The boys at the end of the street play basketball. Topless.
The humidity is suffocating. I am clothed.
Men mow the grass. Topless.
Temperatures exceed one hundred. I am covered.
It starts to rain. The boys rip off their shirts.
It starts to rain. I take off my shoes.
As a woman I am not entitled to be topless in public. This is not equality. Just because my breasts are larger than a man’s does not mean that I am a scandalous object that cannot be viewed in public for fear of offending or damaging the minds of society. MEN HAVE NIPPLES TOO. What’s the big deal?
Breasts are an obsession of men. Why? Because breasts are secret—when breasts are covered they become more mysterious and enticing. This is true of all realms of life. When something is unavailable it becomes more appealing.
If it is sweltering outside and I can’t see two feet in front of me for the sweat in my eyes, I want to be able to strip down. If a man can be topless in public then any woman has the right as well.
You see, nudity is often confused with sexuality. If I were to stand in Central Park or on the Golden Gate Bridge completely nude, what would I be? Am I trying to make a statement about my sexuality? No. Society has led us to believe that when an individual is naked it is directly connected with their sexuality. This is wrong.
When society mixes sexuality and nudity the results are distasteful and lewd—Girls Gone Wild, pornography, provocative advertisements. Being naked does not define our sexuality. Sexuality does not define being nude. People become offended when the two (nudity and sexuality) are mixed in a public atmosphere. But what if nudity were allowed in a public sphere—minus the sexuality factor?
Being naked is just that—being exactly what you are without any restrictions. Being nude does not allow an individual to hide their flaws, to manipulate the eye. When you are nude you are the purest version of yourself. Nudity is what you look like without the facades or masks of society. Accept it and embrace it.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
