How is complimenting a woman's body misogynistic?

“Nice tits”

“You pig, I’m more than a piece of meat!”

^Goofy fictional exchange.

Well sure but you do have nice tits, no one said anything about anything else. You could be a world class expert in xray crystallography who you know has nice tits.

If a man was told hey nice cock, would that be implying a bunch of other stuff?

Not a good comparison; typically a man who receives such a compliment is in an intimate situation, not dealing with some stranger. Having some woman walking past me comment “nice cock” would get a real :dubious: reaction from me, along with a quick check for a wardrobe malfunction. “Nice butt” would be a closer analogy.

Anyway. “Nice tits” addressed to a strange woman under most circumstances* fails on multiple levels. It offends many on a gender-politics level, it fails as flirting because it’s way more crude than women typically like, it’s sexually rather aggressive towards a gender that’s understandably a bit paranoid about that, and it simply goes against our society’s rules of etiquette.

*An exception would be something like a woman flashing her breasts at you at Mardi Gras or something like that.

I assumed the woman would not be a stranger. And it extends to stuff like porn and even dating.

It doesn’t matter with porn since the picture can’t hear you, and there aren’t many situations where you should be showing off porn in public. As for dating that just makes things worse; that’s obviously when you are supposed to be on your best behavior towards her. You might as well sit there picking your nose and burping at her.

It’s also a quirk of nature, and it’s not like we[1] can take credit for it. You might as well comment on the pleasing proportion of her thumbs to her hands.

And she probably didn’t ask for your opinion on either, so you shouldn’t have offered it. Women’s bodies are not public property to be commented on by passers-by.

[1] With the exception of cosmetic surgery

That sounds like something that would be said by some guy in a castle in some old black and white monster movie, who is building a monster in his basement and is looking for parts.

Dammit! My secret’s out…

I’d argue that you are using the word “misogynistic” incorrectly. The attitudes and actions are sexist but not misogynistic.

There’s a difference (unless you live in Australia, obviously).

It’s all context. Examples where I’ve been told something similar and it doesn’t bother me:

  • Intimate partners (all male)

  • Close friends when we’re out and yes I am wearing something with cleavage (either sex)

  • Coworkers when we meet out in bars or house parties, where work is not mentioned (mostly female, due to my job, but if a guy who is not my boss says it, so be it)

  • Strangers if that’s all they say and I am wearing something with cleavage

Situations where I’m not comfortable:

  • When I’m in workout clothes (unless by a partner)

  • When I’m dressed down (shirts, jeans, no make up, loose clothing)

  • When I’m in my job, anything job related or that involves professional conduct

  • When dealing in any type of customer service, as a customer (ie, going to the bank, at the cashiers, paying utility bills, etc.)

  • Potentially, related to the two above, when being interviewed for a job position.

The issue is that the idea still lingers that a woman is diminished by sex and by being desired sexually, that being fucked (as opposed to fucking) is demeaning. It doesn’t matter whether or not I feel that way–it’s enough that I know others do.

It’s just rude, and crass, and totally inappropriate–does it matter if it’s misogynistic?

The next poster has fantastic tits

True. I keep some in the freezer for special occasions. [/Hannibal Lector]

Too late now, but this really should have been responded to by Colibri.

Look, you men, the rule is simple: If you don’t want a man to say it to you in a public setting, DO NOT say it to a woman. “Nice dress.” Would you be upset if a man said “Nice shirt.” “Nice boobs.” Do you want a man saying “Nice dick?”

Not goofy, nor fictional. The woman who was spoken to gave the fellow a haughty sniff, said “I should damn well hope so, they cost me a fortune!” and stormed off.

When I tried it, I twisted my ankle and nearly fell flat on my face.
(yes, there was a local man who thought “nice tits” [or words that effect] was a chat-up line)

Well; I’d at the least give “want to go on a date” an exception. :smiley:

Considering the complaints I hear from women about men who apparently think sending them pictures of their penises is a good idea, I can believe it.

Not that anyone has ever shouted “nice tits” at me*, but comments like that simply reduce the person down to a body part. It’s dehumanizing. Especially if it’s the only thing you have to say that’s positive.

Now, when an intimate partner says something like, “You are so good with dogs and so kind to me. I love the way you make me laugh and I love your washboard abs. So hot.” Then I’ve heard some positive qualities related to my character, or perhaps my personality, and then I get to hear some flattery about my body. That says I’m a whole person, a human person with feelings and everything and there’s nothing wrong with that compliment. But “nice tits!” or “nice ass!” Meh. That tells me that you don’t see me as a whole person, just a body part.

  • Because I basically have none; can barely (not really) fill out an A-cup. But the other end gets some compliments sometimes.

Also, I don’t know if “nice dick” has the same impact on men. Are men accustomed to being treated as though they are sub-human, judged and valued only on their appearance? Or do men tend to be judged based on the perception of their income/success level? Perhaps the equivalent dehumanizing insult is saying “nice car” to a guy who drives a Kia, in a derisive tone of voice?

I think these capture a lot of the essence of why this is objectionable: It’s regarding a person as parts rather than a person. Add in that this can be perceived as sexually aggressive and yeah, it’s somewhere between creepy and scary for a woman to be addressed in this manner by a stranger.

Between intimate partners in an intimate setting things may be different, but not cool in most public situations with women you aren’t pairing off with.

No; men are accustomed to being regarded as subhuman regardless of their appearance.

Pretty much. The kind of people who look at women as “pieces of meat”, look at men as walking wallets. I think that’s part of why men aren’t bothered nearly as much by a comment like “nice butt”; it’s an indication that you are paying attention to them, the flesh and blood human and not their bank account.