Hi all,
I heard that many PIP topics can be regarded as 'inappropriate' if they are related to drugs, porn or profanity and the like...
So I was wondering whether this PIP topic I've thought about is inappropriate:
"In the West, how come it is socially acceptable for males to be topless in public but not women?"
This idea came from a childhood issue i had. When I was little, I wanted to go for a swim in my friend's pool but forgot to bring my swimming outfit. The boys didn't bring their cozzies either so they just jumped in with only their underwear. When I tried to do the same I got into trouble by the adults by the pool. My mum had a lecture to me later that day and told me to "never do that again!". Gawd, I was only 9!
Since then, I realised that women never (or VERY VERY VERY rarely) exposed themselves bare-chested in public, but men did. It didn't make sense to me. I felt very frustrated growing up, realising that I would forever have to cover up too.
However, in other cultures around the world (eg. Africa, South America, indigenous cultures, even Greece and Spain) it is ok for women to be bare-chested in public. Here in Australia, I think that the only places where women can be bare-chested are on some beaches, like nude beaches. In USA, women can be arrested for "indecent exposure" if they are topless whereas men are not charged at all.
In fact, this issue has stirred up a feminist revolt movement called "Topfreedom". Topfreedom aims "To accord women and girls the right to be topfree in public where men and boys have that right."
They prefer to use the word "topfree" rather than "topless" because topless has negative, indecent sexual connotations that degrade women. Members of this movement rally against established gender dress-codes that restrict women the right to expose their top half in places where men can.
I've thought about it very carefully and realised that it has the potential to be an excellent PIP idea. It also uses several key concepts, including society, culture, gender and time. Please tell me what you think. I am also quite nervous about talking to my Society&Culture teacher about it, A) because he's male and B) because I find the topic itself quite awkward.
Thanks.
I heard that many PIP topics can be regarded as 'inappropriate' if they are related to drugs, porn or profanity and the like...
So I was wondering whether this PIP topic I've thought about is inappropriate:
"In the West, how come it is socially acceptable for males to be topless in public but not women?"
This idea came from a childhood issue i had. When I was little, I wanted to go for a swim in my friend's pool but forgot to bring my swimming outfit. The boys didn't bring their cozzies either so they just jumped in with only their underwear. When I tried to do the same I got into trouble by the adults by the pool. My mum had a lecture to me later that day and told me to "never do that again!". Gawd, I was only 9!
Since then, I realised that women never (or VERY VERY VERY rarely) exposed themselves bare-chested in public, but men did. It didn't make sense to me. I felt very frustrated growing up, realising that I would forever have to cover up too.
However, in other cultures around the world (eg. Africa, South America, indigenous cultures, even Greece and Spain) it is ok for women to be bare-chested in public. Here in Australia, I think that the only places where women can be bare-chested are on some beaches, like nude beaches. In USA, women can be arrested for "indecent exposure" if they are topless whereas men are not charged at all.
In fact, this issue has stirred up a feminist revolt movement called "Topfreedom". Topfreedom aims "To accord women and girls the right to be topfree in public where men and boys have that right."
They prefer to use the word "topfree" rather than "topless" because topless has negative, indecent sexual connotations that degrade women. Members of this movement rally against established gender dress-codes that restrict women the right to expose their top half in places where men can.
I've thought about it very carefully and realised that it has the potential to be an excellent PIP idea. It also uses several key concepts, including society, culture, gender and time. Please tell me what you think. I am also quite nervous about talking to my Society&Culture teacher about it, A) because he's male and B) because I find the topic itself quite awkward.
Thanks.
