It’s Hot AF. Will You Go Topless With Me?

And dare to be as comfortable as he is

The other day I did something I would have never done a year ago.

I was at the lake on a sweltering hot day and started to feel uncomfortable in my bikini. As I looked around me, I didn’t see any other women with their shirts off. But almost all of the men were topless.

I wanted to be topless too. So I said fuck it and pulled off my bikini.

But it didn’t last.

A few minutes later, I put my top back on. Not because I’d cooled down, but because I’d felt self-conscious.

A little bit of that fear had to do with my body.

But most of it was due to this: I didn’t want to be disrespectful to the other women present.

Somewhere inside I thought that my female friends might feel I was trying to get attention. And maybe even seduce their boyfriends by flinging my tiny titties in their faces.

But as I became conscious that this was the main reason for my change of heart, I realized how ridiculous it was.

I would never feel that way about another woman who took her top off in front of me.

In fact, I’ve felt the opposite. I’ve felt: Wow, this chick is bold. She does whatever the hell she wants. That’s awesome.

Then I looked up again at the shirtless men around me, and remembered:

I’m confined to my bikini top for NO OTHER REASON except that I’m a woman.

And that stirred something inside of me.

At that moment, I was more uncomfortable with my top on than I had been a few minutes earlier with my top off.

So I got top-nude again.

And I knew that now, there was no turning back. I stayed that way for the next few hours.

And of course, none of my friends seemed to care.

I felt more and more comfortable as time went on. Finally, I got to a point, where I could just lay back and let the sun warm my nipples. And it was glorious.

Take your top off with me

Taking my top off that day at the lake felt not only comfortable but empowering.

It felt like a step towards gender equality.

Because there is no good reason that women should not be allowed to show their nipples but men should.

As an article by the State Press describes:

It’s an uncalled for over-sexualization which has been hardwired into society that has led to women’s nipples being viewed as borderline pornographic and men’s nipples being viewed as an everyday norm.

In other words, women must cover-up on top because our culture convinced us that our breasts were erotic.

Meanwhile, women in many cultures throughout human history did not hide their breasts.

Still, I understand why you may be afraid to go topless. You may be concerned about:

The law

This is a valid reason to stay clothed. But note that in much of Europe and America, including New York City, it is legal to be topless in public places regardless of gender (but check out this article to be sure.)

Your body

Since you are not used to having your top off publicly, you may feel self-conscious showing that part of you. But just know it gets easier the more you do it. And it may even help you develop confidence in your body.

The male gaze

Realistically, there are only certain settings I would feel comfortable taking my top off. At the lake, I was among men who I trusted. But if I’d been alone, I may not have gone through with it for fear that other men may get the wrong idea. This also goes for being in a different cultural setting like in India where women don’t even show their legs, let alone their breasts.

It just feels wrong

It feels wrong, so why do it?

Well, you don’t have to do anything.

But there is strength in numbers. By taking off your top, you are enabling other women to feel comfortable doing the same.

You are one drop in the bucket towards changing this sexist cultural norm.

Unlike our reproductive rights in some states, the law is not behind this injustice. Our culture is.

We have the ability to make this change. We just need to find the courage to do so.

And dudes, you should also be angry…

Have you ever been at work and seen a female colleague in a flowy summer dress and thought, “Dang, I wish I could wear something like that.”

Meanwhile, you have been confined to a collared shirt tucked into long pants.

That’s bullshit too.

Both males and females are confined to discomfort just in different settings. Solely based on their gender.

Why?

Because each and every one of us let it happen.

Use your anger

If you feel that itch to change something, don’t just push the thought away. Get angry that you even have to fight that internal battle.

Use that anger.

Be more uncomfortable with the unwritten rules of society than you are uncomfortable going against what everyone else seems to be doing.

Because when enough of us reach that breaking point (like I did at the lake), that is when change really happens.

#FreeTheNipple

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