I sure did. It happened on August 23rd, Saturday. Men and women went topless all across America in parks and other public areas in an effort to draw attention to the day which is according to the 17th amendment, Women's Equality Day.
Yeah, we have a day. It all started in 1848 but took 72 years to ratify the US Constitution to finally give women the right to vote. Can you imagine not being able to vote? There was a time when we couldn't own property, much less get a mortgage on our own. So when it comes to protecting our rights, I'm there! God bless the brave women who fought for us during those 72 years.
I was still having a hard time wrapping my head around how going topless was related to equality until I visited Go Topless Organization . This is more than just a protest. Yup. It came about because women were being arrested for asserting their constitutional right to bare their breasts in public while men who go bare-chested are never arrested.
Now, even though there have been over 10 court cases where the courts ruled in favor of topless women in public, they are still being criminalized. Well, I had no idea. I live a sheltered life. I've never seen a topless woman in public, other than at a beach.
The argument - it's just as natural and a constitutional right for women to go topless just like it is for men.
Now, as I stated before, I defend equality, but I personally don't want to be looking at a bunch of boobs. Hell, there are a lot of men, I prefer not to ever see without their shirts on!
While I understand this is a protest for equal rights, I just have to wonder how many women will assert these rights? I wonder if our culture and social mores are ready for this reveal on a daily basis. Nude and topless beaches have enough problems with gawkers and ignorant folks, can you imagine how the parks would be if just 10% of the female population decided to assert this right?
So I think it will be very interesting to see how next year's protest event plays out. Will more women step up and take off in protest?
Friday, September 05, 2008
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4 comments:
I think it's one of those rights that you want to *have* even if you choose not to exercise it.
On this side of the atlantic, there are posters and banners and ads with torso "nudity" (male and female) and no one blinks an eye. I'm sure it'll get to North America eventually.
Although I agree, shirtless folks walking around in public, of either gender, make me go "meh, put a shirt on, yo".
Honestly, it wouldn't bother me if women went topless. That's not saying I'd strip down and join in, but it doesn't matter to me if others exercise the right.
Dang it, I missed it. Not that I would have gone topless. Nuh-uh. Not me! It wouldn't bother me if others wanted to do so. Especially hunky guys. *g*
I'm with Nat. I think it's one of those rights that you want to have even if you choose not to exercise it.
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