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Boston.com readers – mostly male ones – said women should be allowed to go topless just like men
"What possible argument could there be for continuing to allow this double standard?”
As local activists and supporters of gender equality get ready for their planned topless march in Boston this Saturday, more than 1,400 Boston.com readers have made it clear where they stand on the issue: Women should be allowed to be topless whenever and wherever they want.
Well, at least the men think that.
Of the people who responded to our question about whether Massachusetts should change its laws on going topless, 73% of those who identified their gender were men. And among those who said that women should be allowed to go topless wherever men can — the clear winner with 69% of the vote — a whopping 85% identified as being of the male persuasion.
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So, in case you were wondering, men want women to take their shirts off. Color us surprised.
They did make some good arguments, though. “As a male, I don’t feel women should be forced to cover certain body parts to protect men from the male fetish for breasts. The breast is not inherently sexual!” JB from the North Shore wrote. “It is only the requirement to not show breasts that feeds the obsession for them.”
And the 15% of female respondents who agreed also felt strongly. “I cannot think of another law that is quite so blatantly sex discrimination as this,” said Christina M. of Jamaica Plain. “What possible argument could there be for continuing to allow this double standard?”
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Besides, “there’s no need to worry that this is going to lead to boobies out all the time — it’s too cold here to have them out that often,” wrote Heather S. from Somerville. “We just want to be able to take them out for some air and sun like our brothers.”
Interestingly, although also possibly not surprisingly, those who said men should be forced to cover up just like women were predominately female — 61%. “Men’s chests aren’t sexualized the same way, but look awful in public without a top on,” noted Randy Sue of Canton, and it’s hard to argue. Even some men agreed with that sentiment: “Who wants to see old man moobs?” asked Steve from Boston, presumably hypothetically.
That option was the least popular, though, with only 9% of respondents saying men should be forced to cover up. More than twice as many — 20% — said that things should stay just the way they are now. (With 66% of those with that opinion being male.)
“First off, it’s not a breast on men, it’s a pectoral muscle,” wrote “Newman,” who may or may not be some sort of physiologist. “It’s also not about equality, please! It’s common decent and appropriate behavior.”
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Meanwhile, Joe S. from South Boston may have had the most common-sense solution: “Just as out-of-shape women should clothe up, so should men. Those in shape should both be allowed to go topless!” We suspect Joe would be willing to volunteer for the panel making those determinations.
How should Massachusetts change its laws on going topless?
Women should be allowed to go topless wherever men can
71%
Men should have to cover up their chests in public, just like women
9%
No changes needed: Men should be allowed to go topless, and women, not
19%
Other
1%
Optional: How would you describe your gender?
Male
73%
Female
23%
Other
5%
See below for a sampling of what Boston.com readers had to say about the movement.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Women should be allowed to go topless wherever men can:
“I don’t think anyone thinks, realistically, that women are going to be t—s out running down the street. But the freedom should be there for beaches and similar spaces. Sexualizing every single thing about women’s bodies is outdated, and as a society, we need to move past that and allow women to exist with the same freedoms that men don’t even need to consider.” — Bec, Jamaica Plain
“If we are ever going to live up to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, let’s fully embrace the equality of women.” — Shirley M., North Miami Beach
“Anywhere a man can be topless, a woman should be able to. No one is saying women should be topless anywhere (work, school, the MBTA) — but men shouldn’t be topless either in those places. Go to Europe, no one cares!” — Elle, Boston
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“Pretty straightforward. There’s nothing wrong with lady breasts. We feed our children with them, lug them around everywhere for better or worse. We should decide whether or not to take them out for public viewing.” — Heather S., Somerville
“The sexualization of women’s breasts and nipples (and not of men’s chests and nipples) constitutes a double standard and is one of the most obvious examples of women being generally, socially, perceived as objects of sex … This is a harmful perception that leads to rampant sexual harassment of women in public places and to the higher rates of sexual assault women experience. Challenging the notion of women’s bodies as inherently sexual is a necessary step towards actual change in the way society perceives women, which is a crucial component of sex and gender equality. Men benefit from their bodies simply being perceived as bodies, not as walking advertisements for sex, and women deserve that same benefit.” — Matthias R., Jamaica Plain
“Some cultures have sexist laws forbidding women (but not men) to expose their hair or their ankles in public. Ours has sexist laws forbidding women (but not men) to expose their nipples. (It is generally only the nipples — the part that men also have — that women are forbidden to uncover.)” — Gary D., Cambridge
“It is shocking to me that at sports events men pull up or off their shirts to cheer for their team — yet women cannot. At beaches on hot days, men can go topless — yet women cannot. What possible argument could there be for continuing to allow this double standard?” — Christina M., Jamaica Plain
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“George Washington didn’t cross the Delaware just so I would be forced to hide my nips.” — Cassie, Beacon Hill
Men should be allowed to go topless, and women, not:
“The ‘activists’ participating in this event should be ashamed of themselves.” — Irving
“I don’t want to see other women’s breasts. How about we outlaw Speedos instead?” — Anonymous female
“Nobody says that they need to wear a bra, just keep them covered. Many swimsuits and such barely cover them as it is, no need to go all the way … I’m not a prude and actually a very open guy, my main reason for this thinking is to protect children from seeing it all before they have reached a mature age when they can handle it in an adult manner.” — Paul B., Dorchester
“This is so stupid! Are there not better things to protest? If a woman wants to leave her boobs out then just wear a bikini top or something similar — it’s basically the same thing. Why do they feel like their nipples need to show? How does that make any difference? They are still able to show their boobs off if they want to!” — Lynda, Canton
“Civilization and its norms have developed over thousands of years for good reason. Fiddling with these norms is fraught with societal peril.” — Gerald B.
Men should have to cover up their chests in public, just like women:
“Keep the breasts covered — no need to see anyone topless in public.” — Kate, Dorchester
“We don’t need to see anyone bare-chested — it’s really not necessary for either men or women. Just about being appropriate. Put a shirt on — everyone.” — Anonymous, Watertown
“Sun damage and skin cancer … Everyone should stay covered as much as possible when out in the sun.” — Amy
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“It is indecent exposure for male and female to expose the chest in public! Absolutely no one should be allowed to do this! Saw a male jogger just the other day and yelled to him to put a damn shirt on! What the hell is next, #pantless?” — Cat, Dedham
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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