So this is the issue of the moment in Maryland. New York State resolved the situation years ago when an upstate judge said the State Constitution permitted women to stroll shirtless anywhere a man could. This comment on the Maryland matter from the Washington Post is priceless.
“I have been keeping abreast of this story for a few days now, although the journalism has sagged on and off I think the story is getting back on firm ground. Opinions have been cleaved on both sides. Initially, I perked up after reading that women will be judged equally as men. However, I was deflated to learn of the latest ruling from the city council. The Post has tried to milk this story for days now but such a titillating story has to have a conclusion eventually.”
What is interesting is NY courts have ruled this way, yet NY Beaches don’t allow women to go topless. The funny part is people make such a big deal out of it, yet having been to topless beaches in Miami (long before it became official, foreign tourists simply did it, because that is normal back home, and no one stopped them) and to nude beaches, it eventually becomes no big deal, and anyone making a big deal out of it usually ends up feeling the wrath of everyone else. Unfortunately, you have people like this woman who insisted on sitting in a clothed beach that bordered a clothing optional beach, right on the border line, and sat their squawking and yelling if anyone on the nude beach side ‘got too close’, complaining how she had kids there and so forth…meanwhile, she could have put themselves on the other side of the beach where it is wide enough, you can’t see anything on the other side:)
@doschicos:
Amen to that one, we are a very sexualized society that at the same time has an ingrained, puritanical notion that the body is somehow a dirty thing along with sex being something to be guilty about, and it is such a weird mix. Or a world where the same people who get upset if a PG movie somehow ‘crosses the line’ with something deemed ‘too sexual’ are perfectly okay with kids watching all kinds of violence.
Musicprt, years ago the Chief of the NYC Transit Police caused a bit of a kerfuffle when he heard about an organized protest of a handful of women riding the subway in topless outfits. He ordered their arrest. He was then promptly reminded of the state court’s ruling, mandating that women and men be treated equally. He pleaded ignorance of the court decision, but nevertheless was ordered to stop arresting topless women. Also, as you might know, the ‘desnudas’ Latinas in Times Square prance around the area (along with cussing Elmos and grungy Marvel comics characters) enticing suckers for tips. It’s all perfectly legal.
I would like to see topless beaches gain wider support. B-)
Joking aside, any American who has been to a topless beach in Europe knows that it seems perfectly normal after the first 5 or 10 minutes. No sexualization at all.
As for clothing optional beaches, my experience has been that those who are naked are always the ones you’d prefer not to see naked, but I can still admire that they are brave enough to let it all hang out and not worry about what anyone else thinks. I couldn’t do it. I’m one of those people who starts focusing on getting in summer shape as soon as winter is over, but I’m so vain I probably think this thread is about me.
I’d go “free”-- with a good cooling poncho sporting a built-in fan and an iced pocket for my beer…
A “fanny seat” in the appropriate spot to keep me from burning my butt on the sand…
Matching flip-flops would be great.
A hat with similar fan.
Extra pocket for the occasional seashell souvenir.
Pretty sure I’d land on that “uck meets expensive” thread but it might be worth it!
As a European, I would also say that my experience is that guys who wear speedos are generally the guys you do not want to see wearing speedos. But more power to them for being comfortable.
I wouldn’t go topless because I need to cover as much skin as possible.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with it though. Bodies are bodies. We all have them. We all know what they look like. What we choose to sexualize, fetishize, and demand be hidden is a complete cultural construct.
I am completely in favor of people being allowed to wear (or not) whatever they please.
The caveat being that people should wear some sort of underwear if they’re going to sit on things that others will sit on… this is just from a purely sanitary, public health standpoint though.
I agree @skieurope . What is the deal with all the speedos over there? But having grown up a beach/surfer/sailer kid, the board shorts I’ve always worn look pretty out of place on European beaches. Relative to everyone else, I feel like I’m wearing long pants - and screaming “I’m an American tourist!” . . . . . so I admit I have invested in some not-so-long trunks for my travels, but I buy them there. If I bought them here, I’d have to sneak off somewhere and hope no one saw me.
It is a very bizarre idea that kids need to be “protected” from the sight of breasts. Most kids were feeding off them not long before, they know perfectly well what they are and where they are.
I agree that the folks that go to clothing-optional beaches never look like Maxim models or male olympic swimmers. But virtually none of the folks that you see on the street are such hot stuff either. We all have our flaws. Get used to it. Don’t go to clothing-optional beaches if human imperfection and senescence freak you out.
I’m not a fan of board shorts or speedos. Brazilian sungas are a good compromise – not as “Borat” as speedos but not as puritanical as board shorts either.
"But virtually none of the folks that you see on the street are such hot stuff either. We all have our flaws. Get used to it. "
Exactly.
Maybe less hangups about nudity would also lead to less body image issues as folks would realize that the typical human doesn’t look like an airbrushed model. Or it could lead to even more plastic surgery…
:-?
I don’t think topless or nude bathing is as popular as Americans think it is. It might be legal with restriction in many countries but not something high percentages of people do globally. I saw a few topless women in Miami South Beach but not many. But in general not something I would fight for…
Personally, I think clothing is kinder to most bodies and provides protectection vs UV and bugs and irritants. Nudity is not something I aspire to, even if my body is in pretty decent shape.
Another thought: to those talking about who “should” and “shouldn’t” go topless: seriously? It’s not funny. You don’t get to pick the “pretty people” to go topless while telling others to cover-up.
I have run the spectrum. I was super model skinny & tall in high school and college. I’m now obese and since it happened very quickly, I have super stretchmarks to show for it.
I absolutely do NOT understand this culture of telling people- especially (though clearly not only) women- what they can and can’t wear because it is offensive or pleasing to us. How about if you don’t want to see certain people, you stay inside. It’s not them that has a problem, it’s you.
This really, really gets under my skin because it is a pervasive problem and it teaches young people to be ashamed of their bodies. There is a reason we have an epidemic of low self-esteem related problems among adolescents in this country. I don’t care if it’s a “joke.” It’s not funny and it is harmful.
But more power to them for being comfortable.