I think a really important part in this is that in a situation where other men are leering at someone's wife, the better response is to address the behaviour of the men, and not to ask her to cover up, because effectively what this does is shift the responsibility of their bad behaviour onto her. I get what you're saying that many cultures are patriarchal, but it's really important to be critical of what we're raised to believe, and unlearn as much as we can, rather than continuing the cycle.
hysterika
Okay I'm gonna post something like an actual answer, which I feel like will get downvoted bc y'all are men but whatever.
Women's bodies are sexualized, plain and simple. Breasts perform the biological function of nourishing a baby, but that has seemingly become secondary to their entity as an object of sexual desire, namely by men. So you have 3 factors - breasts are seen as sexual in nature, sex is considered taboo in many western cultures, and men are generally the ones who hold positions of power. Put that all together and you have laws and cultural attitudes that require that breasts be concealed in public.
Men's nipples are completely fine though. Men can walk around shirtless (in many places, perhaps not "most" but 100% more than can be said for a woman) and no one bats an eye, but the female nipple is considered obscene because it is seen as sexual.
All this "they don't" "not in Europe" "yeah aren't you disappointed" "hurr durr udders" fuckouttahere with that dismissive bullshit lmao
Hello, I'm a slut and I'd like to be able to upload NSFW pictures again ❣️
Okay this is gonna be the last thing I say on this - a lot of the struggle that women today face comes from the idea that women only exist in relation to something or someone else, like children or a partner. Eg, your role is to start a family, wear makeup and take care of your appearance so that you are perceived as attractive and therefore valued. Making arguments that women have larger breasts as an evolutionary trait because of men wanting to procreate with them is an extension of that sentiment. Whether it's true or not and to what degree - it doesn't matter, it doesn't fit into the conversation and it completely detracts from the point of women being hyper sexualized in today's culture.
I support you if your say you're egalitarian or feminist or what have you, but please consider the different perspectives and examine your arguments within the wider context. We are more than just our biology lmao.