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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that it is sexist to not allow women to go topless?

37 replies

Bookmonster345 · 31/07/2014 15:53

AIBU to think it is a bit sexist to not allow women to go topless at places like a beach and swimming pool, when men are allowed to? After all, the only difference is that we have excess fat underneath our nipples, FFs some men have that fat to!

OP posts:
ThatBloodyWoman · 31/07/2014 15:55

This will be an interesting thread!

JaneFonda · 31/07/2014 15:56

YANBU.

I can't understand why moobs are fine, but boobs are not.

Why are women's nipples sexualised, and men's aren't? Women's breasts produce milk, which is hardly sexy...!

UsedToBeShirley · 31/07/2014 15:58

I'd rather it if men were made to wear bikini tops actually. That would be hilare. Also think men should be banned from not wearing shirts when wandering around town and stuff. Put it away!

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 31/07/2014 16:01

Me too UTBS. I find moobs deeply disturbing especially when they're bigger than my tits.

Davsmum · 31/07/2014 16:02

Probably because men get turned on by womens breasts - but then, they get turned on by breasts in a bikini top anyway. Who knows?

The day may come when women are allowed to go topless. Women had to cover their bloody ankles in the not too far distant past.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 31/07/2014 16:02

I'm with UTBS. Chests of any gender are best kept under wraps.

Idontseeanyicegiants · 31/07/2014 16:03

I agree with UsedToBeShirley, it's only ever the men that should keep their tops on that tend to be the ones to take them off... Cover up the moobs and beer bellies!
In all seriousness though you're right, it is sexist.

Theherbofdeath · 31/07/2014 16:06

I'm with you, OP. A friend was told that her 2 year old daughter was not allowed in the pool at Centre Parks because the toddler was not wearing a swimming top, FGS.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 31/07/2014 16:07

They should wear these.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/488/405/439/439405488_824.jpg&imgrefurl=www.aliexpress.com/item/One-piece-Body-build-Matman-Mens-Wrestling-Singlet-Uniform-Athlete-Sportswear-Swimwear-Bodywear-for-Men/532114645.html&h=600&w=470&tbnid=CZLV-hpqBofBhM:&zoom=1&docid=YShVVlIhxWCiPM&hl=en-GB&ei=JVvaU-_uFqKy0QWnioHwCg&tbm=isch&client=ms-android-h3g-gb&ved=0CCEQMygEMAQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/488/405/439/439405488_824.jpg&imgrefurl=www.aliexpress.com/item/One-piece-Body-build-Matman-Mens-Wrestling-Singlet-Uniform-Athlete-Sportswear-Swimwear-Bodywear-for-Men/532114645.html&h=600&w=470&tbnid=CZLV-hpqBofBhM:&zoom=1&docid=YShVVlIhxWCiPM&hl=en-GB&ei=JVvaU-_uFqKy0QWnioHwCg&tbm=isch&client=ms-android-h3g-gb&ved=0CCEQMygEMAQ

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 31/07/2014 16:08

The menz not the little girls. Little girls would look silly in them

lettertoherms · 31/07/2014 16:08

YANBU.

And if any one sex should have to wear a top, it should be the men, as women have vaild reasons for having their breasts out.

So there.

FrankSaysNo · 31/07/2014 16:12

Show me the law where it says women cannot go topless if they so choose? You cant because there isn't. She can go bottomless too - but a man cant. Male genitalia are deemed to be indecent abut a womans aren't.

WatchingSeaMonkeys · 31/07/2014 16:13

I think you'd find that 99% of the male population would agree with you.

Why not do a "naked rambler" and wander round with your top off OP, I'm sure hundreds of other women will follow suit - if the bullshitting posts on here are anything to go by......

Or lobby your MP for the right to take your top off wherever you like - as far as I'm aware you can at the beach anyway??

RabidFairy · 31/07/2014 16:15

This.

Plasticpineapple · 31/07/2014 16:22

According to this you can be naked as long as you're not causing a breach of the peace or similar...

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8235959.stm

Interesting stuff here too

www.thesite.org/crime-and-safety/your-rights/nudity-9110.html

Rainbunny · 31/07/2014 16:23

Last year I stayed at a hotel in Vegas that had a regular outdoor pool and a second "European" pool - meaning women could go topless. When I passed by it I noted that there wasn't a single woman at that pool, but a fair number of men were there clearly hoping that some women would come along and give them an eyeful. So yeah, I can't see myself wanting to go topless, especially thesedays when pervs are likely to whip out their cellphones and start filing/taking pics.

I just read an article in The Guardian the other day about why french women are not going topless anymore. A lot of it has to do with how they feel women's breasts have become more sexualised than they used to be and they don't feel comfortable going topless as a result. Of course breasts have always been sexualised but I agree that in our current culture they are fetished in an almost pornographic way (hence people freaking out at the merest hint of boob on show by a breastfeeding mother.) Of course the fact that any leering male can whip out a cellphone to take pictures is very offputting as well. Hell, there have been cases of guys flying small drones with cameras attached to film girls in their bikinis at the beach here in the US.

Numanoid · 31/07/2014 17:15

YABU.

FloozeyLoozey · 31/07/2014 17:18

I'd prefer it if men weren't allowed to be topless either! I'm probably a bit of a prude!

Orangeanddemons · 31/07/2014 17:20

Alas I have excess fat above my nipples not below. I would fail the pencil test big time

iklboo · 31/07/2014 17:42

Pencil test? I'd fail the 'two litre bottle of coke' test!

WorraLiberty · 31/07/2014 17:44

YANBU OP

No-one died at the sight of nipples...either male or female.

WorraLiberty · 31/07/2014 17:46

When I passed by it I noted that there wasn't a single woman at that pool, but a fair number of men were there clearly hoping that some women would come along and give them an eyeful.

How was that clear? Confused

MrsBoldon · 31/07/2014 17:56

You can go topless if you want. No one's stopping you.

I go topless whenever I'm abroad as more people do it there. And the beaches aren't full of 'men hoping to catch an eyeful', beaches are full of men, women, children and families and no-one takes any notice of a pair of boobs.

Rainbunny · 31/07/2014 18:20

Worra - Er, because it's Vegas! World famous meat market. The European pool at this hotel is well known as places that allow topless sunbathing the States are a rarity, it's on the to-do list for guys partying in Vegas. Most of the guys eventually came over to the regular pool where the women were hanging out. Heard one large group of them complaining that there were no women willing to go over to the European pool and get topless. So I don't think I was making wild assumptions.

Theherbofdeath · 31/07/2014 19:07

I felt strongly about this and other such stuff when I was young. One time I did go for a walk in the country topless. Boyfriend was not comfortable, so after a while I put the top back on. Passed no-one, so my high principles were not properly tested. Would be good if women did this if they felt like it, though probably not good from a sunburn point of view.