Why are women allowed to climb without a shirt in a gym but men cannot?

Kevin Worrallwrote:

So are you saying female climbers are uncomfortable around shirtless men? That’s what I thought it was, but if so, why won’t they admit it? And shouldn’t feminist ideals override such outdated thinking?

Naw, it's not a female thing, just a stupid "it's always been this way" thing. Some fitness gyms want shirts on everyone, not even tank tops or muscle shirts are okay. Propriety. No idea for whom, though. Just....cuz.   

Kevin Worrallwrote:

So are you saying female climbers are uncomfortable around shirtless men? That’s what I thought it was, but if so, why won’t they admit it? And shouldn’t feminist ideals override such outdated thinking?

Kevin, I believe you are mistaken in assuming that prudery is a female only characteristic.

As far as I can tell, women climbers generally could care less whether men wear shirts, as long as those men aren't harassing them.

(Although maybe it's different in route gyms than in the bouldering gyms I've been frequenting.)

I'd guess that non-climbing parents of youth climbers might find bare chests worrisome, but maybe the rules just reflect weird, out of touch gym managers. Perhaps it's in the bible somewhere.

I'll happily wear a shirt if I can tie in with my preferred knot, rather than a figure 8 follow-through :-)

Kevin Worrallwrote:

So are you saying female climbers are uncomfortable around shirtless men? That’s what I thought it was, but if so, why won’t they admit it? And shouldn’t feminist ideals override such outdated thinking?

I am a guy and I feel less comfortable around shirtless men. Also, there a difference between a gym at 70 degrees, and climbing in the summer when it can be much hotter. Let’s be honest, the real reason why many men like to go shirtless in gyms is to try and impress women, not because they are too hot.

I think the objectification of breasts is outdated. Everyone should be allowed to be topless if they want. Many men have larger breasts than women but they aren’t sexualized the same way. So everyone could go half naked to save on laundry, in turn saving the planet  

Pants also suck. Can we talk about that too? What other animal on the planet needs a closet and a dresser and a washing machine?

What a great thread! 

Kevin Worrallwrote:

I’m not the person who was grossed out by a sweat soaked toprope on this thread, first of all. It just stands to reason that a shirtless person who is sweating enough to soak a rope, would sweat more with a shirt on. One of the many reasons I don’t like indoor climbing is the stale air at the top of the routes. I’m sure modern high level gyms have improved that with air conditioning. But that’s beside the point.

The only reasons anybody has put forth who supports shirt requirements in climbing gyms have been sweat related, and your position, Lena, further weakens that justification for the rule. 

I’m arguing this as a matter of principle. I have no problem with shirtless climbers anywhere, and I prefer to climb shirtless because it’s more comfortable, simple as that. So I don’t understand why a rule like that exists. It’s just another mark against indoor climbing.

If we’ve eliminated sweat as a reasonable reason, would someone that knows the apparently unspeakable real reason please explain? Almost 200 posts and the OP’s simple question remains unanswered.

While I think the true answer is the irrational “ick” feeling based in cultural hang-ups, I do not buy your point that there is either no sweat at all, or so much sweat that a T-shirt is useless in containing it. Most people in a typical gym setting sweat just a bit. Enough to maybe have damp underarms on a T-shirt, and a bit of chest/back dampness, but not so much that a T-shirt can’t comfortably contain all the sweat they generate. In the absence of the T-shirt, the chest dampness could end on the rope, plausibly.

The only way OP can have his answer is to ask the owners/managers of his specific gym. 200 posts in, OP hopefully understands that the shirt rule is not at all universal, or applied for a single universal reason in all places. 

Does MP have an annual awards ceremony?  This would get my vote for thread of the year

Ok I was watching a local football match on tv yesterday, and they were showing a shot of the locker room, and no joke, a couple of football players looked like they were wearing sports bras under their jerseys.

Apparently they're "special vests" that contain gps trackers and other biometric monitors for the coaching staff to get player data. thesun.co.uk/sport/20631991…

There's our excuse boys!

Is it “prudity” or “prudery”?

Or a mélange of the two?

Tomily mawrote:

What other animal on the planet needs a closet and a dresser and a washing machine?

Since my wife likes to humiliate our dogs by dressing them in puppy pajamas every Christmas morning, I'd say dogs might answer you in the affirmative.

I find the women’s lack of clothing distracting

Austin Rwrote:

I find the women’s lack of clothing distracting

Speaking of prudery

Kevin Worrallwrote:

I think it’s the women themselves that are distracting. To extrapolate - I think women in climbing gyms have distracted average male climbers from real rock climbing, and they are also to be given credit for the surge in climbing’s popularity.

What are you talking about? A shirtless man is not distracting anyone but a women wearing leggings  is, which somehow this leads to people climbing in gyms more? And women are the only reason for climbing to be popular? And male climbers are the ones who should be climbing on real rock? This has so many things wrong with it.

Ezra Hendersonwrote:

This has so many things wrong with it.

… when the man ‘splain’ has stretched it beyond belief.

Kevin Worrallwrote:

The hysteria of feminist indoctrination is what you’re talking about, Ez

… when you’re desperately trying to cobble something out of nothing. :)

Ezra Hendersonwrote:

What are you talking about? A shirtless man is not distracting anyone but a women wearing leggings  is, which somehow this leads to people climbing in gyms more? And women are the only reason for climbing to be popular? And male climbers are the ones who should be climbing on real rock? This has so many things wrong with it.

Good grief, did you not notice this is page 9? Deep into total silliness? Besides, he didn't say nuthin about women in leggings. Women themselves. Our mere existence! Such power over the lesser species!!!*

* Fine print disclaimer. I. Am. Joking.** But yes, me in loud lycra tights is worthy of a whole separate thread, which is only open to those willing to take it for what it's worth.

**Disclaimer disclaimer re lesser species. Hmmmm.....am I joking???? 

Best, H.