femerica, if you're caught pissing in public you can be charged as a Sex Offender!
They also want to let all women out of prison in the US!
only the hot chicks
The country of the freedom?? In Spain the nudism is legal, it is only ilegal if you do obscene acts and ther are minors watching
"so if we support topless woman, maybe we should let our wife, our sisters, our daughters all walk around topless and one day, naked as well!"
- Yes.. if they are breast-feeding their baby, why not?
"Maybe we should all get naked and start acting like animals!"
- No.. you are being silly now.
"If you want gender equality, I would say that men are required to keep their shirts on."
- You totally missed the point.
================
Hehe, of course if they are breast feeding. But to walk around topless for other reasons, that's different.
And no, I am not being silly because that is where all of these new rights seems to be going.
And yes... I am missing the point on the last part so... forget I said that.
And... conservative thinking is a bad thing as well? Personally, I think there are good things and bad things in all the things we choose so there are good things that comes from conservative thinking and good things that comes from liberal thinking and this is one of the bad thing from the liberal thinkiers.
I agree. Women should probably start registering for Selective Service too.
The only people wondering why this is are ugly women looking for the satisfaction that comes from the self righteous indignation when someone ogles or poses some innuendo them being topless, and horny undersexed men who just want to see boobs and fantasize the only boobs they would see if women walked around topless are the pretty perky ones.
Anyone else with half their brain intact realizes that with all the ills in the world this is the last place to go to right real wrongs.
"Just because you let your brain fall out doesn't mean you were being open minded."
We are beings with reason, but reason often is delayed until well after reaction. I found myself thinking, topless women everywhere will cause needless distraction and misunderstandings. This from someone who looks at Muslim customs of public female concealment (due to mens' lack of discipline) as unfair. It is disturbing to see the difference as just one of degree.
I agree with this blog post and the whole topless belief. But women, i'm not sure you would feel comfortable with guys starin at your tits while you are walking down the street
More power to these (brave) women, to challenge these irrational and retarded taboos. By doing so, they make the world a more beautiful, more interesting, and most importantly, more free, place to live in.
I challenge all women to at some point to do this, and I challenge all men to grow up, get use to it, and clap for them and cheer them on, rather than oogle or stare or make some purile come on comment. Instead, take your own shirt off to show your support and solidarity for these women.
When it becomes an ordinary thing, it won't be extraordinary anymore, and the ones who will be the odd ones out will not be the barechested ones, but the ones who take notice of such things.
Go suffragettes! ANARCHY-TV.COM SUPPORTS YOU ~ einstein
I Came.
Four words, people: Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction.
Until you people stop crying out your disgust over that, this will never gain positive support. If it does then you're all hypocrites.
I'm totally for womens rights but come on. This topic is soooo dumb. As much as id love to see breasts everywhere I went its just not appropriate... period.
Needs moar pooper
PLEASE, bosom lovers, let us keep the mystery. Most women look better dressed, as anyone who's been to a topless beach can testify. Barbie Doll topless is a different creature than Rosie O'Donnell topless.
You use too many commas. Learn how to use them properly.
Well, yes, women should be entitled to walk around naked. Yes, they should. They should also do it in the winter, so it wouldn't be hypocritical of them. Wearing clothes is not an obligation, it's a privilege/favour/one of those things that separate us from "just mammals".
As a woman, i wouldn't run around town naked. Because i want my husband to enjoy something, some part of intimacy that nobody else has access to. Ok, so breasts aren't sexual organs, so what, you are trying to say that they do not "stir things up", or better said, they do not cause errections? That it's normal for a woman to walk topless? Ok, then so it may be for you. But don't frown when a 90 yo female sits next to your table at a classy restaurant. There's ups and downs, come to think of it.
The right to privacy, to intimacy, is something that i would never give up, for anything in the world.
Oh, and one more thing:
"How come men can go around topless without a cop stopping them while women can't?"
Just about how many rapes have you heard being suffered by men? And even if there were such cases, the ration to the ones inflicted upon women would be a disastrous 1 to 10000.
So think beyond the "oh, it's cool, it's freedom". Think about what you would be giving up. It's not rules, it's not an obligation, it's a part of yourself.
How come men can go around topless without a cop stopping them while women can't?
oh God*
Bore me a River!!
Sex Sells always has always will*
;PPPPPP
Yep! A valid point raised. Logically correct thing. But socially not correct!
Topless? Let's all get NAKED!
I had no idea that women could go topless in new york city.You learn something new everyday.
Steven Wilson
This is not about forcing women to go topfree, it's about giving them the choice. If 99.9% decide to keep their tops on, fine, so long as they have the same option as men. I have never wanted to walk down 5th avenue without a shirt, but it is nice to know that as a man I could if I wanted to.
Those who argue religion, a) topless is not nude. b) check out any Christian naturist site and you will find there is nothing in Christianity against simple nudity.
As for men loosing control because they are so attracted to breasts, the same argument was made about womens legs, and navels, and many other body parts over the years. They where all wrong. If there is any proof of increase in sex crimes in areas where going topless is common, I would like to hear it. And the part of the body men are most attracted to, universally across all cultures is the face, so maybe the Muslims have it right with veils.
Think about the kids. Most studies show that children who grow up seeing non-sexual nudity grow up with a attitude towards the body, sex, and the opposite gender. It also breaks the cycle of shame about the body. Even those kids not exposed to to nudity until latter (anything pre puberty) get some benefits. Kids adapt quickly. So, yes, please think of the kids.
for over a year i have been saying that women should be allowed to walk around topless without fear of being arrested for indecent exposure if men can do it why cant we? i am very happy that im not the only one that thinks this way.
I think women might exercise some reason, were it made legal. No one would walk around topless in a situation where one might get raped. Isn't this about giving women the option, for those hot days where women might want to sunbathe in the park with their tops off?
Lets not blow this into some distorted view of a topless city. God, some one mentioned it happening in a restaurant! As if!
I read most of the comments and from what I read so far, people questionned what was set normal for our society, our culture. Religion as clearly ruined that for many of us.
If topless women get legal in most countries where breast is seen has something sexual, people have to be ready to change their views and their attitude toward breast. I bet anything that men would approve of topless women for their own satisfaction while never changing their attitude. We wear clothes and we have problems with them because apparently "women are provocative".
I know that how people see things is their own problem but when it comes to agressions, rape, incest and all those kinds of sexual disorders... I wonder if topless, for both men and women, is a good thing. But then I ask myself "Does it even has something do to with being topless?", "Would legal topless women would increase agressions, would it give another reason for criminals to abuse of a woman?". And to all my questions, I don't really have an answer.
For the places in the world where it is normal to have topless women, I don't think they really question themselves about agressions being caused by women partly naked but for a culture that never was ok with nudity in public places, I'm afraid it would have a bad impact on the wrong minds, not only for the women but for the children too.
I think women being topless will not lead to more aggression in modern societies. That is exactly what the Arabic culture argues of women's hair, ankles and sometimes even the skin!
It is a matter of time before men change their mentality over obsessing women's breasts and accept to see them just like any other body part.
As for children, I have to agree with Mig. "Whether it is appropriate for kids? Please! Kids know women's breasts better than anyone else!"
(The arabic situation is another story, much more complicated, if you asked me...but yes, it's quite crazy there!)
I don't know. I wonder how bad it could have been if I was topless when my uncle molested me. Or if he was bottomless or something. Would it made me more ashamed of my body? People will not stop to live because of victims of different problems in the society but there are repercussions for every thing. People already show a lot of their body nowadays, and for bad purpose, that I wonder where their dignity have gone.
And for the children thing, I was not saying that they would be "scared" of breast. If the men and women can be partly nude, then why not the kids, right (other then pool and beaches)? That's what I was saying when I said I was afraid for the children.
But who knows, if we didn't try it, we'll never know how it would work out. Although some cities in America already has the law for topless women and apparently most of them don't really care because they're not confortable being topless in public. I'd say that we should let women decide whether or not it should be something legal or if it is really a matter of rights. It seems like it is but I guess the law was made because we, in America , normally see the breast as something sexual, which men don't have. If they walk bottomless, they would get arrested just like any women. Perhaps it's a question of perceptions? I would be interested to know how many men in America think the breast is not something sexual but see it like it really is; made for breastfeeding (even tho a lot of women encourages the image of breast being sexual).
Also, I would be interested to see a poll for women about this debate. They will probably say yes that women should also have the right to be topless for the sake of women's rights but most of them will probably not feel confortable walking their dog while being topless, talking with their neighbor.
If you google breast obsession, you will find one of the leading reasons certain men can not seem to control their drool around cleavage has to do with not having a chance to see breasts in their natural habitat while growing up. IE exposure to young mothers breast feeding in public, regularly. Covering them up adds to their mystery, revealing them eventually will bust that mystery and perhaps allow men and women to get over their mammory and genital differences long enough to save the planet, develop free energy, cure cancer etc.
I support this cause. However I would get very blushed if I accidentally touched a women breast while talking with her.
Imagine if while asking for an address you turn your arm to point "over there?" and accidentally touch the Lady's breast. Of course it might not be anything, but the cultural embarrassment would be strong for me :)
I asked a lot of women and men in my entourage about this debate and they both disagree. People should remain dressed in public places, pediod. One of the main reason being hygiene. I don't tolerate boobies of a sweaty 300 lbs men slapping in my face during the summer when the bus is fully loaded, I wouldn't tolerate either from a woman. And topless in a restaurant?! Talk with a cook and he'd tell you why there's strict laws about hygiene in restaurants. I know most of them because my sister is a cook and I would be disgust to eat in a restaurant with topless people.
I think there's a minority of women who wants to be topless in public places and from what I saw over the years, we don't make a law for minorities.
In my opinion, topless women is a fake "problem" related to women rights. Working women, vote for women, equal salaries were real problems we had to do something about(and still have to do something about it around the world unfortunatly). I don't see how wearing a top can opress a women, neither a man. That's why I believe both individuals should be dressed in public places.
If you asked a lot of people, they don't tolerate men being topless... Clothes were invented for a reason and not only to "hide" the body...
Re: appropriateness for kids. I wouldn't hesitate to let my kids see me looking at the photo set. I don't think they'd even think twice about it. Granted, they are young, 5, 3, 3, 1, but they love to be naked and I hope they don't lose that.
I totally agree! women should have the same rights as men, we were born naked after all. (Not that I would have the guts to walk around topless!)
x
(great blog by the way)
Well it is done. I went through the "Topless Women" collection and posted my comments on the ones that moved me and made me think the most. It saddens me that this is not just the way things are already. I often find myself wondering what it is like to see such things from the eyes of someone who didn't grow up with it. To be in the shoes of those who get excited that they get to see breasts. We live in a horrible broken world but (to quote Einstein) the problems cannot be fixed by those who created them. We face a hard road ahead of us as so much has been set aside to "be dealt with later". I think if you look around as so many of us have done, you will see we don't have allot of time to deal with the issues left for us by those who came before us. So when it comes to simple things like this we shouldn't be wasting our time debating weather it is right or wrong and look at what is natural and unnatural. Being naked is natural for all being alike, sharing opinions, ideas, thoughts, and contemplating existence is natural. Our emotions, our LIFE, our death is all natural. Most of our food, the restrictions we set on ourselves and others, the forcing of our opinions, beliefs and religions on other people is all very unnatural. Genocide, war, pollution, weapons and all sorts of things we do, tolerate, and accept are unnatural. Breathe the lives that drink you in, stand up for all that is natural, and stand up to all that is not. If you read my words I thank you for your time and hope you don't think it was a waste of time. I would also like to give personal thanks to spell checker, without it I am sure allot of my thoughts and opinions I am sure would sound quite immature and uneducated.
The topless project is awesome. Lots of beauty there, young and old. We all need to just get over it! This similar thinking to what I discuss on my blog.
""We are the United States of America and topless women would go directly against our culture. Please think about the children instead of yourselves for once""
you're saying it's okay for children to suck on boobs for food but not to see them? hhmmmm.
Why should freedoms of anyone be restricted, they have this freedom in europe! Why not here?
Very interesting, but I've never seen women topless on the streets in NYC...
absurd thought -
God of the Universe cares
what women wear
on this microbe called Earth
a matter most important
.
Hate to say it but this is just gonna increase sex related crimes. Too many people with pent-up perversions walking around. Especially in NY. Although I guess it would work where there are lots of people around.
They should be also also allowed to have sex in the broadway.
Humans are animals, living, breathing, creatures. We keep trying to take the nature out of ourselves but that is what we are and there is nothing wrong with that. The human body should be WORSHIPPED!!!!!!
I believe that women have the absolute right to be topless just as men do. I agree with the fact that because we men dont see breast often many of us become obsessed with them, they're just a body part! Its also been proven that womens breasts are healthier when they dont wear a top because the lymph fluids and toxins build up and cause things like cancers. It might take a little time to get used to but female toplessness is a part of western culture that could and should be changed. It will change the way women's breasts are viewed and eventually show only the natural part of them.
men and women must be civilised,why they think to go to stone and cave age
I was raised in a conservative, christian family, and came to believe that nudity was equal to sex, and that sex was bad. As a young boy, it was always a huge turn-on to see glimpses of skin, whenever a girl or woman intended to be covered up, such as accidental up-skirts, down-blouses, etc. It was a game of trying to see what was forbidden.
In college I majored in Art, taking part in Life Drawing classes with completely nude models; male and female. I was at first surprised that it wasn't arrousing or sexual in anyway. It immediately seemed perfectly natural and normal. There was no shame or guilt associated with it.
I don't think anyone needs to promote the public toplessness of women... Just have the government say that there are no laws against it, so we can get on with more important matters.
I am truely embarrassed for the U.S. that the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" was such a controversy. Everyone that was offended needs to grow up!
The problem is that u guys care about the issue. Support an issue if u want and in my opinion as long as there is no there is no violation, injury or any the obvious violations. In other words you shouldn't really care if any one is topless, naked or whatever. Not much different from racist or homophones. Why should you care?
P.S
to any one who comments about men not having any control over there hormones but I'm a man and I'm in perfect control of my self and the women i know talk about gay porn all the time (not that i listen to the whole thing before walking away) more then any of the guys i know. Most of the emphasis on male perverts is a tad exaggerated
F.Y.I: I knew those women since elementary so do not question where i met them. And they do have normal lives and Honest jobs
My neighbor, a man, mows his lawn sans shirt, and he has those enormous man boobs. His boobs are bigger than mine....
umm... I'm for this equal rights stuff
and all but if u look a the stuff that u see before this when u search "topless" it kinda demonstrates the ignorance some ppl talked about in this.
We live in Ohio and my wife exercises her right to go topless on the beach all of the time. We go boating and she goes topless with or without other couples on our boat. The way we see it is they are just breasts. There have been a few ladies that have decided to try it when out with my wife and have loved sunbathing topfree.
I am a women's rights supporter and absolutely believe it is a WOMAN'S choice to go braless, or topless, just like men.
bras are harmful to a woman's breast health anyway. Click on my URL
I do not understand nudity laws. Why is the human body in proper places considered a crime if natural? I can understand it in places that require clothing for sanitary reasons, and some other places. In parts of the world that are more normal about unclothed humans there is not the strange reactions to it like there in in the USA, and the strangely conservative States in particular. Should one feel uncomfortable in their own bodies based on the strange thinking that has passed from generation to generation?
How can anyone charge a topless female with a substituted crime where it is not illegal to go topless anywhere, and not charge buff topless men with the same? Or should we charge women in summer clothes the same as with topless ones? Why aren't more cities, and other organizations that harrass topless people receiving class action lawsuit notifications. I guess I just don't understand all the big deal about our bodies, outselves.
I think that in order for this debate about increasing sex crimes to end, someone needs to do a study in order to see if it is true or not. Personally, my hunch is that sex crimes would actually go DOWN from more women being topless, as it would take away the mystique associated with forbidden body parts. Perverts are born from being overly sheltered from natural things, so by taking that shelter away, the problem will also decrease.
i dont understand what's so facinating about being topless? clothes bring modesty and respect in the eyes of others, otherwise there's not difference between you and animals? and when some man tries to take advantage of them , they start whining about their womanhood. you white people are just like pigs, animals roam around naked , have sex with anyone you want, you don't eve bother to ask their names as long as they are "fuckable".
They should force men with man boobs to cover them up...
God never meant for breasts to be cooped up in a bra, bikini, or anything like that.
I think a woman has the right to be topless everywhere a man has the right to be topless. There are certain places with dress codes where no one is allowed to be topless. Thankfully aussies and kiwis have understood this.
The link to the photoset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38505124@N00/sets/72157594585236666/) says I need permission to view it
I think that women should be allowed to go topless when it is appropriate for them to do so. If they are sunbathing on a sunny beach and they want to get a perfect tan this would be alright. But walking down the main street in the U.S. or Canada will just attract the wrong attention to them. We have to face the fact that we are just not ready to accept beautiful women baring their breasts in public for all of mankind to see with all kinds of thoughts going through their mind.
I truly do not and have never seen the issue. I can remember as a young child wondering why the girls had to wear shirts or swin tops and the boys didn't. I live in New York where that battle was fought and won by seven enlightened ladies in Rochester 20 years ago but still most women I talk to don't have a clue it is their right. If they do they have apprehensions about exercising that right. I remember seeing (last year) a billboard ad I believe for a health care plan showing a neck to waist torso shot of a man and women standing next to each other. The man standing frontwards and the women not. My first thought was what's wrong with this picture? What kind of message is it senting? I ask you: what is the moral fiber of a society where a family gathers around a table for a meal and a mother feels obligated to excuse herself to the restroom to feed her child. If you are searching for a definition of obscene that's it on more levels that I can count. I'm not sure where or how this country aquired it breast phobia but I think I have the cure. Let's pick a nice warm day in August and all pledge whatever our mission or goal is no one will be wearing a shirt. I guarantee within 10 minutes you'll be wondering what the big deal ever was.
how comes on family guy they show men without. shirts on and playing with their nipples such as peter griffin but its illeagal for louis to do that. and one any other tv show men are topless but not women. men live in this world too and we dont want to see men topless were not gay. and thats why tv are losing people to the internet.
To the Melissa's and others - you can read any thing into or out of the Bible. You could write a single story using the Bible. Lot tried to sell his daughters and then had sex with them. So do not use the Bible as what we should be judge by.
I support that women should dress how ever they want.
A mother should be able to nurse her child where ever, the bathroom is the dirtest place. Mothers in other parts of the wruld nurse much later then here in the USA.
Countries have lost their way. When propriety and decorum are gone what's left? A sick world where anything goes.
What do you think? Post your thoughts..