"Talk to a Therapist"

A woman writes to Ellie complaining about her 25 year-old daughter's penchant for wearing low-cut and see-through tops.

We now have a good relationship and she visits us often. However, she has taken to going braless in flimsy materials where her full breasts and nipples are visible. I wouldn't want any woman coming to my home with my husband there, wearing practically nothing.

Instead of Ellie explaining to "Stressed" that nipples and breasts are nothing to get upset about, she offers this advice:

It's time you stopped being afraid to alienate her ... This may even be her adult way of "testing you," wanting you to care enough to be honest (without putting her down). Try to do it gently and with humour, as in, "You're gorgeous but we're seeing too much of you for parental comfort, so here's a shirt to wear while you're here." Also, be upfront in explaining that the younger girls aren't allowed to dress like that, as they're not as capable as she is of handling any overt reaction.

However, "sexual jealousy" has nothing to do with her clothing. It's related to your insecurities – perhaps about middle age, perhaps about your marriage. If it persists, talk to a therapist about it.

So, Ellie tells her to alienate her daughter by telling her to cover up, teach the younger children that the older daughter dresses like a slut, and to talk to a therapist. All over the sight of female breasts! How about telling the woman to simply stop staring at her daughter's breasts if they're upsetting her so much.

What other culture on earth would allow nipples to potentially break up a family? Complete insanity.

More on Cassidy Nicosia's Topfree Protest

Phillip Bantz of The Keene Sentinel has more details on Cassidy Nicosia and why police prosecutors dropped the indecent exposure and lewdness charges for her topfree protest on August 23.

Last week, police prosecutors D. Chris McLaughlin and Eliezer Rivera decided to drop the charge of indecent exposure and lewdness against Nicosia. The charge was dropped because walking down the street topless does not qualify as a crime under state law, Keene police Lt. Jay U. Duguay said.The law states that a person commits indecent exposure and lewdness if he or she fornicates, exposes genitals or performs any other “act of gross lewdness … likely to cause affront or alarm” in public.“She wasn’t fornicating or exposing genitals — breasts aren’t genitals,” Duguay said. “No one who complained about it said that it was gross lewdness.”While towns and cities may enact ordinances that prohibit women from going topless in public, Keene has no such ordinance, Duguay said.

One of the more interesting aspects of this case is that one of the reasons the charges were dropped has to do with the prosecutors' fears that should the issue have been presented to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, it was a good possibility that the language in the statute could be ruled as being "too broad", and therefore the judges could throw it out completely.

A topfree demonstration in support of Nicosia was scheduled on Wednesday, and it's not clear if that event will proceed. At any rate, even though no court decision come down on this case, it appears that Cassidy's protest has revealed that women's topfreedom is legal in Keene, New Hampshire.

Embracing Imperfection

Columnist Heidi Davoren is sick and tired of how the female breast is depicted in media.

Much pressure is placed on women to bounce back after pregnancy, but the reality is there's very little bounce left. Despite what celebrity mums might tout about how they achieved their amazing shape two weeks after delivery, the fact is it's physically impossible.

It's about time we put a stop to unrealistic expectations and just got real. This week I am embracing imperfection.

The constant parade in magazines, television programs and movies of pumped-up, gravity-defying, perfectly shaped female breasts has set a standard in the mind's eye of some sort of unattainable ideal that has nothing to do with how people really look.

If you are not a nudist or naturist and have gotten your perception of female breasts from Playboy magazine and pornography films, click here to see a gallery of non-sexual normal breasts.

Whenever a woman practices topfreedom, someone always makes the argument that the sight will be somehow harmful to children. In fact, the opposite is true - children are being harmed by being denied access to the sight of normal, nude human bodies.

Kenyon Women Fight for Topfree Equality

A story today in the Kenyon College Collegian newspaper describes how topfree women were kicked out of a "Shock Your Mom" party event on campus, which sparked a protest by a group calling itself "The Women Behind the Boobs", who hung photos of their own naked breasts along an area called Middle Path. A letter was circulated from the protesters, who said, "We love our bodies and we want you to see why! We just wonder why 'common decency' requires us to cover a part of our bodies that not only do men not have to cover, but that is a natural, integral part of ourselves."

According to students interviewed for the story, nudity at the annual event was expected, even though officially prohibited, and that the Campus Department of Safety decided to crack down this year. One student with flowers on her nipples was "grabbed by the shoulders" and told to leave.

According to (student Emma) Lippincott, between 50 and 75 women were involved in the demonstration in some way. While perhaps not all participants saw the demonstration as feminist, Lippincott said that she did. "For me, the true definition of feminism is about egalitarianism between the sexes," she said. "If one gender's chest is viewed as completely sexualized if it's exposed, if it's viewed as pornography when it's just breasts... that's an issue of equality."

Kenyon College is a liberal arts school with 1600 students located in Gambier, Ohio.

UPDATE: The Kenyon Collegian has an editorial supporting the students. It's a little awkwardly written but the point is clear.

We sympathize with the students who felt degraded by the comments they heard when they were asked to leave. Many students in the past have seen Shock Your Momma as an opportunity to expose themselves. These students find liberation in revealing their bodies in a relatively safe environment. When students feel as though they are invited into that environment and then they are pulled away from it, they may feel an understandable amount of shame from putting themselves out into exhilarating and uncomfortable nudity and being pulled away from it by a shaming force that says they are behaving inappropriately.

"Busting Out!"

It all starts when Emma Powell and Bev Killick go topfree as the audience yells "Show us your tits!".

"I've never had a problem with nudity at all," she (Killick) says. "To be in a show where I can be funny, dance a little, sing a little, act a little and get my boobs out, how good is that?"

Powell, by contrast, says she could never have done the show 10 years ago. "I'm actually quite modest by nature. But being late 30s when I started, I thought, 'this is who I am, there's nothing I can do about it'."

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Brilliant Breasts

UK television personality Kate Garraway has created some controversy over her breastfeeding documentary.

Miss Garraway said: ‘I came away from this documentary just in wonderment at the female body.

‘Because of the sexualisation of breasts, we don’t see them as the clever, brilliant things they are. Not in the way that we see the brain or the heart.’

Talking about the photo-shoot which makes it appear that she is breastfeeding a calf, she said: ‘I wanted to make people stop and think about whether it’s crazy to feed milk from another species.'

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All Nudist Women Are Whores

No, no, no, that's not my opinion, but it's the only conclusion one can draw from this statement:

Traditionally, good taste dictates that one should display breast or leg. Only prostitutes flaunt both, so have a care, unless you are looking for more adventurous ways to supplement the housekeeping.

So says etiquette "expert" Mrs. Mills of the Times Online, who is quoted in a new article on "big breasts".

This media driven frenzy about body parts is truly out of control.

Claudia Croft, the writer of the article, goes on to say:

I abide by three rules: 1) Getting them fully out is a no-no, even if you're in the south of France. It's nothing to do with unsightly saggage - only sluts go topless. 2) Using them in the boardroom is provincial. A girl in a suit with tidemark foundation and big boobs out for all to see is the female equivalent of a short, balding businessman with two mobiles. Just watch the next series of The Apprentice. 3) Never, ever, wish to have small ones. Ever! Even in the face of a tank top. The French say that a woman without breasts is like a bed without a pillow, and they are right. A friend who tried big prosthetics for a day reported that large ones were “very, very fun - everyone perked up when they saw me”.

Case closed.

Excuse me while I vomit. When it comes to women's breasts, this is the most offensive article I've ever read. Not even Hugh Hefner at his most sexist would have ever insulted women in general to such a degree.

I'm really at a loss for words here. As a naturist who has nothing but respect for all bodies, this is just impossible for me to digest.

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Why Do Women Get Breast Enlargement Surgery?

Bethan Cole in The Daily Mail wants to know.

'Breast surgery has become just another part of the beauty regime - like applying make-up - and it's unnecessary and unpleasant,' says the writer Joan Smith. 'It's treated the same as getting a haircut. It's become normalised. I think any woman considering breast surgery for cosmetic reasons should spend a month in Darfur and then decide if body image is a really important issue.'

Former Cosmopolitan editor Marcelle D'argy Smith agrees.

'Fake breasts have become inescapable, but I think the main reason why women do it is to please men. They're trying to fulfil a male fantasy.

'It might make women feel more confident - but it is, ultimately, for men.'

But do men really like the bowling balls on an ironing board look for women? Tony Parsons in GQ writes about the "Fear of Fake Breasts".

'They are not there to be fondled, kissed or felt; they are there to be admired, discussed, lusted after and photographed. The moment they are touched - and I mean in the heat of passion, rather than out of curiosity or in the interests of scientific research - then the spell is broken.

'And this is true of all fake breasts, no matter how much money has been spent on this act of female selfmutilation.'

Of course, in matters of mastectomies, deformities, reductions and other medical reasons, breast augmentation or reconstruction is a life-saver for many women. But if you are looking at a new pair to please that special guy, take note that if he does not take notice of your Manolo shoes or Gucci handbag, he really isn't going to care if you turn your fun bags into designer accessories.

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Those Pesky Breasts

A visitor to a Norfolk art gallery complained about the bare female breasts on a drawing, so the owner improvised by placing paper plate pasties over the offending images.

“I just feel like a woman’s private parts are hers,” said Jane Bruno, 42, of Suffolk, who added she would rather not see exposed breasts in public.

“Because it is art, it doesn’t offend me that way,” said Jaz Brown, 26, a Virginia Beach construction worker on a break. “Art is trying to capture the person. I think it’s beautiful.”

“What about little kids, though?” said his co-worker, Daniel Pitino, 35, of Virginia Beach. “Not sure. Not sure.”

Not sure? Really? Someone tell Daniel that the female breast is biologically designed for children. And while you are at it, tell him that kids can deal with the truth. If a child has a question about the female breast, it's perfectly OK to tell him or her that the breast is what feeds babies, that it is a symbol of life and nourishment, and when it is depicted in art it is a thing of beauty, something to be admired and appreciated, not shunned and feared.

Just grow up a little, people, this is just pure ignorance.

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Sexism and the Female Breast

The obsession with female breasts continues. On the one hand, advocates of public breastfeeding and topfree equality argue that they're "just breasts" and its no big deal, but on the other hand breasts dominate all modern media as sexual objects used to sell virtually everything.

It is generally considered that a woman who displays cleavage, or bares here breasts, will not be taken seriously as an actress, or in the business world. Contrary to this widespread belief, one blogger believes the opposite.

As the debate is often had whether or not feminine wiles are to be displayed during working hours, (surveys have discovered it's mostly women that object to other women displaying it), it becomes plain to see that a little boobage might in fact help women get ahead from the men. Of course no self-respecting women will be taken seriously when they cross the line between pornography and art, but at least it's good to know how to get the promotion over a male co-worker...

Let's go back to one year ago when Hillary Clinton appeared in the Senate showing the slightest bit of cleavage.

The cleavage, however, is an exceptional kind of flourish. After all, it's not a matter of what she's wearing but rather what's being revealed. It's tempting to say that the cleavage stirs the same kind of discomfort that might be churned up after spotting Rudy Giuliani with his shirt unbuttoned just a smidge too far. No one wants to see that. But really, it was more like catching a man with his fly unzipped. Just look away!

I don't think that Hillary showed even the slightest bit of cleavage since that day because of the uproar it caused.

If cleavage is indeed something that can help a woman get ahead of a man, then Hillary would have won in the primaries.

It's ludicrous to suggest that the size of a woman's breasts, and sexy display of cleavage, leads to success. Oh sure, there are infantile men who will salivate (think of Jack Nicholson's character Jonathan in "Carnal Knowledge), and those who would exploit breasts for profit (think Hugh Hefner), but if you honestly assess the number of women who have rode to the top exploiting their breasts, it's a lonely mountaintop.

Women like Dorothy Stratten, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith all died tragically. The only woman that comes immediately to mind who achieved success while displaying her assets was Erin Brockovich, but her story was immediately exploited by Hollywood, putting Julia Roberts in to the role of the sexy legal clerk.

Yes, America loves female breasts, as long as they can be used to sell products, magazines, television shows and movies, otherwise put them away where they belong, under a turtleneck sweater, if you want to be taken seriously.

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Obsessed With Breasts

I don't quite understand why, but it seems to be perfectly acceptable to analyze women strictly on the size and shape of their breasts. Annika Harris on thefrisky.com writes a particularly offensive post.

To me, Raven-Symone represents a normal body size. She has curves that are proportional to her height, and she’s one of a few thick girls catering to the preteen girl demographic. But every time I watch That’s So Raven, I wonder why her breasts and the rest of her torso are always covered because it makes her look larger than she really is. Then I realized this is a technique to make Raven, 22, look more like a teenager for her roles on that show and in The Cheetah Girls movies. But choosing to cover her curves has led to a malicious debate online: Is Raven fat or all breasts?

Harris critiques the breasts of six female celebrities in the article, which has absolutely no redeeming value except that it gives me an opportunity to point out how offensive it is.

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The Daily Newds 4/14/08

• Time Out New York magazine wants to feature everyday New Yorkers in "some state of nudity". [jossip.com]
• Photos are now online showing all the nude actors onstage in the new German production of Verdi's "A Masked Ball". [telegraph.co.uk]
• A writer ponders the American obsession with breasts.

  If we, as Americans, refocused the time, energy and brainpower we spend consumed with breasts, we probably could have this global warming crisis licked in five years - tops. If not, women well may be forced to go topless, because of the rising temperatures alone. [The Daily Toreador]

• The New York Academy of Art is holding its 17th annual "Take Home a Nude" auction.

  Ms. (Eileen) Guggenheim, who came up with the event's name, said that it started in the early 1990s, when she realized the volume of gorgeous nude drawings and paintings that the talented MFA candidates were producing. "We thought, these are gorgeous and really salable," she said. "Naturally, we needed scholarship funds. We were a young school, so it seemed obvious at the time." [The New York Sun]

• A doctor running hospitals in Cambodia has turned down the $91,000 he was offered from the sale of the Carla Bruni nude photo.

  "My decision was taken out of respect for our patients and their mothers," he said in an interview with the weekly Le Matin Dimanche. "Accepting money obtained from exploitation of the female body would be perceived as an insult." [ttc.org]

• The Vancouver Board of Education has dictated that teachers cannot "expose students to nudity through activities such as skinny-dipping (and art!)."

  It has erroneously equated mere nudity with sexual abuse, instead of with body acceptance. The 35,000 members of the Federation of Canadian Naturists condemn this misguided strike at skinny-dippers' rights. [canada.com]

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Breast Men

TMZ reaches a new juvenile low by posting a man boob gallery of Hollywood stars, with the caveat "viewing is not recommended during meals".

The above photo is from Clothes-Free International, showing real people. At first glance, it's hard to tell who is the woman in the group from the size of the breasts.

The fact is that as men get older, they tend to sag, just like women. That once proud chest gives in to gravity and age.

Much is made in the media about women and girls with severe body image issues, which is commendable, but men suffer from the same problem. The male form in advertising is also idealized, causing many men to over-exercise in a futile effort to develop a six-pack, or to take steroids to try and build up a body that was simply not made for muscles.

Nearly 14,000 males undergo breast reduction surgery every year. It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of all men have some form of gynecomastia, or "man breasts". In other words, it's normal.

Some men are embracing their boobs. One photographer celebrates the "mature heavyset male". And a site in the UK is strictly all about man boobs.

I remember when I was a teenager I was ashamed of my chest. Since I was a little kid I always had larger breasts than most of the other kids. I remember once looking in the mirror and adjusting my posture so that slouching made my chest appear smaller. I avoided gym class whenever there was a basketball game between "shirts and skins". One time, in 8th grade, a girl punched me in the boob and went away laughing.

When I was about 18, I remember being at a friend's summer house with my girlfriend. She asked me why I always wore a shirt unless I was actually in the water, and I replied that I didn't like the way I looked. She put her hands under my shirt and told me that she thought my larger chest was sexy. Problem solved.

Sometimes just a little positive reinforcement is all someone needs in order to overcome body issues. That doesn't mean that people should not strive to look and feel better, but it might help people to at least come to terms with their own bodies, to accept what they have and not resort to artificial means to try and achieve a totally unrealistic body.

The TMZ man boob pictorial is no different than that young girl who once punched me in the boob. It's cruel, and grossly immature. I can forgive the girl for what she did to me because of her, but adults should know better. An entire industry now exists to make fun of the way celebrities look, which is basically an indictment on the entire human race.

For me, the primary benefit of nudism is the opportunity to see normal bodies of all shapes and sizes, and of all ages. The image of the human body, especially in the mind of Americans, badly needs to be normalized. Nude, we really do resemble each other.

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The Weekend Newds 10/27/07

• No Name Key in Florida is still without electricity, and apparently also without clothes. [bradenton.com]
• Getting totally naked was not enough for one fan to win tickets to see Led Zeppelin. [digitalspy.co.uk]
• An woman finds new terminology to measure the decreasing size of her breasts. [thestar.com]
• A New Zealand naturists club is holding an open weekend (includes video link). [stuff.co.nz]
• The state of Utah is considering legislation that would censor material on the Internet. [kutv.com]
• "Dear Annie" advises a woman to "Lock the bathroom door and make sure you have a robe with you" when her husband tries to take nude photos of her. [creators.com]
• The prima ballerina of the Korea National Ballet has been docked a month's pay for appearing nude in a fashion magazine. [english.chosun.com]
• A group of Brazilian oil workers stripped naked to protest discriminatory policy in the company's retirement plan. [brazzilmag.com]
• A judge has fined a Barcelona man who likes to stroll about the streets in the nude because "others also have the right not to see him without clothes". [thinkspain.com]
• Actor's Equity has strict rules regarding nudity that stage producers must abide by. [backstage.com]
• Before he was James Bond, Sean Connery was a nude artist's model. [dailymail.co.uk]
• Travelodge reports that nude sleepwalking is up 700% in Britain. [uk.reuters.com]
• The city of Opa-locka in Florida is considering a law against sagging pants and exposed underwear. "It's not decent. It's not respectful. Showing your butt sends a terrible message," said Commissioner Timothy Holmes, the measure's sponsor. [orlandosentinel.com]
• Queensland Premier Anna Bligh considers the bare-breasted women on balconies to be more dangerous than the auto racing at the Indy motorsport festival. [brisbanetimes.com]
• A writer signals the dawn of the "New Nude Tourism" and lists the best places to let it all hang out. [canada.com]
• The Getty Center is offering "In Focus: The Nude" which traces the use of nudes in photography since the early 1800s. [ocregister.com]
• An Australian barmaid was fined for crushing beer cans between her bare breasts. [news.com.au]
• Does James Lipton really have a nude portrait of Miss Scarlet from Clue? "I am proud to say that the poster, the chair and the astonishing woman in it are still in my living room?" [eonline.com]
• A conservative commentator thinks that nude protesters are dumb and selfish. [news.com.au]

Tags: nudism, naturism, nudist, nudists, naturist, naturists, nudity, nudes, bare, au naturel, nude, naked