What's the big deal about showing boobs?

[Crazy_Jezabel]

I know a lot of men find boobs sexy because they are soft and they don't have them themselves (Well they do, but not like women) and I know some women like them.

However, why do us Americans make such a big deal about boobs? Why is is such a sin to show a boob on TV and that there are only certain beaches you can go topless on or nude on?

I remember the whole Janet Jackson Superbowl thing. She showed her boob for like 2 seconds and it was suddenly a crime. It's just a boob! Every woman (unless they sadly had to loose them) have boobs. They may be different sizes and have different nipples, but it's just a body part. It's not as if a head was cut off on national TV, although I have a feeling that would be more accepting than nudity.

I was happy when I came to Holland I no longer had to see those stupid x's and block marks when nudity was shown on a non paid TV channel.

And why is it that it seems like people can accept women walking around in skimpy bikinis on the beach, but not women who wear a very short mini skirt with a very low cut and tight shirt walking on the streets? In other words why are women who walk in shirt skirts and low cut shirts usually considered sluts or prositutes, but not if they walk on the beach in a skimpy bikini?

 

[Shoefetishguy]

I have no idea what an answer could be, LoL

 

[elizabeth22673]

I know a lot of men find boobs sexy because they are soft and they don't have them themselves (Well they do, but not like women) and I know some women like them.

However, why do us Americans make such a big deal about boobs? Why is is such a sin to show a boob on TV and that there are only certain beaches you can go topless on or nude on?

I remember the whole Janet Jackson Superbowl thing. She showed her boob for like 2 seconds and it was suddenly a crime. It's just a boob! Every woman (unless they sadly had to loose them) have boobs. They may be different sizes and have different nipples, but it's just a body part. It's not as if a head was cut off on national TV, although I have a feeling that would be more accepting than nudity.

I was happy when I came to Holland I no longer had to see those stupid x's and block marks when nudity was shown on a non paid TV channel.

And why is it that it seems like people can accept women walking around in skimpy bikinis on the beach, but not women who wear a very short mini skirt with a very low cut and tight shirt walking on the streets? In other words why are women who walk in shirt skirts and low cut shirts usually considered sluts or prositutes, but not if they walk on the beach in a skimpy bikini?

Hey There,
I don't have the answers, but I do agree that there's definitely something wrong with what society views as nudity vs. dirty/evil. I have finally in the last year or so tried to un-brainwash myself....meaning I grew up where nudity is evil, sex is a disgrace.

Well, they are both two beautiful things as far as I'm concerned!

And yea, what's up with being able to walk around in a bikini and then being considered slutty when a woman goes to a club in a Friday night in her short skirt.

Good post..makes ya think
Liz

 

[Crazy_Jezabel]

I think in the United States almost everywhere nudity and sex is considered dirty/evil.

I never really thought that the USA considred nudity and sex to be a dirty/evil thing until I moved to Holland almost 3 years ago. In most areas if you show your boobs in the USA either you are called a slut or people admire them as if they never seen boobs before. Here when people see breasts it's like seeing legs. Yes, men find them attractive, but they don't act like it's the very first time they've seen boobs.

I rarely ever seen anyone here in Holland dress in mini skirts and tight low cut shirts other than in the red light disctrict. I can only remember seeing a woman dressed like that two times. Both times was in the McDonalds. I guess they were heading towards a night club.

I just don't see what the big deal in nudity is. Okay, I wouldn't go nude or even wear a bikini on the beach, but that's because I'm an American and I'm brained washed into thinking plus sized women aren't sexy and have no buisness being sexy and brainwashed that it's naughty to be nude.

I really liked how one of my pictures turned out that I posted on here. I post at one other normal message board. I was proud of how it turned out and I wanted to show it with my breasts blurred out. Only two people were none judgmental. One said I had a lot of courage and told me I looked good and one told me she couldn't wait until she's able to be able to wear an outfit like that and feel sexy in it.

 

[EternalSufferin]

You all are very correct in your thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I love the US and wouldn't trade it for the world (especially after visiting kuwait, Saudi Arabia and some other nations such as those for business) But it's amazing how the religious whack jobs and the politicians can control what WE as individuals find indecent or not...Go figure..That the a country as "free" as ours is one of the most closed minded and socially inept compared to most places in europe.

p.s don't mind the spelling it's too early in the morning

 

[daylightwarrior]

You've opened one of those cans of worms. I have been raised differently than most but I still look for certain things. One of the things is how do you feel about yourself? Then you can start looking at how you percieve others.

 

[Disrupted]

I have no idea what an answer could be, LoL

Moralistic BS combined with double standards and hypocrisy. Would that be a start for an answer?

The ironic part about zealously trying to banish things which are regarded as undesirable or wicked is how curiosity or rebellion may be sparked in the process, resulting in the opposite of what was intended.

 

[kittykateater]

It all goes back to the earliest religions in Europe and the Middle East. Preists gained their wealth and power by absolute unquestioning obedience from their flocks. Women were a temptation that distracted men from working their butts off farming to give all their crops to the fat, lazy priests who sponged off of them. So women were called dirty and evil and had to cover up to keep men on the straight and narrow and keep the power and wealth of the priests intact. If a woman was too seductive, she was labeled a witch and burned alive to keep men from temptation. Jesus instructed his disciples to leave their wives and families and follow him and be obedient only to him, so there would be no sexual distractions to weaken their absilute loyalty and devotion. Women have sexual allure which is a threat to the power of religion (look at burkas in some ultra-conservative Moslem nations)! Gotta cover it all up and keep men supportng their churches.

What I never understood is, given the LONG history of persecution against women, why so many American women today are among the most stridently religious!

Americans still have not outgrown this strict religious legacy! Europeans had the same legacy but seem to have mostly outgrown it. If you doubt how religion dominates America, drive a mile through the streets of any community in America and count the number of churches you pass! Or listen to TV (how many shows have god, heaven, or angel in their titles?) or just average everyday conversation, and count the number of references to god:

Achoo! ... God bless you!
I just hit my thumb with a hammer, god damn it!
Oh my god, oh my god, I'm gonna....COME!
I'm leavng now, good-bye (a corruption of "god be with ye")

 

[dancing_monnkey]

I think a lot of the hang up has to do with the complexities of the "naughty" phenomina.

Things that aren't to be shown, become attractive because of the deviance involved. There's excitement in violating a social taboo. That's why a "Girls Gone Wild" video is erotic to most, but a breastfeeding mother is neither exciting nor offensive to most. It's a more accepted activity.

My point I guess, is that in any culture, general social taboos on dress, behaviour, or mating become extremely tempting. Look at the evolution from petticoat to thong and jeans. If complete nudity were universally accepted, the young people would still find something to do that defied their elders.

I thought long and hard about actually posting this... I'm not sure I added to the conversation... but I'm trying to express an idea here...

 

[Hocky9377]

I think kittykateater was more right about the idea of nudity in America.

The United States was founded on the ideals of the church and that people should be able to worship God however they choose. And as this country has gotten older, most of the messages from the Founding Fathers have gotten lost or changed. The separation of Church and State is not interpreted now as it was when the Constitution was written.

But others have lasted forever, like saying a nude body in public is indecent. They have started to relax the guidelines a little bit, but only after certain times at night, when children as less likely to be watching. "NYPD Blue" showed partial nudity practically every week, and they got away with it. Swearing, too.

The Janet Jackson episode was such a big deal because it took place during the highest watched program on television in the U.S., where everyone (men, women, and children) were more than likely watching.

Thats my little two-cents.

 

[lordonlyknows]

On the contrary, I'm finding a lot of T.V. stations to be much more liberal about censorship now-a-days, as opposed to say 4-5 years ago.

More and more "curse" words are apparently being pulled down from the taboo list, and seeing a complete uncensored ass isn't all too rare these days, at least when movies get re-ran on TNT or watching cop-dramas.

However, the nudity of man has been and is stil much more acceptable than the nudity of a woman on television.

And the word "god" still always gets bleeped or cut from the phrase "god damn" or "god damnit."

But, as always, it's just a case of societal conditioning; no one can really answer exactly why, but one could try to trace the history of the unspoken standards back to their origins.

In my definition of freedom of speech/expression, their can be no F.C.C. in existance.

I guess demonizing is a tradition of American culture, which I guess would spring from the American love of a bad guy, a scapegoat, or a someone or something to blame. It makes the world seem more convienent; explainable.

{Nudity & sex, drugs, Rock & Roll music, alcohol, Jazz} - counterculture

Even Bart Simpsons was at one point accused of evil influence.

We still seem to be ridding ourselves of lingering 1900's-50's conversative conventions.

Hence the ongoing debates of abortion or gay marriage.

A good question that leads to bigger ideas and vague answers.

 

[Crazy_Jezabel]

My point I guess, is that in any culture, general social taboos on dress, behaviour, or mating become extremely tempting. Look at the evolution from petticoat to thong and jeans. If complete nudity were universally accepted, the young people would still find something to do that defied their elders.

I agree that most teenagers will find something to rebel against, but I personally think if nudity was more accepting then something that is only natural wouldn't be so taboo and no one would really care what you wear or don't wear.

I wasn't even thinking about religion when I wrote this, but the USA is suppose to be seperate from the church. I guess that's just another admendment that's not really followed through with.

Is there any religion that accepts nudity?

 

[kittykateater]

Is there any religion that accepts nudity?

My understanding is that native Ameican religions, before Western influence, did. And Hawaiian/Tahitian religious ceremonies included public sex.

We should bring back those traditions!

 

[ShyGuy68]

I don't get it either. I can undestand why women cover their breasts up in daily life, because if they didn't, most of the men would be to busy looking at them to get anything else done

But what I don't get is that it's ok to show movies where lots and lots of people gets killed, and also in the news. But as soon a pair of boobs are shown, it's a big nono!! It' totally wrong.

We should start a movement to get killing and violence banned in movies, and promote more nakedness. We belive in make love, not war

 

[Crazy_Jezabel]

I don't get it either. I can undestand why women cover their breasts up in daily life, because if they didn't, most of the men would be to busy looking at them to get anything else done

But what I don't get is that it's ok to show movies where lots and lots of people gets killed, and also in the news. But as soon a pair of boobs are shown, it's a big nono!! It' totally wrong.

We should start a movement to get killing and violence banned in movies, and promote more nakedness. We belive in make love, not war

My husband and I watch violent movies, but he pretty much feels the same way as you do. He doesn't understand why violence would be accepted but not nudity that doesn't cause any harm.

 

[Crazy_Jezabel]

There was one other message board I posted on. I stopped posting there as of today. There's this avatar contest every month. One time the theme was moons. A Canadian woman posted a picture of a butt with the American flag in the butt. No one seemed to have a problem with that. I really liked how one of the pictures turned out that I've taken for this board. I painted on a top in Paint Shop since it's a non nudity board and shared the picture. Everyone got pissed off at me saying it was inappropiate because it was a family board and yada yada yada. What made a nakid butt okay but not me in a sexy post with a shirt painted on me not okay?

One woman told me her daughter was standing over her shoulders when she looked at the picture and she got upset because she had to explain to the her daughter why I was toplless. Well she could start out by saying that adults have a thing called "sexuality" and when two people love each other that "sexuality" creates life.

Babies are known to be beautiful, but sexuality which is what made the baby is consider dirty. I don't get it!

This is one of the reasons I decided to move to Holland rather than my husband move to the USA.

 

[biggsmall0669]

I as a male

am undeniably obsessed with gorgeous boobs.... Though I fail to see why i am so attracted to what is essentially 2 fat sacks attached to a female body.

 

[biggsmall0669]

they are just so amazing

 

[iamdick100]

Love to Watch

am undeniably obsessed with gorgeous boobs.... Though I fail to see why i am so attracted to what is essentially 2 fat sacks attached to a female body.

A great set of tits are wonderful to look at. My wife wears a 34DDD bra. She has gone topless and the men seem to love watchinng her.

 

[kittykateater]

Babies are known to be beautiful, but sexuality which is what made the baby is consider dirty. I don't get it!

Again goes back to earliest religions. Sex is dirty because the allure of women distracts men from slavish devotion to building the wealth and power of priests (it's no accident that....until McDonald's displaced them for the title....the powerful Catholic Church for centuries owned more of the world's prime real estate than any other person or organization--keeping the land to themselves and nne for teh peasants is how they gained and held their wealth and power.....hmmm, I'm not sure we've come all that far now that the world more often worships at the shrine of the golden arch instead of the golden cross?).

Anyway, the result of sex--babies--is promoted as eautiful because it means new people to indocrinate into religion, a new generation to work slavishly to support the priests, who do nothing and let others build their wealth and power for them (a job is very similar: you work hard to build someone else's wealth, and get to keep just the table scraps). In past centuries, priests and land barons worked hand in glove to build each other's wealth and power and to keep the serfs down, and the priest and the land baron were often the same person or relatives in the same powerful families. Today powerful families (like the Bushes and the Kennedys and all the other American royalty of business and politics) use religion as one weapon to keep their wealth (Bush oil money) and keep ohers down and hold onto power. It is no accident in a country supposedly built n separation of church and state, that the presidential oath of office ends in "so help me god". Religious indocrination is a pow=erful tool to hold nto wealth and power--if you can indocrinate people's mnds and keep them from thinking for themselves, you control them--like so many impoverished families seeing the lure of a good paycheck as a good reason to voluneer their sons for slaughter in Iraq to protect American oil invetsments there, in return for a better paycheck than they can get anywhere else. If you can break free of religion and actually think for yourself without the myths and fairy tales you were indocrinated into, and if you can break free from working for others to make them wealthy and start your own business to make YOURSELF wealthy, you are a threat to their wealth and power!

Americans have yet to outgrow this religious legacy, and it's only in the last half century or so that Europe has begun to break away from these traditions. The only place where religion dominates worse than it does in the US is the Middle East, and the bloodshed there over which religion is "superior" OUGHT to be a cautionary tale in America, but we have yet to listen! Because our religious and political leaders don't WANT us to hear that message--it means losing their power....as so many powerful Europena families have lost their power in recent years.

 

[elizabeth22673]

I don't get it either. I can undestand why women cover their breasts up in daily life, because if they didn't, most of the men would be to busy looking at them to get anything else done

But what I don't get is that it's ok to show movies where lots and lots of people gets killed, and also in the news. But as soon a pair of boobs are shown, it's a big nono!! It' totally wrong.

We should start a movement to get killing and violence banned in movies, and promote more nakedness. We belive in make love, not war

good point.