Topless women march in Farmington, Maine over double-standard

[Kadie]

Topless women march in Farmington over double-standard
Ken Christian, Information Center Content Manager 47 mins ago


FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) -- A forecast of sunny skies in April in Farmington, Maine, seems like the perfect time to put the top down. But a drive in an open-air convertible isn't what female residents have in mind.

On Friday, nearly two dozen women marched topless through the college town to protest a double-standard that allows men to take off their shirts on a hot summer day.

It's already legal for women to bare their chests in public in Maine. But the protesters want it to also become socially acceptable.

Friday's event was organized by University of Maine at Farmington student Andrea Simoneau. She participated in a similar event earlier this month in Portland and decided to try it in Farmington.

more...
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=117277



University of Maine at Farmington student Andrea Simoneau addresses the crowd during a topless protest Friday, April 30, 2010, in Farmington, Maine. The state is fast earning a reputation as a place where women can let down their hair, and their tops, thanks to demonstrations by women calling attention to the double-standard that it's acceptable for men, but not women, to go bare chested. When it comes to state law, though, there's no discrimination. It's perfectly legal for women to go topless in public.



University of Maine at Farmington student Andrea Simoneau shrugs her shoulders as Elaine Graham holds a blanket to prevent Simoneau from showing her breasts during a topless protest Friday, April 30, 2010, in Farmington, Maine. The demonstration called attention to the double-standard that it's acceptable for men, but not women, to go bare chested. When it comes to state law, though, there's no discrimination. It's perfectly legal for women to go topless in public.


Topless protesters attract a large crowd, Friday, April 30, 2010, in Farmington, Maine. The demonstration called attention to the double-standard that it's acceptable for men, but not women, to go bare chested. When it comes to state law, though, there's no discrimination. It's perfectly legal for women to go topless in public.


Topless women attract the attention of bystanders, Friday, April 30, 2010, in Farmington, Maine. The state is fast earning a reputation as a place where women can let down their hair, and their tops, thanks to demonstrations by women calling attention to the double-standard that it's acceptable for men, but not women, to go bare chested. When it comes to state law, though, there's no discrimination. It's perfectly legal for women to go topless in public.


University of Maine at Farmington student Andrea Simoneau, left, is videotaped during a topless protest Friday, April 30, 2010, in Farmington, Maine. The demonstration called attention to the double-standard that it's acceptable for men, but not women, to go bare chested. In Maine, it's perfectly legal for women to go topless in public.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Double. Standard.

Yup.

[PassingFair]

68. Heh heh. Heh.

[old mark]

2. Hey, we have a lot of that double standard right here in PA, too...

you are welcome to march here next...

(going to be very warm this weekend)


mark

[virgogal]

3. Lotsa "Weight Watchers" candidates in Farmington.

[Lucky Luciano]

10. yep. nt

[Mojeoux]

56. Don't Women's Breasts Cause Earthquakes?

Because they excite the young men and the excitement causes a pulsation in the inner magnetic forces of the shifting plates of the continents.

Yes, perfect sense.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:


:silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:


:tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat:


:wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

[tabasco]

64. Post a pic of yourself.

Or STFU.

[cali]

4. oh for fuck's sake. It's legal.

stupid whiners.

[TheManInTheMac]

67. This is the second time. The first time was in Portland.

My wife and I ROFL when the reporter said "no arrests were made because it is not illegal."

Civil disobedience: You're doing it wrong!

[dana_b]

5. it is a double standard

and until we're mature enough to face that and to realize that a woman's body is not some sexual toy for everyone else's pleasure, things won't change. I commend these women for trying to make that change.

[JackintheGreen]

6. I love love love the dude in the last picture

Oh, yeah? It's just flesh? Then why are you filming it?

He's probably blameless, but golly it looks bad.

[TwilightGardener]

19. He totally needs a shirt. Who the hell wants to see that?

[MattBaggins]

7. What's next?

Burning bras?
Not shaving?

What is becoming of our society?

I must be getting old since I agree with them; but from the other side. I think that men should have the decency to put on a shirt as well. Everyone should have a shirt on in public.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. That is more true of some men than others...

SHIRT PLEASE!!!!



Not so much...

[ThatsMyBarack]

22. How come MAN boobs are okay in public?

1st guy needs a mansierre (sp?).

[BrklynLiberal]

26. EXCELLENT question!!!

[AwakeAtLast]

36. They're really not

but the guy who bares them thinks it is......

[Arugula Latte]

54. Not mansierre -- Bro!

:P

[miscsoc]

50. got to object to the fat-bastard o phobia going on in this thread

it's the last acceptable prejudice.

[Tsiyu]

57. Thank you

what someone looks like, how much they weigh blah blah blah.

lots of judgemental pricks flocking to this thread.

Just DO NOT get the whole point.

Sad and embarassing to DU

[MajorChode]

8. Breast protest EVAH!

[leftstreet]

9. That lady's pink and black skirt is cute

Looks comfortable, too.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. It is legal for women to be topless in public in NYC.

[pipoman]

58. I think I like the NYC 'activists'....

better than the Maine activists..

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. ...

[craigmatic]

14. I wish I lived in Maine. I hope this is the beginning of a nation wide trend. It is a stupid double

standard though.

[LiberalAndProud]

15. If it's legal, and you want to be topless, go ahead.

But don't be surprised if people stare.

[gmoney]

16. "We're protesting people staring at us!" Huh?

"We're drawing attention to our plight that people constantly pay attention to us when we walk around topless."

[WinkyDink]

17. Apparently fat backs are gender-neutral, also.

[TwilightGardener]

18. OK, I laughed.

[Obamanaut]

25. Can you say 'fat backs' without getting an ear chewed off? nt

[underpants]

20. Swimbads in Germany allow it

aaahhh those Staurday afternoons :pals:

[Posteritatis]

21. The outraged, terrified comments on that article are sorta hilarious. (nt)

[miscsoc]

45. they are hilarious/frightening

"Walking around barefoot with a nasty foot fungus is legal. I want it to be socially acceptable though. Everyone out there who has oozing blisters between their toes...lets organize and march barefoot on the capitol lawn to show everyone how we want our rotten feet to be naturaly accepted. if you dont like it, look away."

What a bizarre comment.

[noiretextatique]

59. "It's also inappropriate - breasts are sex organs"

"Should guys be walking about with their penis' out?"

:rofl: AllysonNC thinks breasts are "sex organs" like "penis'" :rofl:

[hyphenate]

23. That skirt she's got on

really doesn't do anything for her. Maybe she should have found a bottom that went better with her bare top.

[Union Yes]

24. I heart rabble rousers!

:patriot:

[mainer]

27. A rather chilly day in Maine. Should have waited till summer.

Because then they'd have shed their winter weight.

But hey, this is one of the things that makes me proud I live in Maine.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

43. I thought it was kind of warm this afternoon... just windy. n/t

[classysassy]

28. The lady in the tight jeans

nice ass.

[harry_pothead]

29. We could do it this way:

If you can run the mile in 7:30 or under as a male, or 8:15 or under as a female, nudity laws don't apply to you. Otherwise they do.

;)

[iris27]

53. You might be surprised at the number of "fatties" who can do that.

Athletic ability and physical slenderness aren't as well correlated as many people think.

[harry_pothead]

65. That's the beauty of it. It's an objective standard.

[Berry Cool]

30. I guess it's OK to go topless so long as the general public find you attractive.

If they think you're ugly, you have to put your clothes on.

And once again we show how open-minded we are here on DU. The beautiful?? Show us your boobies--women AND men. The ones we consider fat and ugly? For God's sake, cover yourselves!!!!!!!!! :scared:

[TK421]

31. Interesting how that one works, doesn't it?

I've noticed that myself...has this country no hope?

[dana_b]

33. yep

the attitudes are surprising and juvenile.

[PassingFair]

66. Juvenile, yes. Surprising, no. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

37. So true!

[Book Lover]

40. Yep

Not so surprised in this corner, though. DU is pretty much a bastion of sexism.

[Warren DeMontague]

47. No, they should all be allowed to show their boobies.

I, however, may pick and choose what I wish to look at.

[aikoaiko]

32. This thread is useless without video -- so here's the video

http://vimeo.com/10683927

eta: I'm no longer sure if this is the same march.

[harry_pothead]

34. +1 for you.

[BrightKnight]

35. As a male, there are time when I like not wearing a shirt.

The sun and wind on my skin is pleasant. I like the freedom and it has little or nothing to do with sexuality. If there were a law or taboo that only permitted me to do this in my home I would feel oppressed.

Way too much is made of breasts. I love women and breasts are nice but I don't blow a head gasket every time a little skin. Most people wouldn't even notice if it were common. Tuning the social sensitivity down a bit wouldn't hurt anything.

[me b zola]

60. My favorite response on this thread

As a little girl I loved going w/o a shirt. I too loved the way the sun and wind felt on my shoulders, chest, and back. Swimming at a friends pool wearing only shorts was the best. I remember well when I got to the age when my mother told me I could no longer be in public w/o a shirt, how unfair I felt that was. Thank you for your post, it brought back many of those feelings.

[seabeyond]

63. anytime, anywhere, look how men behave, the things they say with boobs... then lecture me

on the people making a big deal about them.

i am so tired of hearing people telling me about the big deal made of boobs when they are the very ones making such asses out of themselves when they see a set.

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. Ah, my Alma Mater!

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tmyers09]

41. The human body is a beautiful thing.

[miscsoc]

44. i beg to differ

i can send you nude pics if you want proof. i am anything but beautiful.

but i do think people should be able to walk around naked without trouble if they like. even the ugly, the old, and the fat.

[tmyers09]

55. Haha, feel free. All human bodies are beautiful.

If we all looked the same, it'd be boring as fuck.

[Dr Morbius]

42. I agree there's a double standard.

I never appear outside without a shirt, no matter how hot it gets. I do not swim, so this isn't inconvenient for me.

I think women who wish to walk about without shirts should be able to do so without recrimination or penalty. I think it's just as wrong for women to drool shamelessly over shirtless men as for men to lose control when they see a nice pair exposed, so let's recall there's another double standard extant here as well.

[Warren DeMontague]

46. They're right. People are way too uptight about sex. And boobs.

I mean, granted, a boob in the wrong place can do a tremendous amount of damage....

[miscsoc]

48. that pic makes me happy every time i see it

nt

[MilesColtrane]

49. I hope this goes Maine stream.

[Withywindle]

51. Thumbs up.

Breasts are just breasts, that's all. If you were breastfed as a baby, you spent a lot of time with them up-close-and-personal, so I don't get the stigma attached to them.

Body parts are just body parts. Personally, I fetishize wrists, fingers, collarbones, and throats. None of which are deemed "dirty" on either gender so no one feels a need to cover them up. Lucky for me. :9

[johnaries]

52. To be honest, I aways wear a tee-shirt to "spare" everyone else

from looking at my man-boobs. Well, also, and I am very fair-skinned and it saves me a ton of money of sunscreen.

Honestly, most of those women I would rather not see them topless. Then again, most men I would rather not see topless. Personal preference aside, it is unfair and the women have exacly the same right to gross out people like me that the men do.

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61. Is that Rowdy Roddy Piper?

[-..__...]

62. Delete dupe.