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Womens rights - going topless in public

55 replies

Newusernameaug · 17/01/2023 18:42

I’m sorry if I don’t articulate this particularly well, but I’m feeling increasingly angry that as women we’re forced to wear something covering our nipples when men don’t as I feel it’s constantly reaffirming sexism.

I wild swim and sauna a lot. When I’m cold water wild swimming I genuinely can’t undo a bikini top as my hands are obviously so cold, so have to swim in pull on / off tops. I go naked when somewhere isolated, but often swim in more public places.
In the sauna this week I wore a bikini with metal rings on the back (where the straps join) and it was burning my back.

I feel that if women were just allowed to be topless as and when they wanted to, like men can, (but obviously not inappropriately) it would dispel this mystery and allure around breasts and would help men to see us as all shapes and sizes.

However I’m not sure if I’m being extreme? I’m really angry about our rights being eroded at present and somehow can see this is linked but can’t articulate it.

I guess I’m just wondering if others feel this way too? I’m not saying I want to walk round topless, but as an example, having travelled a fair bit I’m fully aware other in other countries women can enter saunas topless or naked and no one bat an eyelid.
why are we so repressed in the UK?

OP posts:
KinkyMom · 17/01/2023 19:18

I don't know. I used to feel like that but then I went to a pride parade where there were lots of trans "men" that were top less and it made me really uncomfortable. My niece who was 9 at the time witnessed it and was very distressed. This parade was supposed to be family friendly and was advertised as such. We left immediately of course. And I realized then that though there are many reasonable people can distinguish between what is appropriate and what is not many can't and will try to push the boundaries beyond what is reasonable. That is why I gave up on this.

DdraigGoch · 17/01/2023 19:10

There's definitely a double standard. I'd gladly apply the same rules all around, whether you're male or female. Beaches, parks, saunas, swimming pools you should be able to go topless if the men are. In shops, on trains, walking down the High Street etc. then frankly no one wants to see the men topless either.

KittyCrush · 17/01/2023 19:07

It's legal to go out in public without a top or even legal, can't quite remember the term but it's something like 'as long as you don't cause distress' whatever that means.

There are plenty of naked ramblers, topless open water swimming seems fine?

Guess saunas are within a business premises and they'll have a level of dress code although you could claim its sexist I guess.

Hoardasurass · 17/01/2023 18:58

@Newusernameaug if your hands (and presumably your body) are so cold that you can't undo a bikini top then you are at risk of hypothermia and should be wearing a wetsuit not swimming in a bikini or naked

ChaToilLeam · 17/01/2023 18:46

I live in a country where nude saunas are the norm (mixed too) and there are plenty of areas available for nude sunbathing and swimming.

It doesn’t make any difference. Sexism is as rife as ever.