Thanks, mizemm

[conuly]

Go read.

"At some point, men's breasts became liberated and women's didn't," the Los Angeles Times quoted Liana Johnsson as saying. "This is the only thing left that men are legally allowed to do and, for women, they have to register as a sex offender. The real issue is there should be equal protection under the law," Johnsson told the newspaper.

Perfectly true. *gives Johnsson a cookie*

"We already have too many sexual assaults in society. If the state encourages women to show their breasts to men and boys at public beaches and parks, inappropriate treatment of women and girls will only worsen."

Allowing something isn't the same as encouraging it. Furthermore, I doubt that demystifying the breast would increase assult. Even if it did, so what? The solution isn't to ask women to go out in burqas (which is where this creepy troll logic eventually leads), it's to deal with people who sexually assult women.

There are good reasons for modesty laws, Thomasson said -- "to protect the innocence of women and girls and to promote a decent society supportive of children and families."

1. What innocence?
2. Come to think of it, what could be more innocent than the human form?
3. WTF? Nothing here goes against my ideas of a decent society. In fact, it seems more supportive of children and families since it'd lessen legal complaints against breastfeeding.

Thomasson said he would not be surprised to "see this crazy bill introduced by a Democrat politician and supported by many Democrat colleagues" -- and he is urging Californians to "call your state legislators right away to flood them with opposition.""

I've got friends in California. PLEASE, call your state legislators.

Allowing nude [sic] sunbathing at public parks and beaches will ruin family outings and promote a terrible role model for children," he concluded.

Okay, this calls for a poll.

[Poll #427407]

Comments

[leora.livejournal.com]

I hate the argument that women must cover themselves, because otherwise they shall provoke male lust, which is obviously impossible to contain and unreasonable to expect men to control. I prefer the argument that does not require women to wear burkas and instead says that people can learn to act like decent human beings, learn that no means no, and respect other people's boundaries regardless of what that person is wearing.

[conuly]

I suspect, actually, that all these "uncontrollable lusts" would be a lot more controllable if the body weren't always hidden away.

[leora.livejournal.com]

I think that's partially true. Hidden things have far more interest than that which is fully revealed. But scanty clothing is far more alluring than nudity or rather covering clothing. Afterall, strip teases exist for a very good reason, rather than women just prancing around naked. As does sexy clothing for the bedroom, rather than people just being fully undressed. Things that tease are the most provocative. Fully nudity or toplessness isn't really tied to sex unless you make it be.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily--look how many "leg men" are still around, despite the prevalence of the miniskirt for lo, these many years now.