They also don’t want to be photographed and end up with their tits all over social media. Places where this used to be routine (European beaches and so on) there is a lot less of this than 30 years ago. Another thing mobiles phones and social media have made worse

In much of Europe and North America, female toplessness is legal. As for why women don't take advantage of it when exercising, breast movement varies from annoyance to uncomfortable and throwing off momentum depending upon size. As a result, many women exercise wearing what is most convenient: a sports-bra top. However, concerns about harassment are sadly valid.

Women are the majority of voting age adults, but they aren't a homogeneous group voting exclusively on gender. 45% of women voted for Trump in 2024.

As a male who exercises in high heat on occasion (35-38c), I have never once thought that I'd rather be naked. I wear breathable, light colored clothing. I also wear a top. Sun burns aren't healthy.

It’s legal where I live, but nobody does it cause women don’t wanna be stared at and cat called when they’re walking around titties out

I live in Ontario, Canada, where it's perfectly legal for women to be topless.

I've never actually seen anyone exercise that right (at least in person), but it's a right.

They can, but harassment from men keeps lots of women from doing so. We already get harassed when we're covered.

So I get that socially in most places it is not acceptable for women to go totally topless. We can argue about double standards, but I'll let other people do that.

What I actually have noticed is that nowadays in a lot of Western cultures, women can get away with just wearing just a bra with no shirt in public. No, it's still not being totally topless, but it is a lot better heat-wise than wearing both a bra and then a shirt on top. Just it can't be like lingerie, but more like a sports bra or something. I've done it when heading into a shop after going for a run and not gotten any complains. I see others just occasionally walking around in something a sports bra when it's hot out, not even relating to intense exercise. Try it.

There was a movement to decriminalise women being topless (because it is actively criminalised in a lot of places). Unfortunately it's fallen off. It's particularly ridiculous because women are the ones who have an actual need to expose their breasts in public, ie some women need to breastfeed—no men need to.

Some people get turned on seeing topless men but it's not a sex crime for men to be shirtless in public. Free the nipple 2025

The enlightened masses constitute a percentage of the total population far lower than you'd think

In my experience (as a trans woman who has experienced both sides of this coin), I can no longer get away with being topless in most situations. However, I can get away with wearing less in more situations. It's acceptable for me to wear a short cut, sleeveless tank top or boob tube in situations where it would be difficult for a guy to wear a singlet or other sleeveless top.

Legally, a lot of places it's been court tested, and you actually can. Culturally, it's just kind of that way. Hair is banned in Arabia, tits can hang out in Papua New Guinea. The West says no boobs but hair is fine.

A genital covering is the only cultural universal, although it can sometimes be overly revealing by Western standards, like with penis gourds.

They can in many areas but chose not to. So you’d have to ask them why they don’t when they can. Why aren’t they setting an example for the other areas? Like New York I believe allows women to go topless. The Empire State. Home of the biggest or at least most populous state in America and they don’t do it.

It's legal in most the US states too.

In many countries in public spaces women can be topless wherever men can. Sadly it doesn't mean they feel safe/comfortable doing so.

They can in Canada.

In some countries you can, I believe Canada is one of them... at least I believe it's legal to do so in Toronto.

Vice versa, they can't wear skirts for hot days, but gals can.

The answer is imho, holdovers from more sexist days, and a general attitude of not wanting to be seen as effeminate/photographed by creeps.

Even though guys have been wearing kilts for many years, in various cultures; and there's AI slop now anyway that keeps 'em busy instead.

Iirc it's also allowed in some countries. Naturism is bigger in them.

Because of creeps, freaks, and prudes

Aside from men being horny in the 1800s

Men aren't horny now?

Man here

If you ladies wanna walk around shirtless at the gym and work out I personally have no objection and I promise I won't say a word to you.

However you are going get looks, a lot of them.

TIT SWEAT Need a bra to soak up the pools.

A matter of social acceptability in general. Some societies, moreso before Western norms became widespread, don't view the breasts in a sexual way and a woman going topless would be completely unremarkable.

Other than the breasts, some societies see the legs as very sexual, so they always cover the legs in public.

I think it would be more likely to change in a female-dominant society, but they could just as well not change it for no obvious reason. I'm sure there's some nuance I'm glossing over, but even though it's legal for me to go out in my underwear as a man in a male-dominated society, I wouldn't do so voluntarily, regardless of the temperature.

Most people haven't had a thought since high school.

Honestly, I don't think it is the men saying you can't be topless. It's other women. I am pretty sure that even though I would get used to boobs everywhere, I would still be in a generally better mood. Boobs just make most guys happy. I don't know if it would make women who are attracted to women happy too, but maybe.

For what it's worth I think it's kinda weird for other guys to not wear a shirt in public, like dude what are you doing, put your shirt on.

Because there was a movement to make it socially acceptable for men in the 20th century that was successful while the equivalent one for women has been slower, but also has seen some successes resulting in places like New York, New York and Columbus, Ohio permitting female toplessness in public.

You know, I've been in places with lots of nudity, and for the first day or so all you want to do is look. Then after that you stop looking and it just becomes normal. I imagine if women going topless was more common, guys would not look any more than they currently do.

because patriarchy only sees women as sexual objects.

Afaik they can. At least in NM.

It's legal to be completely naked where I live, that doesn't mean that it's socially acceptable or that it won't count as "disturbing the order"(not what it's called legally, but it's tricky to translate into English well, "förargelseväckande beteende").

But it isn't illegal to be naked😃. So they can, but they don't, usually

Tbh, I'd much prefer if no one did.

They can (Canada) but they don't because guys think with their hormones.

Reading the comments made me wonder how people react to elderly people in a female body and those considered unattractive who go topless. It's probably still harassment?

During our CrossFit workouts, about 30%-50% of the guys and girls all ditch their shirts. Yes, the women are in sports bras, though the effect is similar and very much the norm.

Women compensate by only wearing the shortest of shorts during winter while men cover their ankles.

You know why. What the heck kind of question is that?

Men. That's why.