Why is a woman's upper body "obscene"?

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by visceral_instinct, Jun 24, 2009.

  1. Pandaemoni Valued Senior Member

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    The obvious answer is that women exposing their breasts became "obscene" as a result of social custom, largely as a result of European Christian influences. I am not certain exactly when it became the norm, but it is clear that the degree of restraint required has varied, as low-cut cleavage enhancing numbers were all the rage in the Renaissance amongst the wealthy.

    What is and is not sexually taboo varies greatly from age to age. Realities being what they were, most people (rich and poor) slept in the same room (and often the same bed) as the rest of their families and any guests (and if you were poor, your pigs, chickens and other animals). Separate bedrooms for the important folk are only a few centureies old. Before then, if you and the missus felt the urge to *ahem*, the etiquette was to wait until the children had fallen asleep. I have never read anything about stopping if they woke up (as surely they would, especially those sleeping in the same bed).

    Nowadays, if any family had sex while sleeping right next to their adolescent children, I think we'd haul them away to jail and put those kids in foster care. If there were pigs and chickens in the room at the time, it would be a media sensation.

    In New York, a century ago, men were regularly arrested for going topless, even at the beach (in fact, especially at the beach). At that time the double standard was that men could show their knees, and women could not.
     
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  3. Anti-Flag Pun intended Registered Senior Member

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    Clearly you need me.

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  5. Slysoon Registered Senior Member

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    The standard all civilizations of past have followed is that a woman's entire body is obscene. Historically, in civilized cultures, not only have women's bodies been considered obscene, but from a larger perspective, women themselves have faced great discrimination and inequality as well. Perhaps the greatest civilization in history, mighty Athens, was as equally harsh and sexist against its women as it was brilliant and influential. We notice this same trend occurred in the Roman Empire, where Cicero's single line could describe the status of nearly all women in Ancient Rome:

    "Our ancestors, in their wisdom, considered that all women, because of their innate weakness, should be under the control of guardians."

    This same trend was again followed strictly by Islamic and Byzantine civilizations, and again during much of the unrivaled British Empire, especially during the Victorian era, which was one of England's most powerful and prosperous times.

    In comparison, we notice the cultures which have treated women's bodies as equal to men's have been very uncivilized and tribal. This reality is easily observable even today as many sub-Saharan African tribes, or similarly, Amazon river tribes, feature women who roam with their breasts uncovered, and at times with their bodies naked all over. This is similar to how polygyny has existed in many extremely civilized and influential cultures, whereas polyandry has existed exclusively in uncivilized and tribal cultures.

    The reason why civilized cultures have always considered women's bodies to be obscene and in need of constant cover, in addition to their greater need for a "guardian", is due to the role female promiscuity plays in the health of civilizations, which itself derives from female modesty. All historic civilizations have considered female modesty of foremost importance, which they attempted to ensure through so-called "sexist" authority (inequality) and concealment.
     
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  7. steponit Registered Senior Member

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    same old same old

    When I enter a topless bar, i'm totally dazzled, however after 15 minutes i'm reading the label on my beer
     
  8. Saven Registered Member

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    Most of you wouldn't like it if other men's penises were hanging out of their pants. Women's breasts are a source of sexual attraction to men the same way penises are to women and gays. You wouldn't want yours or others to be seen, so why would women?

    Get a clue people.
     
  9. Randwolf Ignorance killed the cat Valued Senior Member

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    Not so sure about this... Me thinks many men would welcome the opportunity to have their penises "hanging out of their pants" if it actually worked to attract women. Would women be attracted to men going about with their penises hanging out?

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  10. glaucon tending tangentially Registered Senior Member

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    What's a topless bar??
     
  11. ripleofdeath Registered Senior Member

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    it is not men who object to women going topless.
     
  12. spaceChild Registered Member

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    If "your" woman went around topless in front of all your mates I'm quite certain you would object, as well as many other men around the world.
     
  13. ripleofdeath Registered Senior Member

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    i don't "own" any women but if i did i would be Muslim most likely and not allow them to speak never mind choose what they wear.

    what exactly is your point ?
     
  14. spaceChild Registered Member

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    My point being you wouldn't like your (hypothetical, I don't know if you have one or not) girlfriend/missus walking around without a top on in front of your mates while having drinks or just hanging out, even just at home.
     
  15. ripleofdeath Registered Senior Member

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    compared to me you are a neanderthal so our morals don't really bare comparison.
    i don't own women because i don't believe in slavery and it is also illegal in the country i live in, unlike many African and Asian countries and middle eastern countries where women are owned by the male of the house hold or the husband or oldest son etc...

    as far as i am concerned, the fact you wish to control a womans life to please your own ego and insecurities means you are on a much lower evolutionary level to me and thus there is no point in continuing any discussion on this subject or a vast number of other subjects for that matter.
     
  16. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    All females who wish to go topless will present themselves to Anti-flag for inspection. Should they be found to be sufficiently pert and blemish free, a license to go topless will be issued. Problem solved.
     
  17. FreshHat Registered Senior Member

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    A pun?
     
  18. jmpet Valued Senior Member

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    Breasts are sexy- end of thread.
     
  19. Betrayer0fHope MY COHERENCE! IT'S GOING AWAYY Registered Senior Member

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    Oh, So this is the new guy.
     
  20. CutsieMarie89 Zen Registered Senior Member

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    So is a man's naked chest- continue thread
     
  21. Betrayer0fHope MY COHERENCE! IT'S GOING AWAYY Registered Senior Member

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    Pandaemoni finished this thread, didn't he? I see nothing left the discuss.
     
  22. CutsieMarie89 Zen Registered Senior Member

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    I can only speak for me, but I don't find a flaccid penis sexual arousing at all. I wouldn't say it's exactly repulsive, but it ain't beautiful. It seems like men don't think the male chest and torso is sexually attractive to women. Why?
     
  23. Betrayer0fHope MY COHERENCE! IT'S GOING AWAYY Registered Senior Member

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    Hmm. I'd forgotten that most people aren't 15 year old boys.
     

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