I am so bored of this "male gaze" point- as if all garments are designed with that in mind and the only reason for choosing anything other than 1984 style unisex overalls is because you are pandering to and pleasing men.
You might be bored of it but there is a point to it. It has to be judged in context based on things like, religious belief, cultures, race, place and time. Which of those examples oppresses in which way. It's not about wearing Unisex clothes. Unisex cloths can easily be oppressive by inhibiting those who love to be different. Which brings it down to context. It's meaning to the people who dictate the clothing.
As long as women still feel that they are being oppressed, the way we dress and present our selves to the world will be topic of conversation. Others will disagree and people might not depending on the woman and other issues surrounding them. The fact that her clothing is more topic of conversation, it shows what value it has to us as society. It might be because it's a very important subject or it could be an easy way of staying way form the more challenging issues.
My own understanding is that clothing, it's meaning and value is manifestation of who we are as a society. We project our views, ideologies and ideals on what we want to look like and come cross. As a collective, with similar ways of thinking it becomes social norms. Which are usually dictated and changed by strong personalities, power and characters among us. In this case, the patriarchal power dominates. We haven't got to the point of equality where we can say it's an equilibrium. So, anything that goes against the oppressed will be scrutinised by the oppress. The move will be dissected and debated. Just to make sure it's helping the course for the betterment of all.
And no, not the menz. They hold the power. Saying they are being objectified is meaningless because they do not lose value. The view of them does not change. We might think of them as show offs or other none vile words out that degrades them to the bottom of the human pyramid as the worst people.
However, for societies, they hold meaning that defines a woman's sexuality. Whether it's threatening or conforming to different types of women. From being a lady to slut, whore etc. That is why you have slut walk. the women feel they will be able to break down that barrier where clothing has no meaning on how a woman's sexuality is defined. Your cloths should not be used as a way of judging a woman promiscuity. Selecting those of marriageable kinds to those who are of easy access for sex and rape.
To society that loves boobs for sexual pleasure and not for feeding it's young, an underboob/ boobs / nipple is a big deal because it's projecting what is seen as sexual. We pixilate them for the fear it's sexual. Children cannot see them because they hold titillating value.
My grandmother walked topless and braless round the house and compound. She didn't think much of her breast as anything sexual. People who came to visit didn't care. By the way, she was not the only one. It was a cultural thing. They were just breast which fed her children. Part of her body like the arms and legs
I wonder why men's breast aren't pixilated? 🤔 let me guess!