Why is it socially acceptable for men to be shirtless but not women?

[SilverBulletZ06]

Gender neutral is a pipe dream, and one rooted in some SJW fantasy-land. Men and women are different, stop trying to explain it away. How about women start hitting the same standards for the military first, then start talking about equality when we actually follow it.

As for restrooms, lockers, etc.. same thing. Men to the left, women to the right. A woman that chooses to be top less is different then a teenage girl being forced to change next to their male schoolmates.

[GuyNTexas]

Originally Posted by ColdAilment

At what point in time and where was it decided that men can be shirtless but women can't? And trust me, there are many men in this country that are in more serious need of upper chest support than some women. Both men and women have nipples, why is it that since women have more rounded breasts they ought to be covered up, and it's considered "nudity" if they aren't?

As one poster said, it goes back a long way. And while I understand how some find it logically inconsistent to make such distinctions between men and women's bear chests, the reality is that female breasts have always been associated with sexuality, which explains why there is such a long history of fashion/attire that highlights this uniquely sensual aspect of the female form.

Probably, more than anything else, it's about protecting the wholesomeness, modesty and special value of females, distinguishing one from another as either a promiscuous pass around sexual object to which everyone may partake, or one to whom only those specially chosen by her gets to enjoy such intimate rewards.

Personally, I like a world where women are women, and men are men, as opposed to the new world some are attempting to create where the women behave like men, and the men act like girls.