Breasts and chests

A couple of years ago, I remember telling my boyfriend that I won't believe we have achieved equality until women are allowed to walk down the street topless, just as men are.

Of course, I know this sounds a bit ridiculous and it's going against what I have said previously about being rational, but it's true.

Some women have small boobs, some men have big boobs. There is no difference between them.

Except that women's bodies have been sexualised and subjugated.

We've all been convinced that our bodies are something to be ashamed of and hidden- women have even been ejected from parliament for (god forbid) breast-feeding their children.

Thankfully though, this issue is getting some attention after a photo on a magazine cover had to be hidden because the topless androgenous male featured was deemed to be inappropriate. You can read more about it here.

This quote sums the article up well:

"It’s not simply that breasts are considered pornographic. It’s that we’re afraid of women and femininity and female bodies and, if a man looks feminine enough, he becomes, by default, obscene."

According to one reader:

"our inability to show our breasts, even when breastfeeding, means that their sole purpose is as men’s sexual toys and should only be used as such."

I'm inclined to agree.

Other readers comments also revealed movement's against laws in other countries:

"Topfreedom is a cultural and political movement seeking to advance gender equality by the recognition of the right of women and girls to be topless in public on the same basis that men and boys are permitted to be barechested. In addition, topfreedom advocates seek recognition of the right of nursing mothers to openly breastfeed in public, and of women to sun bathe topless"

"It’s not illegal in Canada for women to go topless. That was settled years ago by a young woman named Gwen Jacob who took off her shirt on a hot summer day, was arrested and took the case all the way to the Supreme Court. As a result we can take our shirts off if we want. However, one still does not see bare breasts on/in non-porn magazines"

Maybe it's just Australia that's falling behind...