As a recent supporter of the 'Free the Nipple' campaign, I initially had conflicting feelings about the campaign against page three.
Firstly, I thought well there's no censorship on the models nipples and they are expressed naturally so surely that's a good thing? Women having the choice to not wear a bra and do what they want in terms of their breasts?
Then I quickly realised the clear difference between the two.
Argued by No More Page 3, the women's breasts on page three are continuing to be sexualised in the mainstream media.
Nobody can surely say they open page three to see what nature has created to feed children?
By sexualising breasts in this way it means the 'Free the Nipple' campaign has a further fight to change the thinking of society allowing breasts to be a natural creation that -hell dares I say it - happen to feel nice, just like a bum or anywhere else on the body for that matter.
In the ideal world, I'd like to raise my sons and daughter to know the only use of a bra is to help a woman's back and protect them from damage in a daily routine.
Not to hide the nipple which has been almost demonised by some women and made wanton to men. The more you think about the actual biological make up of a woman, it just get's more ridiculous that the taboo and stigma exists.
Many people think 'Free the Nipple' and imagine that women just want to walk about topless all the time. Think about it? When do men do that? Yes, probably just on the beach, around the house or if it's baking hot outside.
But wouldn't it be great for all women to have the choice as to whether this could be them?
I've also seen the argument that women are always going to be sexy, so what's the point in trying?
That's not the point; it's taking away the shamefulness of exposing breasts that should be achieved. This shamefulness comes directly from the sexualisation of breasts, by both men and women. I can't see why they can't be sexy; it's just the degradation that comes with exposing them in public and particularly in front of children that is so worrying.
Don't get me wrong, I like a topless man as much as the next person but think about the way you look at them. You don't judge them; you don't degrade them. You just appreciate them for their natural form, so for that to be a goal for woman would be celebratory.
I appreciate the women on page three's motives in having the choice to bare their chest, but until the viewing of page three is made to be a sexual minority then the fight for truly freeing the nipple continues.
Firstly, I thought well there's no censorship on the models nipples and they are expressed naturally so surely that's a good thing? Women having the choice to not wear a bra and do what they want in terms of their breasts?
Then I quickly realised the clear difference between the two.
Argued by No More Page 3, the women's breasts on page three are continuing to be sexualised in the mainstream media.
Nobody can surely say they open page three to see what nature has created to feed children?
By sexualising breasts in this way it means the 'Free the Nipple' campaign has a further fight to change the thinking of society allowing breasts to be a natural creation that -hell dares I say it - happen to feel nice, just like a bum or anywhere else on the body for that matter.
In the ideal world, I'd like to raise my sons and daughter to know the only use of a bra is to help a woman's back and protect them from damage in a daily routine.
Not to hide the nipple which has been almost demonised by some women and made wanton to men. The more you think about the actual biological make up of a woman, it just get's more ridiculous that the taboo and stigma exists.
Many people think 'Free the Nipple' and imagine that women just want to walk about topless all the time. Think about it? When do men do that? Yes, probably just on the beach, around the house or if it's baking hot outside.
But wouldn't it be great for all women to have the choice as to whether this could be them?
I've also seen the argument that women are always going to be sexy, so what's the point in trying?
That's not the point; it's taking away the shamefulness of exposing breasts that should be achieved. This shamefulness comes directly from the sexualisation of breasts, by both men and women. I can't see why they can't be sexy; it's just the degradation that comes with exposing them in public and particularly in front of children that is so worrying.
Don't get me wrong, I like a topless man as much as the next person but think about the way you look at them. You don't judge them; you don't degrade them. You just appreciate them for their natural form, so for that to be a goal for woman would be celebratory.
I appreciate the women on page three's motives in having the choice to bare their chest, but until the viewing of page three is made to be a sexual minority then the fight for truly freeing the nipple continues.