(NSFW) Just What It Sounds Like: 'Topless Day' Returns To Southern California On August 21

I agree with this protest.   Woman should have the same rights as men. Dammit!

I don't treat women as sexual objects. Tits, for better or worse are "sexual". They have been treated like dick and balls. I can't walk around with them hanging out can I? No. Also, women don't generally find the just the sight of a penis arousing. However. I like breasts. And if they are out, I am going to look and I am going to enjoy it. If you walk by witha low cut blouse, I'm looking. Sorry. I'm not going to point and stare. I am looking however. Same if you have a nice ass. 

It seems there is always this "we don't want want all this attention" thing with women and the clothes they wear, but like me, you wear it because you look good, to attract someone, right? That is why I wear the jeans i think my ass looks good in when I go out. But when the attention comes from an individual who they don't want the attention from, mainly 99% of men, it is a big deal. On the flip side, as men we take most attention we can get for looking our best. A suitable mate or not. Women want this balance of attention. Just enough for the amount of cleavage they are showing but don't burn a hole through their breast with your laser stare. 

We're different, folks. Learn to deal with it. Be respectful of the women, and ladies realize, when your ladies are out, or you are wearing a short skirt you're going to get hit on, or comments, as long as those are respectful, then what is the harm?

This is jsut a personal  observation and I may biased since i have a penis. I'm sorry. 

Sure, in American society today breasts, genitalia, and nudity in general are seen almost exclusively as sexual, arousing, and therefore indecent for the public. Both men and women in our society have many negative reactions towards freedom for nudity, from staring in arousal and making sexual comments as Scott described, to shunning and shaming any women who practice or support freedom for nudity.

At the same time, I'm sure you'd agree that in general things like hands, faces, arms, and hair wouldn't be included in the group of sexual body parts that would bring out these sexual, demeaning, or even hateful reactions.

Breasts, nipples, and when you get right down to it, full-out nudity IS NOT and DOES NOT HAVE TO BE permanently stuck in the first category. It is not 100% natural, uncontrollable human instinct to react this way, and there's easy proof of that.

People have been living in the nude and in harmony for thousands and thousands of years in hot areas like the Polynesian Islands, the Americas, and Africa. For people living in these cultures, men and women were able to live side by side in full or partial nudity without shame, staring, or incessant arousal and sexual activity.

It makes sense that traditional European cultures have very little public nudity, for the northern chill could make a person more susceptible to falling ill. However, it wasn't until relatively modern times (modern as in a few thousands of years ago instead of twenty or thirty thousand) that that Europeans decided to associate nudity and sexual indecency, for reasons that, as we see from other cultures, are obviously are not universally natural to humankind.

As many other people in this discussion have pointed out, this is parallel to the headscarves many Arabic women traditionally wear. A woman's hair in Muslim culture is seen to be just as sexual as beasts are in traditional European cultures. Almost every American, however, would agree that human beings do not necessarily have a natural, involuntary sexual reaction to the sight of women's hair.

The very same thing Can and Does apply to nudity- it just doesn't feel like for many people who have been raised with our culture as it stands today. As with many other things, it can be very hard to believe that something you've been taught to feel all your life isn't necessarily a completely instinctual human thing to feel.

But we live in a hot climate, not in a cold northern one! Women in our society are suffering from having to choose between unnecessarily having to bear excess heat or unnecessarily being harassed and told to be ashamed for being nude.

Our culture does not have to be stuck like this. We are not bound by immovable human nature, but only by ideas that people invented on their own. We have created our own rules for society, and we have the power to change them.

Events like topless day will surely attract a lot of negativity, but they also give people a good opportunity to show their support, get people thinking, and overall, nudge our society in a good direction. So take a look, think about it, and get your own word in! In the end, we all just want to be as reasonable as possible, and the best way to make good decisions is to consider as many views as possible.

Have fun and Good Luck everyone!

When it's 90 degrees outside I might choose to wear a short skirt or a tank top because it's 90 degrees. When I wear a dress or jeans that flatter me, it's because I want to feel good about myself...not because I want to solicit approval or commentary from complete strangers. I shouldn't have to wear long sleeves and skirts to my ankles in the
middle of the summer because some jerk is going to comment, otherwise.

And it's been pointed out that women are often harassed regardless of what they're wearing. I've had guys make stupid comments when I've been
wearing business clothes just as often as when I've been casually dressed.

Everyone has the right to walk down the street without being made to feel uncomfortable and without comments from complete strangers. What's
the harm? The harm is that it's annoying, threatening and sometimes dangerous to have strangers making unsolicited remarks. The harm is that when you feel that you're going to be hit on, commented on or harassed whenever you leave your house, you end up feeling on guard all the time, and that's not a nice way to have to live.

Is there such thing as a perverted women because all I here is men are this men are that. Women do the same things men do just in a different way. I know most of my friends are women and I see it every day. Both men and women are pervs some less then others.

No denying that Sean, but whereas society frequently conditions women to be passive and generally non-assertive, the opposite is true for men, so men being unwelcome pervs becomes a bigger issue. But, yes, men deserve the same respect women want.

I strongly agree with Clarissa's comments.

mee too! Women are sexual objects! (:

No women are not sexual objects :(

All these comments ring very loudly of the attitude that women are sexual objects. :-\

Clarissa, women ARE sexual objects but that doesn't mean that's ALL they are.Unfortunately, in the eyes of many MANY men, women are not respected as anything more but that. I never said I agree with it.

What I did was point out the obvious; that women will be harrassed non-stop by pervs. Again, that does not mean that I personally condone that. In fact, it makes me sick that women can't even walk down the street with clothes ON w/o getting unwanted attention. You tell me how we can "affect change" in men's aggressive behaviour towards and disrespect of women. They obviously aren't going to stop viewing women as sexual turn-ons any time soon. So how do we get the disrespectful, no shame, men in the bunch to suddenly respect women? Do you really think women running around topless is gonna do it? I don't and I am a female and a feminist.

As far as your comparison to burqas, that's just a REALLY bad comparison. Women who "disobey" and go burqa nekked have MUCH more serious consequences to deal with than being harrassed by pervs with cameras. That is just a REALLY bad comparison and a whole other topic.

As a man who has been culturally conditioned to either oggle or completely and deliberately avert my gaze in order to comminicate the fact I am NOT oggling, I disagree.  If topless women were commonplace, I believe the vast majority of men would quickly get used to it.  The few pervs that are left might exist, but if they know what's good for them, they wouldn't dare harass someone expressing their Constitutional right.  If they did so, it would be extremely easy to sue for harassment, or assault & battery in extreme circumstances.  The pervs would quickly realize that it's in their personal, social, and financial interest to adjust to social norms, and within a generation or two I doubt many would be left.

No, ShakinBoots, women are NOT sexual objects. They are *treated* that way. The way one is *treated* is significantly different from being a sexual object by default as part of whom you are just because you were born with a vagina.

Now, I have no problem with people treating other people as sexual objects as long as it is consensual. The problem is, it is not always consensual. And to say "women ARE sexual objects" is to say one can treat women thusly whether the woman desires it or not b/c that is her function.

I think I said "effect change" and I meant that. I don't need to affect the change, I want to make it happen in the first place.

I believe you do not condone this behavior but you certainly accept it judging by the way you address it dismissively with your "[men] obviously aren't going to stop viewing women as sexual turn-ons any time soon" so women should cover up. As if it is just a fact of life women should shut up and put up with. Women put your tops back on or the pervs will get you! Women put your tops back on or you deserve what you get!

No it is not a really bad comparison. It is actually an excellent comparison, aside from the fact that it is a bit ethnocentric. Yes, women who do not don burqas suffer much more serious consequences. For some of them, their lives are at risk. Thank goodness we live in a country that offers a little more in the way of equality and civil rights.

But harassment is harassment and to say the way to achieve more freedoms for women is to cover up, is the same as saying that women who live under the burqa should toe the line and behave like good appropriate little women if they want more rights. Historically, when has that ever worked?

And what else should we cover up so the pervs don't get us, ShakinBoots? Should we start wearing skirts to our ankles? High-necked, long-sleeved blouses? Are women "sluts" and "asking for it" if they do otherwise? This is really starting to get into slut-shaming territory. As a feminist, you might want to address some of these attitudes in yourself.

I think Kian Wright sums this up pretty well by saying, "Ever notice the similarity between restricting female behavior on account of men's "uncontrollable" desires, and taking away public freedoms under the pretense of safety?"

You miss a crucial point: the fact we're ALREADY harassed non-stop frequently has jack to do with what we're wearing. I usually dress like a man but that doesn't stop the sexual harassment; it may increase it for all I know. So we should be allowed to do whatever we want, because trying to placate the "pervs" is a useless endeavor. Yes, assholes exist, but I don't see why I should have restrictions placed on what I want to do just because that's true. Especially when it's so friggin hot out!!

I realize this is a hot topic, but I really wish people would read comments before responding to them.

Kristen says: "You miss a crucial point: the fact we're ALREADY harassed non-stop frequently has jack to do with what we're wearing."

In response to my comment (quoting myself here): "it makes me sick that women can't even walk down the street with clothes ON w/o getting unwanted attention."

Doesn't look like any "crucial point" was missed in my comment, but maybe a crucial point was missed when Kristen read it because it looks like we're pretty much saying the same thing.

Also, please read through all 3 of my previous comments Kristen before jumping to conclusions on where I stand. NOWHERE have I said women shouldn't be "allowed" or that they should be denyed the right to go topless, I simply pointed out how uncomfortable it could be for them when they do. Very simple.

I don't really see you saying the same thing. You might have made the same point regarding harassment happening regardless of how clothed one is, but you seem to advocate toeing the line and covering up whereas Kristen does not.

And sure you don't expressly say women should be denied going topless, but you don't seem to think it's a matter of society putting pressure on men to change their behavior accordingly but on women to cover up if they want men to behave.

This is also the same day I am going to be walking through Venice to show it is my right to walk around with a boner if I want to. 

I do love looking at titties, but instead of fighting for their right to get more naked, I wish they would fight to force guys to cover up! Make this world a better looking place!

Creepy dudes everywhere rejoice! Too bad so many men are pigs that can't control themselves...

Men CAN control themselves. If they choose not to, that is another matter. However, men are always fully responsible for and in control of their behavior.

You're getting your arguments all mixed up girl. Nobody said men aren't responsible for their own behaviour. Yes, men can choose to control themselves. When they see a topless woman walking down the street on a hot summer day, my money's on most of them "choosing" to NOT control themselves, especially if they are with friends.

ShakinBoots maybe you should read comments before replying.
Laura did in fact express the idea that men can't control themselves. If one is to believe men can't control themselves then one is saying men are not responsible for their actions, since they have no control.

The idea that men can't control themselves is a popular myth that is often touted by those who would excuse rapists, slut-shame women and just plain not give men due credit.

My arguments are not mixed up. There is no contradiction between the concepts of men being responsible and in control of their behavior regardless of their choice to behave poorly or not and that of the necessity of not accepting asshole behavior if one is to change it.

Also, don't call me 'girl'. I have a name and I am not 'just' a female.

I have a feeling once they get their topless wish, they will soon put their clothes right back on. Any woman walking around topless would have pervs with camera's following her EVERYWHERE. She would be harrassed nonstop. When it's all said and done, wearing a shirt would be more comfortable. Sad but true.

P.S. Is the The Fonz in top right of that pic. Aaayyyyy!

Well you can't effect change if you're just willing to accept asshole behavior. Your logic can just as easily apply to women who wear burqas because men would harass them if they didn't.

Don't forget your sunscreen!

by all means ladies, go top less everywhere... just don't get mad when you get more people gawking over your ladies haha