Today's "Who Decided?" is the question about who decided that women's breasts should be covered and that it would be a criminal offence to not cover them? I sought out Wikipedia for some answers:
The word "topless" usually refers to a woman who is naked above her waist or hips or, at least, whose breasts are exposed to public view..."
I wonder why it isn't the phrase "bare breasted" as it equates to the phrase below for men.
"Barechestedness is the state of a man or boy wearing no clothes above the waist, exposing the upper torso... While going barechested at outdoor activities may be acceptable, it is taboo in workplaces, churches and other formal settings."
Attitudes towards toplessness have varied considerably across cultures and over time. The lack of clothing above the waist for both females and males was the norm in traditional cultures of North America, Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands until the arrival of Christian missionaries, and it continues to be the norm in many indigenous cultures today. The practice was also the norm in various Asian cultures before Muslim expansion in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Western culture shows the shift. How curious to find out that in many European societies between the Renaissance and the 19th century, exposed breasts were acceptable while a woman's bared legs, ankles or shoulders were considered risqué.
Doesn't that make you wonder what the norms are for what is sexual in nature. I point to the Muslim clothing rules which say that body areas which are sexual in nature must be hidden from public view. That it explains to me how Muslim women got to being completely covered.
We took a squick sprint through the available literature on the question for the day, and found meagre answers. On to the next question of the day in hopes it will be more entertaining.
It is killing frost warning day here in Niagara, where the temperatures go below freezing and the dahlias are destroyed.
