[Sarahirutek]

Thanks for your assistance.

Okay I have a twin brother Matthew who I would say I have a pretty good relationship with (we rarely ever fight).  We are both 14, and live in a conservative yet non-religious family.

We were in the pool in our backyard swimming the other day.  My brother normally wears a "rash guard" over his top portion, but today I guess he decided to go bare-chested.  

So I thought "why don't I take off my top also" and asked Matthew if he would be okay with that.  He was like "sure, why not I am."So we did and we swam for about a half hour.

Than our parents got home and came outside.  When they saw that we wern't covering the top portion of our bodies, they freaked.

I quickly realized, however, that they were just directing their angry cries at me.   They grounded me to my room for the rest of the night, but not to Matthew.

Okay, I know that women don't have the right to show our chests in public, but don't you think I should be aloud to in my own house?  What can I say to my parents to get them to understand?

[DeepDistress]

Men don't have boobs.

You shouldn't be allowed to. Men don't have privates there like we do.


End of. If you was my daughter you would have gotten wayyy more.

Not to mention like incest, ew. It'd be like him swimming with his penis out..

[EmzRiot]

Pretty much comes down to what DeepDistress said. The sad truth is boobs are basically considered a more mild form of genitalia. Something that isn't looked down upon, but something that needs to be covered. If you live on your own, more power to you. I sleep shirtless a lot, but around others, even family, I guess it's a respect thing? Just... not cool. Gotta live with it brah.

[Antigone]

Nothing, you have boobs, he doesn't. And it's not your house, it's their house. Unless you pay the bills and everything, that is. Their house, their rules.

Point is, you're female, and since you have boobs it's generally expected that you don't go around showing your ta-ta's in front of a male, esp. at 14, esp. your brother. Perhaps grounding you was a little harsh but really... just don't do it. You can't say anything to convince them otherwise, because simply put - it's not your house so no you're not exactly free to do whatever you want just because you live there. It's their house and regardless as to why, you should respect their wishes.

If you have such a strong desire to be topless, then do so when no one else is home.

That being said, boobs are often seen as sexual body parts and given your ages and the fact men can be more visually aroused, even if they don't want to be, then I don't blame your parents for flipping out.

[Sarahirutek]

Originally Posted by DeepDistress

Men don't have boobs.

You shouldn't be allowed to. Men don't have privates there like we do.


End of. If you was my daughter you would have gotten wayyy more.

Not to mention like incest, ew. It'd be like him swimming with his penis out..

Don't be disgusting! I'm not somebody who commits a felon!

Why should breasts be "private"? Isn't that a kind of sexist view when you think about it. I don't mean to seem like I want a big social movement, but I thought that my parents would be more logical about the matter. They reacted a lot extremes than I expected

My brother is perfectly cool with it. I talked to him about it, and he claims to agree it's unfair and says he'll try to support me. I had to agree to let him play on my iPod, though!

[Novanter]

Pretty much what Marionetta said.

But I can't agree with Kate's words - why shouldn't? It's kind of 'sex-discrimination' (you are right with the sexism)- so your point, dear OP is totally right. But then it comes to Marionetta's post, it's their house that's right.
But for example in Malmö, Sweden women are allowed to swim topless in the public swimming pools - because they found it a kind of discrimination ~ man hide their torso or woman topless swimming. They chose the second. So, in this point, you can see that this is different in some places.

But, still, it's kinda taboo, and since you both are 14, you really shouldn't do that with him - both teens, etc. (I wrote this before your last post, but then, maybe OK? I don't know.) And, it's your parents' house, their rules (what Marionetta said) - so that's life.

[DeepDistress]

You don't see very many babes suckling off a man's chest, now do ya?
Breasts are far different then the flat chested with nipple decor on a man's chest.
Not everything is "fair" woman have more privates then dudes, oh well.

[Novanter]

To be honest, Kate... Some man have bigger chests than some woman... And, I believe if man have the right to show that part of body, then woman have as well. (Even if I'm a male, and others' may think that's why for making myself drool - but it can't happen with me?)

That's really just what I believe.

[DeepDistress]

Yes but having fat under your nipples is different then having breasts.

But your free to have your opinion of course

[Novanter]

Yes, but... I won't continue this. Most people are on your side on this, while I'm very liberal - so yeah. But it's not the topic (sexism and our views) - it'd be OK for a debate, but not in help section.