Asklemmy

It’s legal where I live, but nobody does it cause women don’t wanna be stared at and cat called when they’re walking around titties out

They also don’t want to be photographed and end up with their tits all over social media. Places where this used to be routine (European beaches and so on) there is a lot less of this than 30 years ago. Another thing mobiles phones and social media have made worse

In much of Europe and North America, female toplessness is legal. As for why women don't take advantage of it when exercising, breast movement varies from annoyance to uncomfortable and throwing off momentum depending upon size. As a result, many women exercise wearing what is most convenient: a sports-bra top. However, concerns about harassment are sadly valid.

Women are the majority of voting age adults, but they aren't a homogeneous group voting exclusively on gender. 45% of women voted for Trump in 2024.

As a male who exercises in high heat on occasion (35-38c), I have never once thought that I'd rather be naked. I wear breathable, light colored clothing. I also wear a top. Sun burns aren't healthy.

In my experience (as a trans woman who has experienced both sides of this coin), I can no longer get away with being topless in most situations. However, I can get away with wearing less in more situations. It's acceptable for me to wear a short cut, sleeveless tank top or boob tube in situations where it would be difficult for a guy to wear a singlet or other sleeveless top.

Vice versa, they can't wear skirts for hot days, but gals can.

The answer is imho, holdovers from more sexist days, and a general attitude of not wanting to be seen as effeminate/photographed by creeps.

Even though guys have been wearing kilts for many years, in various cultures; and there's AI slop now anyway that keeps 'em busy instead.

Iirc it's also allowed in some countries. Naturism is bigger in them.

For what it's worth I think it's kinda weird for other guys to not wear a shirt in public, like dude what are you doing, put your shirt on.

Aside from men being horny in the 1800s

Men aren't horny now?

I live in Ontario, Canada, where it's perfectly legal for women to be topless.

I've never actually seen anyone exercise that right (at least in person), but it's a right.

They can, but harassment from men keeps lots of women from doing so. We already get harassed when we're covered.

So I get that socially in most places it is not acceptable for women to go totally topless. We can argue about double standards, but I'll let other people do that.

What I actually have noticed is that nowadays in a lot of Western cultures, women can get away with just wearing just a bra with no shirt in public. No, it's still not being totally topless, but it is a lot better heat-wise than wearing both a bra and then a shirt on top. Just it can't be like lingerie, but more like a sports bra or something. I've done it when heading into a shop after going for a run and not gotten any complains. I see others just occasionally walking around in something a sports bra when it's hot out, not even relating to intense exercise. Try it.

There was a movement to decriminalise women being topless (because it is actively criminalised in a lot of places). Unfortunately it's fallen off. It's particularly ridiculous because women are the ones who have an actual need to expose their breasts in public, ie some women need to breastfeed—no men need to.

Some people get turned on seeing topless men but it's not a sex crime for men to be shirtless in public. Free the nipple 2025

I would prefer if men didn't do that either.

There are quite a lot of places where women can go topless. They just choose not to.

The enlightened masses constitute a percentage of the total population far lower than you'd think

It's legal in most the US states too.

Man here

If you ladies wanna walk around shirtless at the gym and work out I personally have no objection and I promise I won't say a word to you.

However you are going get looks, a lot of them.

Legally, a lot of places it's been court tested, and you actually can. Culturally, it's just kind of that way. Hair is banned in Arabia, tits can hang out in Papua New Guinea. The West says no boobs but hair is fine.

A genital covering is the only cultural universal, although it can sometimes be overly revealing by Western standards, like with penis gourds.

They can in Canada.

They can in many areas but chose not to. So you’d have to ask them why they don’t when they can. Why aren’t they setting an example for the other areas? Like New York I believe allows women to go topless. The Empire State. Home of the biggest or at least most populous state in America and they don’t do it.

In many countries in public spaces women can be topless wherever men can. Sadly it doesn't mean they feel safe/comfortable doing so.

Honestly, I don't think it is the men saying you can't be topless. It's other women. I am pretty sure that even though I would get used to boobs everywhere, I would still be in a generally better mood. Boobs just make most guys happy. I don't know if it would make women who are attracted to women happy too, but maybe.

Tbh, I'd much prefer if no one did.

Because of creeps, freaks, and prudes

As a cis male, I'm totally in favor of this idea.

In fact, I went to school in Germany and I was throwing a frisbee with some friends in the park. It was a beautiful summer day, which was rare, and I retrieved the disc that landed near an attractive young lady sunning herself topless. I still think of her fondly.

They can (Canada) but they don't because guys think with their hormones.

In Australia nudity depends on the context. Like it's probably ok at the beach, but less ok most other places.

Not having boobs myself... isn't it uncomfortable just having them swinging around everywhere like if you're exercising?