Women more offended by other women going out topless than men: study

Study shows men were two points more in favour of watching shirtless women than female respondents

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Web Desk
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Women participate in a photo shoot by artist Spencer Tunick in his latest large-scale art installation, “Everything She Says Means Everything.” — AFP via The Washington Post
Women participate in a photo shoot by artist Spencer Tunick in his latest large-scale art installation, “Everything She Says Means Everything.” — AFP via The Washington Post 

  • Study shows men were two points more in favour of watching shirtless women than female respondents. 
  • Professor Colin Harbke from Western Illinois University was not surprised by result.
  • Findings of the recent study suggest women push "sexist biases" forward even more than men.


A recent study found that women are more offended by females who go outside topless than men. 

The researchers showed pictures of topless women to more than 300 men and women in different scenarios. 

The researchers then asked them to rate the pictures based on their appropriateness from one to 11, The Daily Mail reported. 

The study, published in the journal of Sexuality and Culture, showed that men were two points more in favour of watching shirtless women than female respondents of the survey. 

Professor Colin Harbke from Western Illinois University was not surprised by the result. 

He told the Times that there was a paradoxical pattern where data suggested that "women police other women's behaviour...and do so by ascribing a notion of morality."

Recently, topless men and women marched on Brighton Beach to challenge the idea that it was okay if men roamed around shirtless but not if women did the same.

The Argus reported that the group's poster said that they were protesting against the "unwanted sexualisation" of the nipple.

However, the findings of the recent study suggest that women push the "sexist biases" forward even more than men.

The research results cannot be generalised though as it was part of a wider study that was looking at breastfeeding attitudes, reported Times.

Some experts suggest that years of patriarchy as pushed women into competing with each other as they end up seeing themselves as rivals for male attention.