this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2025
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Aside from men being horny in the 1800s, and this being a holdover since that time, is there any actual reason why this hasn't changed?

If society was dominated by women, would this be more likely to change?

I was sweating my ass off hiking in the hot sun, and the question has been bothering me all day after my top soaked through with sweat.

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[–] whaleross@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Where I am it is frowned upon with men going topless in public spaces unless it is a beach or some private area or they are doing heavy work in particularly hot weather and not just regular spring or summer. It is tolerated but barely so that men are running or exercising without a shirt. Women with just a sport bra or even a bikini top are quite common though, both in exercise and even in town. Personally I think it is equally tacky to be undressed like that regardless of gender, but I'm not really bothered enough to care. It would be considered very rude and sexist to comment on a women in bikini top to dress up though, unless it was upon entry to a space or venue where people are expected to wear appropriate clothes. Clubs tolerate women in barely tops but would not accept a man bare chested.

In business it is expected that men are fully dressed and buttoned to regardless the temperature while women can wear whatever clean and neat that is not showing off too much skin. In casual situations women can have any amount of cleavage but if a man buttons down the shirt so that the top hairs of his chest are showing it is an open invitation for ridicule for trying to be macho even if it is obviously for trying to cool down in 35°C weather. Unbuttoning a shirt all the way is a definitive no-no unless you're a teen or a country bumpkin.

On beaches anybody can be wearing anything though on regular beaches some sort of bottoms are mandatory. From tiny string bottoms only to shorts or swimming suit to burqini. In "proper" sauna you are not allowed swimsuits or shorts at all for hygiene reasons but in public sauna they are mandatory.

So, you see, it is not binary good and bad and humans and society is more complicated than men horny.