Half-naked joggers in Berlin cause controversy: Just strip everyone naked!

Berlin isn't exactly known for its prudishness. The capital's nightlife is especially provocative: In clubs like Berghain or KitKat, less is definitely more when it comes to guests' clothing. Proudly exposed breasts and bellies are not uncommon there.

Once a year, however, this permissiveness also comes to light in Berlin: When temperatures rise in midsummer, the naked male torsos are pushed out of the dark rooms into the sunny city center – where they provoke heated discussions. Sweating joggers, panting gym bros, or casual festivalgoers: Not everyone likes the sight.

Some would say such a display is too ostentatious for them: Men brag about how much they've lifted in the gym and how muscular they've become as a result. They convey a certain ideal of masculinity—the image of the strong man who has his body under control and dominates with his strength. This can be demonstrated even better without a shirt.

But it's not just conventionally attractive men who strip naked. A bare beer belly while mowing the lawn is not an uncommon sight in Berlin's outskirts. Here, too, the promiscuity sends a clear message – whether consciously or subconsciously: "It's hot. I don't care what people think. I'm just going to do it."

Topless? Only for the privileged

This attitude is often criticized. Women and Flinta people, in particular, accuse the half-naked men of recklessly and ignorantly flaunting their privileges. While it would be unthinkable for most female observers to remove their bras and free their nipples in public, men do it more or less thoughtlessly.

Most men seem to be at least less concerned about the external impact of their appearance, whether they are perceived as attractive or repulsive. This freedom is not something that can be taken for granted by people perceived as feminine. It becomes clear that not only does society apply double standards, but this also affects the individual's sense of freedom. But is this justified criticism an argument to dissuade men from going around shirtless in the summer?

First and foremost, it's a sign that even a man's bare torso can cause outrage in public. Measures are repeatedly taken to restrict toplessness; for example, at some festivals, where the "no shirt, no service" rule has become established in recent years – anyone who comes to the bar topless will be left without a drink. This is a shallow consequence compared to how exposed breasts, which are considered feminine, are sanctioned.

Sanctions against breast exposure

At a Berlin water playground, for example, the operators called the police in 2021 when a woman was sunbathing topless in front of the pool. She was told to either cover up or leave, and filed a lawsuit. While she didn't receive any compensation, the Berlin pools changed their house rules so that no one is required to cover their breasts anymore.

Nevertheless, it seems more or less obligatory for all people, regardless of gender, to adapt their clothing to society's moral sensibilities. Nudity, even partial, is still shameful and is highly sexualized, especially in women, which is why it is considered so scandalous when they expose their breasts: A film showing breasts is often labeled "unsuitable for young people."

But should we, whether we like it or not, simply brand all bare torsos as "unsuitable for young people"? Or wouldn't it be more liberating to advocate for a general desexualization of bodies and also empower those perceived as female in their freedom of physical expression?

Same breast for everyone

Instead of restricting men's chest freedom, it could be an important emancipatory step to allow more freedom in the choice of clothing – for everyone. Everyone has the right to be offended by the outfits of others, but restricting their freedom through bans or ostracism means reinforcing restrictive norms. "Equal breasts for all" is the title of a petition campaigning for no one to be forced to wear a top.

You shouldn't bother anyone, whether you're wearing a shirt or not. And depending on the context, you might be better off keeping your top on in the first place: In the office, in a shared kitchen, or at a restaurant, a bare torso seems truly out of place. But under the sun, the atmosphere is more relaxed outside.

So let the musclemen there take off their tops if they want, and just follow them into the shirtless state. Or not! Whatever you want for yourself. It's only a few hot summer days anyway until the cool autumn forces you back into your jackets, completely without human intervention.