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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129 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.
The humorous side of me says whatever. The pragmatist says God only knows what women will be victimized by next if that were to happen.
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)