Tess+M’s+2015+OpEd+Article



====It is completely absurd that on a stiflingly hot day, a man can walk around topless while a woman is expected to be wearing at least two layers of clothing consisting of a bra and a shirt. If a woman dared to remove her shirt, she would most likely have a slew of insults thrown at her consisting of "slut, whore, etc." and then she would promptly be arrested, not to mention the inevitable sexual harassment she would face. Let's not forget about the countless mothers who have been made to feel ashamed for breastfeeding their children in public places. They feel pressure to cover up or hide due to the stigma that breastfeeding in public is "indecent" or "dirty" in some way. Women are shamed for this, when in reality it is a completely natural and beautiful process with scientifically proven benefits for mother and child. It bonds the mother and her child closer together, prevents allergies in the child, boosts the baby's intelligence, and can even prevent postpartum depression in the mother. This is just a short list of the many benefits and yet this is still something that is not widely accepted in our society. ====

====According to freethenipple.com "it is effectively illegal for a women to be topless, breastfeeding included, in 35 states". However, these laws do not apply to men. It seems that wherever you go, you see a man topless in one way or another. Men are allowed to go topless at the beach and public pools, they are topless in ads and in the media, heck, they can even walk down the street topless if they so choose. Women on the other hand, cannot enjoy these same freedoms. In movies or television, the showing of a woman's breast could garner a PG-13 or R rating, however men are often portrayed topless with no repercussions. You are far more likely to see gratuitous, vivid portrayals of violence than a female breast. Somehow one has become perfectly acceptable in our society, and yet the other is indecent.====

====Anatomically, men's and women's breasts are nearly identical. They both consist of connective tissue, fat, muscle, a nipple, an areola and glands that are capable of producing milk. The only difference is that a female's breast enlarges during puberty due to estrogen and is therefore capable of actually serving a purpose. The bias against breasts is completely ridiculous. Men's breasts are capable of lactation as well, if the man is given the correct hormone supplements. So why is it that if a man and a woman's breast are capable of serving the same purpose, the woman is the one who will be chastised for it? It probably has something to do with how sexualized breasts have become. They have come to be regarded as sexual organs, however this is far from the truth. Breasts are not sexual organs any more than a male's Adam's apple or facial hair are. This is a ridiculous double standard and it is just one more example of how women are oppressed in this day and age.====

====I am in no way saying that all women should feel obligated to walk around topless. If a woman wants to wear turtlenecks all the time then that is her prerogative. Covering up does not make you any more or less of a woman. My point is that if a woman wants to go topless, she should have the same right as a man to do so.====