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.

  • DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone
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    1 hour ago

    You know, I’ve been in places with lots of nudity, and for the first day or so all you want to do is look. Then after that you stop looking and it just becomes normal. I imagine if women going topless was more common, guys would not look any more than they currently do.

  • Pandoras_Can_Opener@mander.xyz
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    1 hour ago

    Reading the comments made me wonder how people react to elderly people in a female body and those considered unattractive who go topless. It’s probably still harassment?

  • teolan@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    In many countries in public spaces women can be topless wherever men can. Sadly it doesn’t mean they feel safe/comfortable doing so.

  • Professorozone@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    As a cis male, I’m totally in favor of this idea.

    In fact, I went to school in Germany and I was throwing a frisbee with some friends in the park. It was a beautiful summer day, which was rare, and I retrieved the disc that landed near an attractive young lady sunning herself topless. I still think of her fondly.

  • Mamdani_Da_Savior@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    Man here

    If you ladies wanna walk around shirtless at the gym and work out I personally have no objection and I promise I won’t say a word to you.

    However you are going get looks, a lot of them.

  • dil@lemmy.zip
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    11 hours ago

    I personally don’t want a boner at the gym, I really wish men only gyms were a thing

    • teolan@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      Dude. If have enough remaining brainpower to ogle women at the gym and enough blood flow to spare to give you a boner I can assure you you’re barely working out.

      Learn to focus.

      That said, being topless (for both men and women) in a gym is gross. Don’t leave sweat everywhere. The question is for running outside…

    • dil@lemmy.zip
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      10 hours ago

      I’m a grower, I wear boxer briefs, it’s just all around uncomfortable to get aroused in public lol, it’s not a choice personally, if I could have no sexual feelings when outside id be down actually, men also have to wear shirts at my gym, think its a common rule

      • the_elder@midwest.social
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        5 hours ago

        Teach, don’t preach. This things got a mind of it’s own. If you know how to turn off my doppelwanger don’t keep it to yourself.

        I’ve gotten rock hard looking at sand. Fucking sand. Don’t tell me we can control it.

        • teolan@lemmy.world
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          4 hours ago

          If you’re actually working out you don’t have blood flow to spare to have a boner…

          And if as you say you can have a boner looking at sand it and don’t control it it seems to me like having topless women around shouldn’t influence that much the odds you get a boner.

        • untorquer@lemmy.world
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          5 hours ago

          Just like any other emotion arousal is a response to a thought. It’s a wave of experience that’s washing over you. That part you can control but it’s less important here. The important part is the thought triggering the arousal. When you are in a situation where you think you can experience sexual outcomes (even if just fantasy) you’re likely to trigger your arousal response and pop a boner. These thoughts can also be tied to set and setting. You probably trained yourself not to have erections around family or in places with social stigma around it like most public places. So you have to recognize that you’re having a thought of sexualization, then you can reframe the setting as an inappropriate one for sexual arousal.

          In the moment you can respond with deep breathing meditation if that helps. Focus on your breathing and think about the thought and (paradoxically) feel the feelings the thought brings. You’re doing two things. 1. You’re changing your learned response by doing something other than sexualizing a random stranger or sand (which ironically, being silica, is technically rock hard). 2. You’re learning how to recognize the thought, emotion and mechanics of it’s development to better manipulate it.

          It’s not like it’s quick and easy, it can take a while and some effort, but not being a pest nor feeling guilty about contributing to women’s daily difficulty is imo worth it. Not only does this make you a better more approachable person in public but learning about your own arousal can make you last longer (if that’s an issue) and have better, more intense and rewarding sex/pleasure. Win win imo!

  • Liljekonvalj@feddit.org
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    5 hours ago

    … Because boobs are a part of the gender? Because they’re part of what makes you a woman? Stop comparing boobs to ankles, geez… Use you actual brain.

    • webadict@lemmy.world
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      2 minutes ago

      So, any woman with a double mastectomy is no longer a woman? Damn, cancer keeps getting harder and harder.

    • uniquethrowagay@feddit.org
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      3 hours ago

      So a male breast is not part of the gender? Something beging part of what makes you a man or a woman certainly isn’t where we draw the line.

    • TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      Grow the fuck up and start thinking like an adult and not a horny little boy. Oh uncomfortably hot sweaty woman… She must want me because boobs. Jesus.

      • Liljekonvalj@feddit.org
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        4 hours ago

        I’m a woman. But hey, good luck with your problem. I see you wanted 0 criticism. Good luck 👍

        Edit

        I must note the irony of you wanting someone to grow up whilst getting very emotional real quick. Again, good luck.

        • Valmond@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          Looks like it’s you who are all emotional lol.

          And why should that be a bad thing BTW?

          • Liljekonvalj@feddit.org
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            60 minutes ago

            Not really emotional over here, girl. I’m noticing that you’re fired up and won’t continue down that path. I understand why you got upset tho as I told you to use your actual brain. However it matters because you brought up maturity. You did, not me. But to look at it factually, without emotion, to answer your question. Men don’t have breast, they have a chest. And yes, walking without a shirt is pretty indecent,even if you’re a man. Ask yourself why it’s not common practice. It’s just indecent. However, it’s completely indecent for a woman to do so. To answer why, there are a few questions to consider. Firstly, what is gender and genetalia? Is it penis and vagina? Yes. Is it also ass? I mean, everyone has one… So is it genetalia or is it just dirty, and thats why we cover it? Is it okay to go without pants? I mean, it’s just a penis or a vagina? Stop being so horny? It’s just an ass. Are breast genetalia or is it a female signifier? If it’s neither and it’s just a body part, or if the fact that female signifiers should be allowed to be flashed either way: Why can’t a person grab your breast to get your attention? It’s just a body part. Can they grab you arm? That’s just a bodypart. I mean yeah, it’s not really convenient to grab a boob to get somebodys attention, but say it was. In a specific moment it was a way for somebody to get you attention. It’s not okay tho for somebody to touch it. Is it okay for somebody to stare at them? It’s just a bodypart. What if they stare at your hands? What if they’re shy and the only way to speak to you is by staring at your hands. Would that be ok? But what if they stared at your breasts? Would that also be okay? That’s why I conclude that women can’t walk around without a shirt just because they’re warm. However, since you asked peoples opinion, here’s mine: if a woman is wearing a sports bra, go ahead. Take off your shirt, just don’t take off your sports bra. And if you have a problem with not being able to walk outside with your tits out, maybe ask yourself what private parts are and if maybe… Just maybe you would like to not make other people uncomfortable by flashing yours… In this whole age of consent. But hey, girl, you do you

  • teagrrl@lemmy.ml
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    14 hours ago

    They can, but harassment from men keeps lots of women from doing so. We already get harassed when we’re covered.

  • Global_Liberty@lemmy.ml
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    24 hours 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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      23 hours 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.

      • AFallingAnvil@lemmy.ca
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        22 hours ago

        I’m a dude, we seldom think about these kinds of things until women bring them up then suddenly women disliking having large boobs makes a lot more sense. Sounds like a bit of a raw deal, fun to look at, terrible to own.

  • communism@lemmy.ml
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    1 day ago

    There was a movement to decriminalise women being topless (because it is actively criminalised in a lot of places). Unfortunately it’s fallen off. It’s particularly ridiculous because women are the ones who have an actual need to expose their breasts in public, ie some women need to breastfeed—no men need to.

    Some people get turned on seeing topless men but it’s not a sex crime for men to be shirtless in public. Free the nipple 2025

    • RBWells@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      Pretty sure breastfeeding is protected all over the US. It certainly is in Florida.

      I’m not even big in that department, don’t wear a bra for yoga, but running? That needs a sport bra, and working outside I wear long sleeves to keep the sun off.

      I do think beaches here should allow topless suits for women though. That might go a long way towards desexualizing simple nudity, people would get used to it. I agree that it ought not be a rule that you have to cover your boobs at all if you don’t want to.