Recently, while writing about my shirtless man obsession from a humorous perspective — EXPOSED -
The Shirtless Man Phenomenon - An Examination of Shirt Deficiency Disorder (SDD) - Part I — I
began asking myself more serious, pointed questions about my fascination. When I photograph
shirtless men and post their photos on Facebook to make fun of them, am I guilty of body shaming?
As someone who is sensitive to female body image issues in our society, am I being hypocritical by
poking fun at these half-naked men?
The Shirtless Man Phenomenon - An Examination of Shirt Deficiency Disorder (SDD) - Part I — I
began asking myself more serious, pointed questions about my fascination. When I photograph
shirtless men and post their photos on Facebook to make fun of them, am I guilty of body shaming?
As someone who is sensitive to female body image issues in our society, am I being hypocritical by
poking fun at these half-naked men?
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| The original Shirtless Jeff |
In general, I do not advocate body shaming. However, if you’re a shirtless dude out in public, you’re
essentially bringing judgement upon yourself. I consider myself to be a progressive feminist, so some
might equate this line of thinking as hypocritical. How would I feel if someone posted a photograph of
me dressed in an unflattering, tight and revealing dress, then made fun of my fat rolls? Throughout
history a double standard has existed regarding the manner in which men and women are judged,
with a woman’s worth based heavily on her outside appearance and attractiveness. From sitcoms like
the King of Queens — where the wife is 10 times more attractive than the husband — to all the
comments about physical appearance slung toward any woman in the public sphere — think Janet
Reno and Hillary Clinton — it’s very apparent that the way a woman looks comes first and foremost in
judging her overall value. So shirtless guys — cry me a river. If you don’t want your physical
appearance scrutinized, maybe consider just keeping your shirt on. It’s quite easy for you to go back
to being an average looking guy who’ll be judged and valued based on your sparkling personality traits
and that deep, deep intellect.
Back in my college years, I worked as a clerk at an Amoco gas station in Ann Arbor, Michigan. One
day during a slow weekend shift, a middle aged shirtless man came into the store to buy a pack of
cigarettes. For whatever reason, I decided at that moment to enforce the station’s, “no shoes, no shirt,
no service,” policy, and denied the man his cancer sticks. I was promptly called a bitch as the man
exited the store and drove off in a huff. Now what was my motivation behind denying him his cigarettes?
Had I already developed a deep-seated aversion to shirtless men? Was I bored out of my mind and
wanted to exert my clerking super powers? It’s really tough to know for sure, but maybe I simply didn’t
appreciate being exposed to his bare chest.
day during a slow weekend shift, a middle aged shirtless man came into the store to buy a pack of
cigarettes. For whatever reason, I decided at that moment to enforce the station’s, “no shoes, no shirt,
no service,” policy, and denied the man his cancer sticks. I was promptly called a bitch as the man
exited the store and drove off in a huff. Now what was my motivation behind denying him his cigarettes?
Had I already developed a deep-seated aversion to shirtless men? Was I bored out of my mind and
wanted to exert my clerking super powers? It’s really tough to know for sure, but maybe I simply didn’t
appreciate being exposed to his bare chest.
So where does this aversion come from? Am I jealous of a man’s ability to just whip off their shirt
anywhere and anytime without a second thought? Honestly, when it comes right down to it, I find it
ridiculous we live in a society where women baring their breasts to feed their babies in public are often
shamed for their actions, while men can and do walk around half-naked exposing their useless,
decorative nipples and nobody gives a shit. It’s even come to the point where the “Dad Bod” is an
actual thing, supposedly being celebrated — at least according to a bunch of middle-aged male
magazine editors. A woman feeding her baby in public is somehow seen as inappropriate, while some
hairy, shirtless dude with a paunch is somehow seen as the new sexy. What’s wrong with this picture?
anywhere and anytime without a second thought? Honestly, when it comes right down to it, I find it
ridiculous we live in a society where women baring their breasts to feed their babies in public are often
shamed for their actions, while men can and do walk around half-naked exposing their useless,
decorative nipples and nobody gives a shit. It’s even come to the point where the “Dad Bod” is an
actual thing, supposedly being celebrated — at least according to a bunch of middle-aged male
magazine editors. A woman feeding her baby in public is somehow seen as inappropriate, while some
hairy, shirtless dude with a paunch is somehow seen as the new sexy. What’s wrong with this picture?
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| The First Shirtless Man of Spring 2018 |
Growing up female, we’re told to act a certain way, to act like a “lady,” to be polite, smile, be agreeable.
Don’t be too loud or too opinionated, because if you are, you might be seen as a bitch. In contrast,
males are encouraged to be bold and brash, put it all out there, be aggressive and strong. Don’t be
too emotional or too sensitive, because if you are, you might be seen as weak and girly. This line of
thinking even carries over to the way women and men are suppose to act when it comes to baring
one’s chest. A breastfeeding woman should be discrete and meek — careful to not make anybody feel
uncomfortable — while a shirtless dude in public can be free to do chin-ups along the bike trail or bask
in the sun reading a book in the park.
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| A shirtless man suns himself at the playground. Note, there's still snow on the ground. |
Mansplaining, manspreading, toxic masculinity . . . in this age of the #metoo movement, we’re
inundated with buzzwords addressing the entitlement of men. I know many, many women who are
fed up and sick of all the bullshit. If I spend some time poking fun at the dudes who feel the need to
take off their shirts as soon as the thermometer reaches 47 degrees, so be it. And if it hurts some poor
man’s fragile ego, I’m not going to stop to say I’m sorry. I’ve been needlessly apologizing for things my
whole life, because I was trained to be polite and agreeable, I was trained to be a woman. I’m done.
Where has this training gotten us, what gains have been made by being polite and agreeable?
Between Trump, his GOP enablers and his downright dirty ass racist, misogynist supporters, we’re in
for a bumpy ride. Economic equality, reproductive freedom, childcare costs, emotional labor, sexual
harassment, sexual assault, the worst maternal mortality rate in the developed world . . . the lists goes
on and on. I talked to a friend today who said her anger at the male population in general over the
constant barrage of shit being thrown at women and women’s rights is beginning to manifest itself into
how she’s treating her own husband. Resentment is high. So men, if we make fun of those of you who
choose — yes, choose — to run around half naked, maybe it’s best that you let it be. Let us have this
one little laugh at your expense, because really, it’s pretty hard to find anything to laugh about these
days.
for a bumpy ride. Economic equality, reproductive freedom, childcare costs, emotional labor, sexual
harassment, sexual assault, the worst maternal mortality rate in the developed world . . . the lists goes
on and on. I talked to a friend today who said her anger at the male population in general over the
constant barrage of shit being thrown at women and women’s rights is beginning to manifest itself into
how she’s treating her own husband. Resentment is high. So men, if we make fun of those of you who
choose — yes, choose — to run around half naked, maybe it’s best that you let it be. Let us have this
one little laugh at your expense, because really, it’s pretty hard to find anything to laugh about these
days.
 |
| Shirtless man in Cartagena, Colombia - an international phenomenon. |
In the meantime, ladies, I say It’s time we focus our energy on embracing and celebrating the Mom
Bod. It’s time to lift up our fupas and show off our C-section scars. Need to feed your child? Brashly
whip out your breasts and let the feast begin. It’s time we make the dudes and the bros feel
uncomfortable for a change and remind them that our bodies are amazing, our bodies are beautiful,
our bodies can create tiny humans.
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| Watercolor courtesy of bopo_watercolour Check out her work |
