What is the issue with my son playing outside shirtless? Is not wearing a shirt outside inappropriate?

[Anonymous]

There is a teenage story of mine that makes me cringe. And no, I don’t even wanna share anonymously.

The gist: 1st year of a high school sport plus all the other girls taking their shirts off and running around in sports bras at practice. Me, owning some sports bras, and owning some dorky athletic bras. Not great coverage. Well, the day that all these girls were doing that I felt pressure to join in and I wasn’t wearing a sports bra, but one of the dorky athletic bras.

And that’s my story and I still cringe at it so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not really want to see any person outside shirtless frankly, and neither do my daughters (their preference). As a mom of 2 daughters, it bugs me that no one bats an eyelid when a boy is shirtless but it would make people uncomfortable if even a very young girl (eg 6-7) was shirtless in public. And I’m not arguing for the solution to be that everyone be allowed to go shirtless. Why is it so wrong to teach all kids to keep their shirts on? It is obviously not impossible if 50% of kids can do it.
I may be an outlier, I know. I also don’t love it when men go shirtless because I’ve had many instances when I’m running where a shirtless man passes me closely and his sweat (that would have been caught by his T-shirt if he was wearing one) hits me in the face. So gross.

The only thing gross is you bitter face

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it seems like rather than crowdsourcing this, you should ask your husband 1) what his actual concern w/your kid playing shirtless is and 2) if he plans to impose all the rules from his childhood on your kids.

However - it could be offensive to public and it’s not fair to the kid or the husband, those two will deal with consequences

[Anonymous]

It's tarps off weather! nothing wrong with that

[Anonymous]

Not an issue except my son's skin is sensitive and i like shirts to prevent bug bites, etc.

[Anonymous]

Wow I counted. 7 Karens on this thread

[Anonymous]

Women at the gym i attend wear far less clothing than men. Sports bra and tiny booty shorts are the norm. Men are usually in basketball shorts and a tshirt. I cant take anyone seriously who claims shirtless men equals male privilege. What a dumb take.

But this question is about kids, and I see no issue with a boy running around shirtless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely fine to be shirtless outside at any age. Re: schools - 100% in support of strong dress codes and/or uniforms. There's time for play and there's time for studying. I expect young men at my work to show up in a suit to client meetings, but I'm totally fine if they want to play skins and shirts during a game of basketball in a neighborhood.

Hot take: it's ok for prepubescent girls too

Completely agree! I grew up in eastern europe and you didn't wear a top on your bathing suit until you had boobs. When i came here and saw babies in bikinis I had a heart attack.

I think parents mostly do this with babies because it looks adorable, not modesty reasons?

[Anonymous]

So for everyone for whom this is NBD, do your kids regularly wander around inside the house without a shirt? Just curious - my family on both sides were pretty buttoned up so I can’t fathom this happening in any of those households…but it certainly would have helped everyone keep cool!

[Anonymous]

Totally fine.

[Anonymous]

For a 6 year old boy, the biggest issues would be sunscreen, scratches, and bug bites. It's usually a lot easier to put a 6 year old in a shirt rather than deal with sunscreen, which is also very greasy and attracts all the grass, twigs, and dirt when they're out playing. It''s just easier to put on a shirt. And I get the feeling that these days shirtless kids are deemed as somehow reflective of derelict parenting and who wants that noise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not really want to see any person outside shirtless frankly, and neither do my daughters (their preference). As a mom of 2 daughters, it bugs me that no one bats an eyelid when a boy is shirtless but it would make people uncomfortable if even a very young girl (eg 6-7) was shirtless in public. And I’m not arguing for the solution to be that everyone be allowed to go shirtless. Why is it so wrong to teach all kids to keep their shirts on? It is obviously not impossible if 50% of kids can do it.
I may be an outlier, I know. I also don’t love it when men go shirtless because I’ve had many instances when I’m running where a shirtless man passes me closely and his sweat (that would have been caught by his T-shirt if he was wearing one) hits me in the face. So gross.

+1 on this although I have one girl and two boys. Shirts on in public, it's about being presentable to the world.

[Anonymous]

I worry with my kids because of the sun, but have no issue with other small children playing shirtless (including obviously pre-pubescent girls, fwiw).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Female privilege is being allowed to place your bare butt directly on public seating surfaces. So unhygienic.

Also, wearing a breezy dress as acceptable business attire while men are confined to a suit.

It goes both ways.

Apparently you’re unaware of all the men walking around with their pants on the ground

I don’t particularly like seeing droopy pants, but ultimately, all I see is underwear. Unlike the girls with their gluteal folds on display.

[Anonymous]

I agree with prior posters. No one wants to come out and say it but it's low class unless the kids are at the pool or playing shirts or skins. I've lived in 3 different neighborhoods and have never seen boys roaming around shirtless other than the circumstances listed.