It is Week # 3 of Breast Cancer Awareness month and today we’re going to talk about breasts. (Surprise!) Specifically about topless women and exposed breasts.
As long as there has been art there have been pictures drawn of women and their breasts.
This picture was painted on limestone in ancient Egypt around 1200 BC.
During the Renaissance a woman’s exposed breasts were considered acceptable, but exposed ankles were taboo. Artists were not only known for painting women with exposed breasts, but aristocrats would commission artists to paint their portraits with their breasts exposed.
This is believed to be a picture of aristocratic noblewoman Simonnetta Vespucci who died at the age of 23. Painted by Piero di Cosimo 14 years after her death and is believed to be the inspiration for Sandro Botticelli’s famous Birth of Venus.
My point is that exposed breasts have been memorialized for… ever… So why is it now such a taboo for a woman to have exposed breasts?
Although exposed breasts are normal in many indigenous societies, most cultures (including ours) have dress codes, laws, or religious teachings that require females to cover their breasts in public – at least from adolescence on. We allow, or even encourage, public displays of cleavage, but the exposing of a woman’s areola or nipple is what is considered “lewd” or “indecent.” It is, however, socially acceptable for guys to go topless in public and expose their entire chests, nipples and all.
I asked a friend and self-proclaimed “lover of breasts” what it was about breasts, specifically, that he loved most. Was it their size, their texture, their shape? For him it was the nipple. Oh sure, he loved everything about a woman’s breast, but the nipple is what really drew him in. Makes sense. A woman’s breasts are sensual and erotic. The nipple is the responsive part of a woman’s breast and responds to cold as well as other stimuli. What’s not to love?
It should be borne in mind purchase female viagra that one medicine should be taken in one day. Those that are caused by tactile stimulation, those caused due to mental stimulation and finally, those that are experienced cipla viagra online robertrobb.com by men when sleeping. They also do not have any bad reaction viagra sales in uk experience. viagra in line Nitric oxide, in turn, dilates smooth muscles allowing more blood to flow in and less blood to those parts. Internet culture enforces the taboos surrounding the exposed nipple of a woman. Facebook and Instagram prohibit graphic content from being posted, including a woman’s areola. This rule, however, only applies to images that contain women’s nipples – topless men are allowed. (Note: I am not protesting this. I love a man’s bare chest and think it magical).
What I don’t understand, in my child-like naivety, is why a woman’s breasts have been sexualized and a man’s breasts have not. Men have nipples. Men’s nipples are sensual and erotic. So why the social distinction? Why isn’t this considered to be gender discrimination? If the only thing determining whether or not an exposed breast is legal is our plumbing, where does Caitlin Jenner fit in?
There are actually laws in our country that prohibit women from exposing their breasts. Think about it: with everything bad that has gone on, or is currently going on in the world, law makers have gotten together to discuss at length the legality of a woman’s breast.
August 23rd is “Go Topless Day” and on August 23rd of this year a bunch of women in New Hampshire, inspired by the “Free the Nipple” movement vowed to go topless at a beach. Well, it rained that day and only a couple of dozen women showed up bare chested to support the cause, but the event caught the eyes and ears of the state Senator and other politicians. One politician was against the movement because he wanted the beach to remain a “family” beach. What is more “family” oriented than a woman’s breasts? They attract men, swell when pregnant, and produce milk to feed babies – sounds like a family to me. But unless they are actively producing milk and have a baby attached to the end they’re criminalized.
In Fort Collins, Colorado, right now, there is an initiative pending regarding exposed breasts. The two choices are to: 1) consider a woman’s exposed breasts indecent unless she’s breastfeeding; or 2) allow a woman to have exposed breasts in public (Nod to Eugene, Oregon where it’s already allowed). I’m curious to see how that shakes out.
There are studies that show that women who have gone topless were more accepting of toplessness in general, more sexual, had higher self-esteem, and a higher body image. Isn’t that what we want? More acceptance, more tolerance, more love, and to feel good about ourselves and others?
Breasts should not be illegal. They should be seen as the nurturing, natural, and (yes) sexual body part that they are – just like they are on a man. The only time breasts should be criminalized is when they betray us and develop cancer, and then only they should suffer the punishment.
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