tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39346624497179350872024-03-05T16:23:45.585-08:00Dare to be Topfreedare2bfreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546473197708415726noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934662449717935087.post-52886339360861409282016-07-01T12:19:00.002-07:002016-07-01T12:19:38.974-07:00A Woman's Guide to Going Topfree <style type="text/css">P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }A:lin</style>I wrote this back in July 2012, but it deserves a re-posting since it's from a previous blog that no longer exists. Enjoy the preamble, as well as the 8 practical steps at the end!<br />
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Aside from being perpetually bare-chested at home when it’s
sweltering out, my two most recent topfree moments this week were:
changing shirts at the booth I was staffing at the SF Marathon Expo
(with my back turned), and taking my shirt off on a trail while my
friend fixed his flat. People’s reactions? Well, I got
none at the Expo. It was just a matter of seconds, and my back
was turned anyway, although a few people may have caught a glimpse
from the side. I did have to get over the minor hurdle of a
co-worker suggesting I do “what’s appropriate”. The
problem here is that there is a different and unfair standard for
what’s appropriate for women vs. men. I’m sure my co-worker
would have felt completely within his rights doing what I just did at
the back of the booth, as opposed to having to stop work in order to
spend 10 minutes going through the maze of the Expo to the bathrooms
at the far corner, all for a task that would take under 5 seconds.
It just doesn’t make much practical sense.<br />
As for the mountain bike ride, I had really wanted to take my top
off the whole time, but only mustered the courage when we were
stopped for a while in the hot sun. When I asked my biking
buddy if he would feel uncomfortable, he most sensibly replied, “Not
at all! I’m about to take mine off.” A few female
hikers walked by on the other side of the creek and did a quadruple
take, then another hiker in the opposite direction, who eventually
yelled across, “Heather, is that you?” Turns out it was a
friend of mine walking her dog. She engaged with me in
conversation, clearly feeling very comfortable, and stating that she
was happy to see a topfree woman out in nature, and hoped it would be
catching on!<br />
In general, those are the the two types I reactions I get to being
bare-chested – either people act as if nothing is out of the
ordinary (perhaps with great effort, which I do appreciate), or they
encourage me with positive, respectful comments. Perhaps I’ve
been lucky, but I’ve been at this for a few years and have not had
a single negative interaction. This doesn’t mean that I’m
all happy-go-lucky about it. When the weather is warm, I
struggle with the status quo on a daily basis. As Valarie Kaur
(award-winning filmmaker, speaker and advocate) says, “We have a
choice: to continue supporting the status quo, or to follow our moral
compass – and leap.” I am not yet free to remove my shirt
whenever and wherever I please, so my choices are often preceded by
much deliberation. When I DO manage to take that leap of faith
however, the taste of liberty is so sweet, that I know it is worth
it. In the words of Matilda Joslyn Gage, a suffragist and
speaker from the 1850s, “There is a word sweeter than Mother, Home
or Heaven; that word is Liberty.”<br />
I come back from from those times feeling tremendously victorious,
and would like to help other women feel the same, so I’ve devised a
step-by-step guide to help you on your journey of liberation.
And a quick word about the law here; In many places in the US, it is
both legal and illegal at the same time, as there are often
overlapping conflicting laws, e.g. state vs. municipal, municipal vs.
city park, etc. I have given up trying to figure out the law,
because it is so convoluted that pretty much anything you do could be
possibly illegal according to some “open-to-interpretation”-type
law, and besides, that will not lead to change anyway. The
changes we have seen thus far in terms of women gaining the right to
be topfree have all been through direct action, and not through
following some beleaguered legislative process to a dead end.
Many women have sued for their wrongful arrest, which has thus led to
changes in the laws so that they protect women’s constitutional
rights. The fact is, all humans whether male- or female-bodied,
young or old, fat or skinny, sometimes feel hot, sticky, sweaty,
constricted by tight clothing, or just want to feel the sun or gentle
breeze on their chest, and this right should not be restricted to
only one half of the population. For more information on
topfree cities, legalities, news and happenings, visit <a href="http://aworldsafeforwomen.org/www.tera.ca" target="_blank">www.tera.ca</a>
or<a href="http://gotopless.org/" target="_blank"> gotopless.org</a>.<br />
It’s possible to change the public consciousness little by
little, and most likely you will NOT get arrested, unless you want
to. If you are in a place where someone is even able to call
the cops on you, and then they actually find you, you will most
likely receive a simple warning. Sometimes, sad to say, the
cops themselves don’t even know the law and are simply responding
to a complaint. If you have an understanding of the law that is
different to theirs, challenge it, and see what happens. I had
success with this at last year’s GoTopless Day in San Francisco,
where it is legal for women to be bare-chested. Upon responding
to a complaint, the cops who showed up did not have a clear
understanding of the law, so we made them check in with their
supervisor about the correct interpretation. They left us
alone, and our topfree cavorting in the park continued in peace.<br />
Whatever level of comfort (or discomfort!) you’re at with
topfreedom, know that it is a journey, so it’s a good idea to take
whatever steps you can, no matter how small, and trust that they are
leading you in the right direction. Below, I take you through
some possible steps to building up your courage.<br />
1. <strong>At Home:</strong> This is a lot easier if you live by
yourself or with a partner, but if you have housemates, you can also
choose to do it at times when you know you will be home alone.
Just see what it feels like to be in the space without your top on.
You may start with your own bedroom (“Hey, wait a minute – why do
I have on a tight bra and two layers of tank top when I’m alone and
its 80 degrees?”), and eventually feel comfortable in other areas
of the house. The thought of someone “popping in”
unexpectedly will eventually start to seem like no big deal.<br />
2.<strong> In the Yard:</strong> This was a big liberator for me.
It is a good bridge to feeling comfortable with your top off outdoors
because you’re not “in public” yet. You could sunbathe,
garden, do yard work, work on your bicycle, make jewelery or other
projects, all bare-chested in your yard or patio.<br />
3. <strong>The Quick Change:</strong> This may be your first
public appearance, and refers to getting changed in a somewhat public
area without caring if someone glimpses your breasts for a couple
seconds, e.g. changing at the beach, changing in the parking lot
after a sweaty bike ride, changing in a park when your under-layer
gets too warm. It’s best done with the air of making it a
“non-event”.<br />
4. <strong>Bodies of Water:</strong> This is a great excuse of go
topfree, since you can count on half of the other people on the beach
being bare-chested already! It’s a natural place to want to
take one’s top of, and who hasn’t heard of topless sunbathing or
skinny-dipping? People are less likely to think you’re a
freak of nature, and generally understand that you’re just a
courageous woman who wants a little freedom. You could start at
a friend’s pool, then graduate to hidden streams, or maybe a lake
you have to hike a long ways to get to. Eventually, you can try
it at bodies of water where there’s more people around, and
hopefully enlist a few friends! I’ve tried this at popular
beaches full of families, with no ordeal whatsoever.<br />
5. <strong>On the Trail / Out in Nature:</strong> Being in nature
can help us reconnect with our bodies and inspire us to shed a
sweaty, or otherwise stuffy shirt. Plus it’s not like the cop
cars are going to come rolling up. You can find a hidden picnic
or reading spot in a grove of trees, lay out in the sun, or take your
shirt off during a few minutes of a strenuous hike or a gentle
stroll. I’ve even found it comfortable to go trail jogging
without a top on. It’s a good to practice even a just a
couple minutes of topfreedom in a place where you might reasonably
run into people, as a big part of this is about normalizing it.
The more bare-chested women are out there, the more acceptable it
becomes. Be a trail blazer!<br />
6. <strong>At a Summer Festival:</strong> At many summer
festivals, in northern California anyway, bare-chested women are
nothing out of the norm. At others, you might turn a few heads,
but festivals are generally accepting places to try out your new
topfreedom. Now that’s something to celebrate! Even if
you think you’re the only one, my experience is that once you do
it, others will follow suit. Women are just waiting for
permission, and you just might be able to inspire that.<br />
6. <strong>In a Park:</strong> Ever get jealous seeing the guys
strip off their shirts and lay in the grass in your town park?
Well, next time you can just say, “That’s a great idea!” and do
the same. I’ve found men to be quite understanding of this,
since it’s a freedom they can relate to experiencing.<br />
7. <strong>International GoTopless Day!</strong> This day is observed on the Sunday closest to Women’s Equality Day (August 26th),
which marks the anniversary of women’s hard-won right to vote.
Perhaps you are ready to support this movement, with or without your
shirt on. The point is, it should be your decision to make.
To check for activities in your area or to organize one, visit
<a href="http://gotopless.org/" target="_blank">gotopless.org</a>.
You have to get past the whole “spiritual leader, Rael” thing.
The Gotopless Day event I organized in San Francisco last year had
not one “Raelian” present, so don’t be put off by feeling like
you don’t belong. This is about women’s freedom no matter
what your creed. Also, you might just want to plan something
more informal with your friends in observance of this day.<br />
8. <strong>Come out of the Closet!</strong> Once you start talking
with other women (and men) about your beliefs in equality, you’ll
realize you’re not alone. Someone’s got to be the ice
breaker to get people talking about these taboo subjects, so why not
you? Plus, it’s so much easier to do once you realize you’re
supported; strength in numbers! (Although I don’t let that
stop me!)<br />
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dare2bfreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546473197708415726noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934662449717935087.post-12207191008498679302016-06-08T18:05:00.000-07:002016-07-01T10:26:01.352-07:00Exposing the Double StandardI recently made a <a href="https://youtu.be/poGV53zLmwI">short video</a>, shall we say public service announcement (PSA), that addresses the double standard of nudity in the place where I currently live - Marin County, California. This problem is by no means unique to Marin however, so I encourage you to expose the double standard if it also exists on your own community. And chances are, it does. It's one thing for there to be cultural preferences, but quite another if such discrimination becomes law, which is the situation that women face in most places in the United States. (In contrast, many places in Europe do not discriminate between female and male nudity under the law.) If you happen to find out that your municipality is one of the lucky places in which there is a uniform standard of nudity, by all means test it out! Culture will never change unless we act on our beliefs. Here are a few tips for getting involved in this movement for women's equal rights:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Create a culture of acceptance in your life by pushing your own boundaries. I myself have practiced this over the years - step by small step - and believe me, it yields results!</li>
<li>Contact your local officials to express concern if your community has a sexist public nudity ordinance. www.municode.com is a good place to find out about your local ordinance.</li>
<li>Participate in GoTopless Day, August 28, 2016 (every year on the Sunday closest to Women's Equality Day). www.gotopless.org has more information. If no events are listed for your area, you can easily organize one with their support. </li>
<li>Support the #Free the Nipple campaign and watch the film (available on Netflix). Visit www.freethenipple.com for more information.</li>
<li>Enlist some friends and get creative! Remember that all of us are co-creators of culture, whether by action or inaction.</li>
</ul>
dare2bfreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546473197708415726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934662449717935087.post-1557751323117677422015-01-01T20:44:00.000-08:002015-02-04T18:57:20.851-08:00My 2014 Topfree Log!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I decided to keep log of my topfree pursuits this year, both to embolden myself and to inspire others as to what might be possible if we push the cultural envelope. I only logged those times in which I was topfree, and not completely nude (e.g. at a hot springs where everyone else is nude), because these are two different issues politically, and I am mostly interested in gender equality. By that I simply mean equal rights, regardless of what body one is born into. I included acts of topfreedom which felt courageous, where the possibility of being discovered existed, even if no one actually did see me. I did not include being topless inside my own house. Sometimes I was with friends; oftentimes I was alone. <br />
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There were at least 65 separate occasions during the 2014 calendar year in which I was bare-chested. It bears mentioning that in only one of these incidents did I witness any negative reaction, and in every case I felt better than if I had not allowed myself to be daring. <br />
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Please read and be inspired, and by all means, encourage the women in your life to do the same! All of us are drops of water that make up the ocean of culture, and we are powerful enough to create a tide together. <br />
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<u>My 2014 Topfree Log</u><br />
(Note: "change shirt" = changing of shirt done in relaxed fashion; not hurrying as if it is wrong to expose my breasts. All locations in California unless otherwise noted. )<u> </u><br />
1/14: change shirt at bike rack in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco <br />
1/21: change shirt on classroom floor at fitmob HQ, San Francisco<br />
1/23: change shirt on classroom floor, Women's Building, San Francisco<br />
1/29: mixed gender spa, Dhyana Center, Sebastopol<br />
1/31: (1) hiking at Ragel Ranch and, (2) in yard of multi-unit dwelling, Sebastopol<br />
2/13: on sidewalk at 19th & Valencia, San Francisco<br />
3/1: change shirt on ball field, Fairfax <br />
3/5: change shirt at White Hill Middle School, Fairfax<br />
3/7: yard of friends' house, San Anselmo<br />
3/8: Point Reyes Beach<br />
3/10: (1) front porch of friends' house and, (2) hike in Deer Park, Fairfax<br />
3/11: (1) change shirt at ultimate frisbee game, Novato, and (2) front porch of friends' house, Fairfax<br />
3/12: Kirby Cove, Marin Headlands<br />
3/15: Cascade Canyon Open Space, Fairfax<br />
4/7: park in Larkspur Landing<br />
4/10: yard of multi-unit dwelling, Fairfax<br />
4/29: trail off of Highway 1, Stinson Beach<br />
4/30: (1) topless tea party on front deck of multi-unit dwelling and, (2) outdoor nap, Bolinas<br />
5/7: change shirt at Old Mill Park, Mill Valley<br />
5/26: Indian Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore<br />
5/29: Hiking at Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown<br />
6/8: Drake's Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore<br />
6/20: beach at Giacomini Wetlands, Point Reyes Station<br />
7/2 - 7/6: various occasions at the Rainbow Gathering, Utah<br />
7/9: Stinson Beach<br />
7/14: Shell Beach, Inverness<br />
7/15: hiking in Woodacre<br />
7/24 - 7/25: beach in Bolinas<br />
7/26: San Anselmo Creek, Fairfax<br />
7/30: Shell Beach, Inverness<br />
8/1: outdoor shower, Point Reyes North Beach <br />
8/3: trails of Manor Hill & Cascade Canyon Open Space, Fairfax<br />
8/11: Ross Valley Crossfit parking lot, San Anselmo<br />
8/15: Fallen Leaf Lake, Tahoe<br />
8/24 - 8/25: Dance New England (DNE), Freedom, New Hampshire<br />
8/27: ultimate frisbee game (DNE), Freedom, NH<br />
8/30: dance floor (DNE), Freedom, NH<br />
9/3: change shirt at Willowell Farm, Monkton, Vermont<br />
9/4 - 9/5: Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont<br />
9/7: Appalachian Trail, Mt. Bromley, Vermont<br />
9/8: Bicycle Causeway, bike path and beaches, Lake Champlain, Vermont <br />
9/9: Hedgehog Trail to Burnt Rock Mt, Vermont<br />
9/10: Leddy Beach, Burlington, Vermont<br />
9/25: open space above Bennett House, Fairfax<br />
9/26: change shirt at Ecstatic Downtemple, Fairfax<br />
9/28: beach in Bolinas<br />
10/12: change shirt at Burning Man Decompression, San Francisco<br />
10/28: highway and parking lots at Davenport & San Gregorio State Beach <br />
11/5: highway and Gray Whale Cove<br />
11/14: change shirt on classroom floor at Body Kinetics gym, San Rafael<br />
11/25 - 11/26: camp site & main lawn, Saline Valley Warm Springs, Death Valley<br />
12/21: flash at Solstice gathering, Heart Space, Fairfax <br />
12/23: Giacomini Open Space, Forest Knolls<br />
<br />dare2bfreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546473197708415726noreply@blogger.com12