To really hate seeing bare chested men in the street?

[Beamsss]

It doesn't matter if they're in good shape or not, in fact they very well formed ones almost make it worse. It's not about whether it's nice to look at or not, but it feels uncomfortable, whether subconcious or not, it seems designed to demonstrate male dominance and is all a bit chest beating, like gorillas in the zoo!

if its to demnstrate dominance, its not working!

I saw a woman walking through a city centre in a strong bikini top and a pair of eyewateringly small shorts on one of the hottest days. She had the body and the looks to pull it off but it did look really weird on the main shopping street. But yeah, not illegal.

I think the phrase " its just a torso, dont look if you dont like it" could happily come home to roost on this thread too. Your discomfort is your problem.

I'm not sure if I've ever found it intimidating, although I can definitely see that, but I hate it. I think becuase it so casually flaunts the basic social code that says everyone should cover their chest and genitals.

I don't particularly love the super super tiny shorts/tops etc for women either but the difference is that they ARE wearing clothes. Yes, they're taking it right up to the line perhaps, but technically they are wearing them. While shirtless men are just saying a full blown "Fuck you. I'll do what I like" which I hate.

I really don't see a bare chest as 'an expression of dominance' and neither do I think a male chest is 'repulsive'.

Obviously you're allowed to hate seeing it but I don't think the fact that you don't like seeing it is any reason for it not to be allowed. People don't have to conform to your personal preferences.

There are so, so many threads on Mumsnet where people basically complain that they have to look at other human bodies that they don't find personally pleasing. Right now we've got threads where people are furious about:

• Having to see girls wearing skimpy shorts
• People revealing their toes by wearing sandals in the office
• The OP's own husband daring to wander round in his pants in his own home
• Men taking shirts off in 35C heat
• Neighbours and their friends 'prancing round in bikinis' in their own gardens

Also in recent weeks and months we've had people complaining about:

• Sleeveless tops and 'not wanting to see people's armpits'
• Bikinis in leisure centre pools because people 'don't want to see that'
• Scrunch-bum leggings and crop tops in gyms
• An OP's husband wearing a workout vest to the gym instead of a t-shirt

But honestly, so what if you don't like seeing certain types or parts of bodies? Other people aren't there to look a certain way for you and other people aren't responsible for your personal feelings of discomfort at the sight of certain body parts.

There is a massive double standard, by convention, regarding men being topless and women being topless, which is annoying, but probably not one we can reasonably solve, so in a society where men's chests are considered non-sexual by convention, it isn't remotely reasonable to insist that they cover up.

It's completely unnecessary and tacky. In hot countries men don't walk around tops off, they wear appropriate fabrics for the temperature.

'Vomit-inducing'

Grow up, ffs

But your point was that women can wear what they want and men are being policed by this thread. But I sustained that as the law can and has prosecuted women for toplessness whereas men take it for granted that they can be fully topless that’s not the case.

The most recent publicly reported case of a woman being charged in the UK for toplessness‑related conduct is March 2026, when Tia Billinger (Bonnie Blue) was charged with outraging public decency for mimicking a sex act while topless in London.

Welcome to the modern world of entitlement, where if someone doesn’t like it, then it should be cancelled or banned or the person doing it is morally dysfunctional or scum or a traitor.

Its never bothered me.
Neither has half naked women.

In the heat we have had i dont blame them.

I think at work or in settings such as shops etc, shirt on – if you're walking your dog, in a park or walking out, then shirt off is no problem.

It wasn’t illegal because the bikini was a top. Toplessness means nipples out.

Quite. She wasn't arrested just for being topless was she?

If she covered her nipples it’s supposed to be OK
but women have been arrested for going topless when men haven’t in the same environment.
There are few convictions because women just don’t do it in such vast numbers

Meanwhile there is no requirement for men to cover their nipples

I think it’s a bit of a class thing because men who work in he office don’t walk around bare chested. Men with manual jobs are more likely to do this and it it is a reflection of an open society where people can dress like this.

An interesting (if lightweight) article here about he psycology of it, and the links to ascerong Alpha Male status.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.gq.com.au/health/wellness/theres-a-scientific-reason-your-mate-cant-resist-taking-his-shirt-off-in-public/news-story/0c30042135598abaaf0c514d88f9ec88%3famp

I don’t find it intimidating, but it is uncouth and I don’t like it.

I would normally have said my dad had fairly good manners but this was something he did a lot of and I did find it really embarrassing.

There is a massive double standard, by convention, regarding men being topless and women being topless, which is annoying, but probably not one we can reasonably solve, so in a society where men's chests are considered non-sexual by convention, it isn't remotely reasonable to insist that they cover up.

Female breasts are a secondary sex characteristic, whereas men’s breasts are not. That’s biological fact, not convention. That’s why there’s the difference..

But women have been

I'm allowed a personal opinion. Yes?

Me either, but it wouldn't bother me. Not walking about. I think tops shoukd be worn on sift seating to help absorb some of the sweat, but that's all.

Of course you are, but vomit inducing is pretty childish & judgemental.

When? Nudity, including full nudity, male or female is not illegal in Uk unless it is with "intent to cause alarm, harassment, or distress."

I'm not suggesting bare chests should be illegal, only pointing out that, IMO, it is another casual way men assert dominance.

Meh, women get their butts (and increasingly their genitals) out and men don't, what's the difference?

Either its fine to have a different set of rules for men and women or it isnt. If it is, then each sex decides for themselves what to bare.

But I'm afraid it does indeed make me feel sick. I'm sorry if that offends you. Seeing ass cracks also makes me feel sick, so if that makes me judgemental so be it