I'm on the fence about guys walking around towns and in enclosed buildings half-naked.
Yes, temperatures are high, and some people have very little tolerance and find it difficult to cope with the heat. However, everywhere along the streets, in shops, at the train station, and on the trains, during the summer months especially, I'm surrounded by half-naked men, who parade about freely, with no one batting an eyelid.
It's a norm that irks me; One that goes way back to my childhood, which I have touched on in the past about my resentment for the bra...
We, women, are all experiencing the same heat and perhaps discomfort as men do. Some women might even be experiencing menopause and affected by hot flashes, yet we are required to wear extra garments (more than men do) without objection, to men removing their single garment — a shirt.
Imagine this scenario:
"I'm walking along the main street and suddenly my brain registers just how hot and uncomfortable the temperature has become. So, I position myself, quickly remove garments that are contributing to my discomfort, take a deep breath and start to appreciate the relief."
Be honest, wouldn't there be an alarm, a panic, an outrage, and possibly sirens?
Isn't that sexism?
I've found this information on the UK stance about rejected petitions for women to go topless and the rules outlined if you are interested to read them.
I say yes it's sexism based on the fact that it's not illegal for women to go half-naked (topless) in the Uk, for example, BUT, there are blurred lines:
These blurred lines can be found in the laws of public decency/indecency, where the intent of the half-nakedness would be evaluated in any which way you lose the case.
I am a realist to know that there will never be equality of the sexes, but that doesn't mean that women should not fight around it to implement other laws that might lessen the margins of inequality.
I acknowledge that some laws do help to protect women and that the positives might outweigh or diminish the negative impacts of what could happen without such laws in place.
I know that in some cases religion is the deciding factor, but personally, my views are not on any religious merits.
Gender-based violence goes way back to the Stone Age, and I'm not deluded into thinking that giving women equal rights to walk around half-naked will have a positive impact on society. However, I think the laws of public decency should be re-examined, to make it unacceptable for men to flaunt their half-naked bodies in public spaces, just as women can't.
Ex. I'm quite a naturalist and I would gleefully run around in the woods in my natural state of being or even halfway there. Yet, although it's not illegal for me to go out topless, it would be frowned upon and I might unintentionally cause an alarm, which could jeopardise my freedom.
I know that I cannot change societal views and laws, but seeing half-naked guys parading in public spaces continues to have a shock effect on me.
"I'm so scared that my jaws drop open when I see half-naked men on the streets!" 😱
Are there women out there who think that we should perhaps lobby to have the laws modified, to restrict men from parading around towns and public spaces half-naked, i.e. by considering such states to fall under indecency? Other sexes, please feel free to share your views, as I support equality:)
Photos are my own.