Aside from men being horny in the 1800s, and this being a holdover since that time, is there any actual reason why this hasn’t changed?

If society was dominated by women, would this be more likely to change?

I was sweating my ass off hiking in the hot sun, and the question has been bothering me all day after my top soaked through with sweat.

    • Chromebby@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      ^Real answer. It’s not just men, you’d definitely get stared at by everybody lol. It’s not bad but I notice a few stares here and there just going without a bra

      • stray@pawb.social
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        2 months ago

        That’s only because it’s unusual though. If more people did it, people would stop noticing.

    • NKBTN@feddit.uk
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      2 months ago

      A few women I’ve asked are happy with it being illegal - they say they just don’t want to see it. I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who wants it to stay illegal, because for the most part they do want to see it

  • MoonManKipper@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    They also don’t want to be photographed and end up with their tits all over social media. Places where this used to be routine (European beaches and so on) there is a lot less of this than 30 years ago. Another thing mobiles phones and social media have made worse

  • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 months ago

    In my experience (as a trans woman who has experienced both sides of this coin), I can no longer get away with being topless in most situations. However, I can get away with wearing less in more situations. It’s acceptable for me to wear a short cut, sleeveless tank top or boob tube in situations where it would be difficult for a guy to wear a singlet or other sleeveless top.

    • Norah (pup/it/she)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 months ago

      I am personally very upset that on some specific day during my transition, it was no longer acceptable for me to be shirtless in public. During summer I get consent from visitors to my house, and have my housemates consent, so go shirtless at home.

  • birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 months ago

    Vice versa, they can’t wear skirts for hot days, but gals can.

    The answer is imho, holdovers from more sexist days, and a general attitude of not wanting to be seen as effeminate/photographed by creeps.

    Even though guys have been wearing kilts for many years, in various cultures; and there’s AI slop now anyway that keeps 'em busy instead.

    Iirc it’s also allowed in some countries. Naturism is bigger in them.

    • Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      As a man who owns multiple kilts I can confirm there will be some assholes that have something to say.

      On the other hand, those encounters have been outweighed by the compliments and enthusiasm I’ve also gotten.

      All that said, I say just do you. Haters gonna hate, people will judge. Stop caring about those people and live Your life.

    • Jhuskindle@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Huge difference between not wearing a skirt because someone might make ofun of you and not being able to be topless because legally you can be registered as a sex offender. gtfo.

  • Global_Liberty@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    In much of Europe and North America, female toplessness is legal. As for why women don’t take advantage of it when exercising, breast movement varies from annoyance to uncomfortable and throwing off momentum depending upon size. As a result, many women exercise wearing what is most convenient: a sports-bra top. However, concerns about harassment are sadly valid.

    Women are the majority of voting age adults, but they aren’t a homogeneous group voting exclusively on gender. 45% of women voted for Trump in 2024.

    As a male who exercises in high heat on occasion (35-38c), I have never once thought that I’d rather be naked. I wear breathable, light colored clothing. I also wear a top. Sun burns aren’t healthy.

    • volvoxvsmarla@sopuli.xyz
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      2 months ago

      breast movement varies from annoyance to uncomfortable

      As a teenager and young woman, not being able to find a good super supportive sports bra for my weird size was one of the reasons I stopped trying to exercise.

      I still hold my boobs automatically when taking the stairs or when I run somewhere. Otherwise it hurts and feels like my breasts are being torn away from my body.

  • observes_depths@aussie.zone
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    2 months ago

    For what it’s worth I think it’s kinda weird for other guys to not wear a shirt in public, like dude what are you doing, put your shirt on.

    • TheMadBeagle@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      Honestly I hate this take, saying everyone should have a to cover up to me is just was weird as saying one group should have to. There is literally no explanation you can give for this position that isn’t a personal problem you should get over.

      • Pup Biru@aussie.zone
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        2 months ago

        it’s the same kind of statement as saying that, for example, politicians should wear suits… we tend to have expectations that everyone is dressed to a similar level for the context they’re in. in public, that expectation tends to include a shirt of some kind. shirtless is a similar level of “should have to” as arriving at work or a party dressed too casually

        • stray@pawb.social
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          2 months ago

          But the idea of politicians needing to wear suits is arbitrary too. Why keep meaningless standards? Something should have to be causing an actual problem to not be allowed.

      • observes_depths@aussie.zone
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        2 months ago

        I get what you’re saying. I also think society is too sensitive about nudity in general. I’m certainly not saying men should be fined for not wearing a shirt, it’s just my perspective. At the beach or pool is normal, but not just out on the street. Anyway I was only trying to say I don’t think stardards between men and women are so different in this particular case. Well I mean standards are definitely different, but (laws aside) not black and white different.

    • dom@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      There’s also been a rise in swim shirts for boys and men. Which I see as a positive. Especially when it comes to sun exposure

    • deathbird@mander.xyz
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      2 months ago

      Yeah, basically agree. And if parity is the goal I’d rather see men cover up a little more.

  • Anomnomnomaly@lemmy.org
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    2 months ago

    In some countries you can, I believe Canada is one of them… at least I believe it’s legal to do so in Toronto.

      • BCsven@lemmy.ca
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        2 months ago

        Vancouver area: Wreck Beach and the South part of Crescent Beach are probably only some places where you would see women with no tops, because they also have no bottoms on.

  • floo@retrolemmy.com
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    2 months ago

    Women fought hard for topless equality in New York City, and achieved it decades ago.

    It is perfectly legal for women and men to go topless in New York City as long as it is not for “sexual purposes“ such as outdoor sex dances or something like that I guess.

    You mostly see it at parks and beaches when women are sunning themselves.

    • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.zip
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      When I was living in Seattle legal nudity was one of the big perks for me! On hot days I’d go around topless, completely nude sometimes, it was amazing. I am trans so the main concern was from phobes periodically trying to threaten me, and on a couple occasions where I was being a bit more wild with things like waving trans flags around while nude I’d have police called on me. They couldn’t ever do anything about it though no indecency here officer

  • otp@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    I live in Ontario, Canada, where it’s perfectly legal for women to be topless.

    I’ve never actually seen anyone exercise that right (at least in person), but it’s a right.

    • RoquetteQueen@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Legally it’s allowed but socially it isn’t. We can’t go topless without being endlessly harassed and probably assaulted. It was bad enough when I walked home with my bikini top after going swimming.

      • otp@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        I can’t argue that one bit.

        I’m sorry men are so stupid. (I’m presuming it’s men)

    • daggermoon@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I think everyone should be allowed to go shirtless. They ain’t hurting nobody. Also, I would if I had a fit body to show off.

      • Today@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Everyone should be allowed to, but i also wish they wouldn’t. Not a fan of nipples in public.

        • GiorgioPerlasca@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          This is precisely why I choose to travel to countries where, for either cultural or climatic reasons, it is customary to have more skin covered.

        • pryncypalki@szmer.info
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          Why are people so obsessed with nipples. They are not particularly different from other body parts

  • dingus@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    So I get that socially in most places it is not acceptable for women to go totally topless. We can argue about double standards, but I’ll let other people do that.

    What I actually have noticed is that nowadays in a lot of Western cultures, women can get away with just wearing just a bra with no shirt in public. No, it’s still not being totally topless, but it is a lot better heat-wise than wearing both a bra and then a shirt on top. Just it can’t be like lingerie, but more like a sports bra or something. I’ve done it when heading into a shop after going for a run and not gotten any complains. I see others just occasionally walking around in something a sports bra when it’s hot out, not even relating to intense exercise. Try it.

    • Zahille7@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Pretty much anywhere you’ll see people who exercise where their workout clothes around town for a bit. I live in the Midwest which gets stupidly humid in the summer, and I’ve seen plenty of women around with sports bras or something similar (like a workout crop or something). It’s just another thing, like when people wear those tiny running shorts.

      Although one time at work I did witness a very old leathery man come into the store I worked at in his running attire. Let me tell you, his shorts were like speedos how short they were, and they were TIGHT. Like you saw everything and it was all being pushed forward too, so it made it look like he had this ridiculous bulge.

    • Jhuskindle@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      No, it’s ILLEGAL for them to go topless. Literally sex offender registry illegal. In the US in most places.

  • tetris11@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    The enlightened masses constitute a percentage of the total population far lower than you’d think

  • Flickerby@lemmy.zip
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    2 months ago

    There are quite a lot of places where women can go topless. They just choose not to.