There are laws in the world that you and I may not be aware of. It’s not that we are not well-read or lack knowledge of current affairs but sometimes it just doesn’t come to our attention. Free the Nipple was one such campaign that spoke of the right of women to be topless in public. If men can, why not women?
Around the world and in many parts of US, it is illegal for a woman to be topless and that includes breastfeeding. There are places where an exposed nipple could mean jail time, fines and don’t forget the harassment. This counts as indecency when at the same time men can walk around topless.
Let’s look at it this way.
I will never walk topless or even want to but why should my choice become a law? Why should a picture of breastfeeding an infant be reported as inappropriate content and flagged as indecent? When we talk about laws that should be same for both men and women, why is this one so different for both?
Isn’t witnessing a rape, a murder or any other act of violence more disturbing than a topless woman? Did you know that in essence all the campaign asked for was equal laws. Whether (wo)men actually walk topless in public is their choice but why create inequality about the same body part?
The campaign met a lot of objection and with the protests or gatherings that were planned, nothing was easy. There were threats of life and harassment around it. Trolls even took over the hashtag to share porn on social media. Even women spoke to say this was insane and not right.
I look at this campaign in black and white. There is no gray in between. Our actions are a result of conditioned behavior and should not become illegal if any of us choose to go against what has been taught. Remember, it’s a matter of choice and shouldn’t be a matter of the state.
What are your thoughts about the campaign?
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I think the reason that women going topless is an issue in America is because women have been so over sexualized that men only see our breasts as sexual objects. The idea of us going topless to nurse our babies disturbs their image of us as sexual beings. Do u hear about men telling the women in tribal Africa or the Amazon to cover up? No. They are even featured on the cover of national geographic. Because their breasts are seen as functional to the men who live there. Would I ever go topless? Heck no. Do I deserve the right to breastfeed my baby anywhere I wish? Yes. Breasts just being viewed as sexual is wrong. Breast just being viewed as functional is wrong, too. They are both. Just my opinion… 🙂
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Here in Ontario, Canada women are legally allowed to be topless, but they don’t do it, fearing harassment. It’s a Catch 22. You make excellent points, Harmony.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/women-can-go-topless-in-ontario-but-they-don-t-want-to-fearing-harassment-1.3171257
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I often think such campaigns are sheer nonsense – publicity seeking stunts. Why would a woman want to walk topless? Frankly sagging breasts are a real put off and unless you have a great figure, it’s best to keep it under wraps. Women are carrying this equality thing to a ridiculous level – imagine if men wanted to walk around naked letting everything hang out? That’s gross!
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Parul, I feel the world has better problems to address. I had read about this campaign and it doesn’t make sense to me.In the name of equality we are throwing absurdity. If the picture of feeding a baby is upsetting there is a better way to fight it.We need to grow!
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It’s a really weird campaign. True, women should be allowed to breastfeed their children in public. But maybe the law was made to restrict them from doing so, just to protect them from the eyes of rapists and weird men?
It’s a case where a law is needed, but is also not needed. Weird, no?
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I didnt know this Parul. Thank you for sharing.
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Campaigns like this derail the real women/humanitarian issues, while childcare and breastfeeding rights must be the norm, going topless is the wrong route according to me.
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Good post and good point Parul. I believe its best to allow breast feeding wherever and whenever when the baby needs a feed with a wrap or a throw around the shoulders like its been done in India for ages. But to make a point one doesnt need to run around naked unless we are living in tribal society. I find it a tad immature. Anyway each to their own.
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Brilliant post. Until this moment I thought that it was bloody insane. Why would anyone want to go topless to promote a campaign! There are many other ways. But your point is valid. Why should a choice become a law?
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Its disgusts me to know such filthy rules imposed.. especially to women.. sleeping with a women or forcing on to her is ok for a man.. then y nursing a baby is wrong??
http://serendipityofdreams.blogspot.in/2016/04/framed.html
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I am surprised to read about this campaign and have no idea that such an issue was addressed in public. breast feeding is a women’s right, responding to the baby whenever and wherever required. Going topless doesn’t make sense to me… only feel immature to deal with an important issue … as equality.
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I didn’t know such a campaign happened. Absolutely agree that we find no shame in viewing publicly rape and violence, why then does a normal act of breast-feeding become indecent? No logic! Thanks for sharing this Parul. Your posts are really eye-openers!
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I had no idea that such a campaign existed. If it helps in the cause then, I can see the logic but frankly, there are better ways of striving for equal laws than going topless. Anyways, to each his own, I guess!
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I seriously can’t understand what could possibly be wrong with Nipple and that too breastfeeding!! seriously!! What not a woman has to fight for!! I heard about this movement a a couple of years ago.
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In my state there used to be campaigns in the early decades demanding the right to cover the breasts of dalit females, which, till then, were supposed to be left bare, signifying the inferior state. Breast feeding in public shouldn’t be a problem. It might be true that a few are offended by the practice, but then, when the intention is pure as feeding the baby, I don’t think there ought to be a pandemonium created around the subject. Are all women comfortable with baring their bosom? I highly doubt! Especially when it is a matter to be ogled at, unlike the similar asset of men( Is the campaign aimed at changing that too?) Correct me if I am wrong. Other than that, the choice need to be respected, as you rightly pointed out. There should never be laws against the same.
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I agree to what you have to say, it should not matter if a lady wants to go topless , its upto her , her decision.. Having a law banning it is ridiculous, and breast feeding in public again personal choice, if the baby is crying of hunger what is the lady supposed to do , find a private place WHAT about the baby who is hungry where are his/her rights ..
Some laws are simply atrocious…
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I read about this campaign a long time ago and found it really weird. Still do.
Breastfeeding makes sense. But that doesn’t mean you have to fight for going topless. I remember this becoming an movement for feminism and I found it to be really silly. If breastfeeding is what you’re talking about, then let’s make that clear.
Not fight for the need of going topless. Just because men can do a few things, doesn’t mean women should too. I’m a feminist, but this campaign just didn’t make sense to me.
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I think it should depend from person to person and the choice must be respected. The way things have existed in our country, the way we have brought up, it does a bit uncanny about going topless, but then again it is a matter of choice. Well yes, breastfeeding shouldn’t be an issue for sure.
Fair point well raised Parul 🙂
Cheers
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Considering breastfeeding as illegal is seriously wrong. But I guess, there could be better ways of protesting/demanding equal laws for men and women!
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It is not the same body part. They don’t evoke the same emotion. And men and women are different and cannot be equal in some things. If this campaign is to allow women to be topless , then it is ridiculous and reduces feminism and fight for equality to obscenity.
There are better things to fight for. And womanhood deserves some decency.
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Had read about this earlier too. I think no one should dictate what a woman can or cannot do. Crazy people stop breastfeeding too.
Free the nipple indeed.
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This is insane .. I had actually never read about this completely biased law! I have heard about public indecency being not accepted by law and I am in favour of that , since sometimes its important to have rules laid out for public behavior in black and white but something that’s purely discriminatory definitely doesn’t go down my throat.
but then again.. I am not surprised such laws exists – the sole purpose of which remains – control.
defining how women behave is yet another way of staking claim over us . I agree with you when you say – we may not chose to opt for a certain behavior but I am also not okay with someone else telling me that’s illegal if its not physically or mentally harming anyone.
A great topic and I am so glad I learnt about this.
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I think we (men and women) are still conditioned to view topless women in a certain way..and topless bars where they exist make a business out of it. Will take time to get out of it. Nothing wrong with nudity is my view-animals are in the buff too, and seen as natural. Nudist camps already exist in limited places.
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I wouldn’t go topless , but I don’t have anything against others exercising their right to do so.
There are tribal societies where topless women are the norm: it’s just what we’re used to seeing.
As long as it is not done for shock value alone, each woman to her own.
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I didn’t know such a campaign existed. It is a matter of personal choice. To do or not to do.
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I wasn’t aware of this campaign. Thanks for sharing! I have included this in my post today on breastfeeding in public.
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