AIBU?
To ask about gender inequality in relation to nipple censorship?
Nighthogs · 06/04/2021 16:14
In 2021, in a time of so much advancement in so many areas of life, I'm here to talk about the nipple. It really sounds utterly ridiculous to even have to bring this topic up - but I feel it necessary.
Yes, I know that over the past one hundred plus years, women's nipples have been sexualised, fetishised and seen as crude/lewd/indecent in public. However, I've looked online and I can't seem to see a justification as to why men are allowed to parade down their local High Street and nip into their local Tesco with their nipples out if a woman can't? Similarly, If my boyfriend posted a topless picture on Instagram, it would be seen as normal. If I did so, it would be banned.
I know I'm probably asking an age old question, but I can't helping feeling angry at the inequality of it, and feel that it's still not talked about nearly enough.
Anyone care to discuss?
Tommika · 06/04/2021 16:38
I don’t think that it is acceptable for a man to walk into a shop topless, and in many places I notice signs going up in the summer such as ‘no shirt, no service’.
In the High street I also don’t think it’s suitable.
I don’t want to be seeing naked breasts & nipples in general, but there can be suitable places such as on the beach, or for a woman to be able to feed a baby. (That doesn’t even need them to be out on display)
Though I’m no prude, I like breasts & nipples - but I don’t need to see them all of the time
Women’s breasts & nipples have a taboo factor, but they are perfectly natural. In other societies they are just another part of the body.
ComtesseDeSpair · 06/04/2021 17:09
You answered your own question really. Women’s breasts and nipples are seen as sexual, whereas men’s aren’t.
I think we only tolerate men going shirtless in contexts like the high street rather than celebrate it, it’s definitely seen as a bit crude amongst pretty much all the men and women I know to go shirtless anywhere except e.g. the beach or the park on a sunny day. And you can certainly challenge people’s expectations and policing of female sexuality: I happily sunbathe topless in the park, the beach or my garden and I’d take up a discussion about appropriate context and definitions of offensive (whilst remaining topless) with anyone who expressed a negative opinion. Honestly, I think if you want things to change, you have to be part of that change and get your nipples out.
Tommika · 06/04/2021 18:31
@CounsellorTroi
I’d still say the primary is to feed, the secondary is attraction based on the potential to have good prospects to continue the line
Nature didn’t add breasts initially for attraction, and they aren’t always ‘showing at their best’ to attract a mate prior to conception
GhostCurry · 06/04/2021 18:57
@Happycat1212
Agree. The answer is for men to carry on wearing shirts anywhere except the beach or while horizontal in a sunny park.
The thing is, women generally cover up less on beaches than men. A bikini or even a one-piece overall shows more skin than a pair of shorts, which is what is generally considered acceptable swimwear for men these days. So I can’t really get worked up about it.
The truth is that male and female nipples are different. Male nipples are generally smaller, flatter and less mobile. Female nipples are larger, they are functional/working, they are often more sensitive (and therefore erogenous), and - if mine are anything to go by - if they’re uncovered, they’re bouncing all over the damn place.
malmi · 06/04/2021 19:00
There is no law against women baring breasts. It's just taboo, more so than men baring their chests. This is because they are secondary sexual characteristics which evolved to be permanently "engorged" (as opposed to only when full of milk as with other primates) when humans started walking upright. I think it's a good discussion to have and it would be fine to break the taboo down but let's not pretend that there's no reason for it being taboo in the first place.
Givemeabreak88 · 06/04/2021 19:19
But men don’t get harassed or gawped at if they are topless in the same way women would. I can’t imagine many feeling comfortable with that unless they were doing it for attention. Reminds me of the time a woman was walking around Tesco’s with a skirt that didn’t cover her bum (not those shorts, an actual skirt) her bum was hanging out the bottom and all the men literally had their eyes hanging out of their heads , can’t imagine many women liking that attention but I guess some might enjoy it.
OunceOfFlounce · 06/04/2021 19:26
I think it's wrong women's breasts are sexualised but I don't think women getting them out would solve that.
I never really trust 'free the nipple' campaigns as they always feature young, attractive women. Would we feel comfortable encouraging 15 year old girls to go topless in the streets? I kind of wonder if effective "de-sexualisation" would probably start the other way around, with women not removing all their body hair, not wearing make-up etc, going around as themselves just like most men do. But that will never happen.
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