# Men -- how do you take off your t-shirts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 28, 2019, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573 "2019-10-28T04:29:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/41 "2019-10-29T10:29:15Z")
Ha! I did a little browse to figure out if anyone else thought this was a men vs women thing and found [seventeen](https://www.seventeen.com/life/friends-family/news/a41810/have-you-realized-guys-take-their-shirts-off-differently-than-girls/) magazine doing science :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/42 "2019-10-29T18:08:29Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Ha! I did a little browse to figure out if anyone else thought this was a men vs women thing and found [seventeen](https://www.seventeen.com/life/friends-family/news/a41810/have-you-realized-guys-take-their-shirts-off-differently-than-girls/) magazine doing science :eek: That’s a great link, thanks. A certain amount of cluelessness among those responding to the survey about how it might take a little tiny bit of practice to change the way you take off your t-shirt in order to do it smoothly, but on the whole interesting. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/43 "2019-10-29T19:45:17Z")
I was taught by my mother and sisters that the proper way to take a tee shirt off was to cross your arms, grab the bottom and pull the shirt off in one smooth motion and that grabbing by the neck and pulling it off stretches it. Since I was a 10-12 year-old boy while being taught this valuable skill, naturally, the way I have always taken my tee shirts off is to…grab the back of the neck and yank it off! ---
**Author:** ![CrimeThink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90db22/32.png) [@CrimeThink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrimeThink)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/44 "2019-10-29T19:56:28Z")
Interesting, I never really gave this any thought and apparently I am doing it differently than most. I grab the bottom of the right sleeve and pull it all over my head with my left hand. Had to actually do this to even remember what I do. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/45 "2019-10-29T20:21:32Z")
So now I have to ask - what was the prompt for the question? Was it a “reflecting that I see so many people do this a different way to what I would - which of us is the crazy one?” kind of thing? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/46 "2019-10-29T22:05:55Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > So now I have to ask - what was the prompt for the question? Was it a “reflecting that I see so many people do this a different way to what I would - which of us is the crazy one?” kind of thing? Something like that. Observations percolating in my brain for years, too much time in my hands? eta: I think it’s fun that we have several different and unusual methods revealing themselves. Maybe I’ll try those, and change my habits. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/47 "2019-10-29T23:56:08Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Why would you get a different distribution of answers if women were included? Yes, most women have curves, by which I assume we mean breasts, but some men have their own curves: big bellies. And I’ve seen men wearing tight tees and women wearing loose tees. There are only so many ways to take off a tee shirt. > > I didn’t do the poll since I’m not a man, but I pull the tee up to my arms, pull my arms through, and lift it over my head. Whether I’m wearing a close-fitting tee or not makes no difference. I’m pretty well endowed, but my breasts don’t affect the way I remove my tee shirts. I’ve been removing them the same way since I was old enough to undress myself, and that was way before puberty hit. > > This isn’t to snark, by the way. I just don’t see how including women would’ve thrown off the data. I just want to respond to this. Differences are already apparent in the companion thread asking women. The choice “Pull my arms inside the shirt, grab the neck and sort of push it up over my head” has 26% for Women, and 2% for Men. For Men, the majority say “Grab the neck at the back and pull it over my head (not inside out)” For Women, the majority chose "Grab the bottom and pull it off over my head (ends up inside out) " So yes, you do get a different distribution of answers when asking Women. (Which matches what I have read about this topic in the past.) ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/48 "2019-10-30T02:02:00Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > I just want to respond to this. Differences are already apparent in the companion thread asking women. The choice “Pull my arms inside the shirt, grab the neck and sort of push it up over my head” has 26% for Women, and 2% for Men. > > For Men, the majority say “Grab the neck at the back and pull it over my head (not inside out)” > > For Women, the majority chose "Grab the bottom and pull it off over my head (ends up inside out) " > > So yes, you do get a different distribution of answers when asking Women. (Which matches what I have read about this topic in the past.) I see. Thanks for the clarification. It’d be interesting to find out why there’s such a difference but of course, that’s another thread for another time. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/49 "2019-10-30T03:48:32Z")
Left to right. I use my right hand to hold my left sleeve and pull my left arm inside the shirt. When my arm is free of the sleeve, I lift the shirt off my head. Then I slide it down my right arm using my left hand. Why do I do it this way? I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/50 "2019-10-30T04:22:21Z")
Grab the collar and lift. When the collar comes off without the shirt it’s time to replace the shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/51 "2019-10-30T04:28:10Z")
Somewhat surprised no one has posted this link or one like it. [Tumblr Figured Out Why Guys Take Their Shirts Off Differently Than Girls](https://www.seventeen.com/life/friends-family/news/a41810/have-you-realized-guys-take-their-shirts-off-differently-than-girls/) > [@](#): > > Girls tend to wear tighter shirts with little to no armpit room. They’re also shorter. By crossing your arms and then lifting your hands all the way up over your head, you make room for your shirt to slip right off. If you tried the opposite way — lifting your hands over your head and tugging from the back of your neck — the shirt would get snagged under your armpits as you put your arms back down to try to pull it over your head. > > Since guys’ shirts tend to be looser, they have much more armpit room and can pull it right over their head from the back. Since their shirts are longer, if they try the cross-over method, it would get stuck on their head when they extend their hands all the way up above their head. ---
**Author:** ![Smudge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@Smudge777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smudge777)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/52 "2019-10-30T08:22:20Z")
My method is one hand on either side (left and right) of the collar and pull up. Once it’s over my head, I pull my arms in one at a time (right first, then left). Now that I’m completely on the inside of the shirt, I just grab the collar once again and pull it off. I find that this is the only technique that: 1. works reliably, no matter the tightness or sweatiness of the shirt 2. doesn’t cause me to feel a feeling of claustrophobia ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/53 "2019-10-30T08:59:09Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Somewhat surprised no one has posted this link or one like it. Yes, I imagine that if that were a thing that happened it would be surprising :dubious: (This post was brought to you by the number 41. And 42, come to think of it) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/54 "2019-10-30T16:14:55Z")
Guess I’m the odd one out, but I usually wear short sleeved collared shirts. So out of habit I don’t pull on the collar. If the shirt is tight-fitting around the armpits I’ll pull straight from the bottom. Either way, when it gets to the shoulders I stick my thumbs through the neck hole so it doesn’t catch on my head. Another benefit is that because I’m pushing the shirt up over my head and letting it fold in my hands, I can keep the thing from messing up my hair. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/55 "2019-10-30T18:27:29Z")
I voted “other” because, while I grab the shirt at the neck and pull (without removing my arms from the sleeves first), it’s not usually from the back, but from the sides. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/56 "2019-10-30T19:33:58Z")
rip it with both hands from the neck down while yelling “whatcha gonna do … !!” ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/57 "2019-10-30T20:45:38Z")
I’m glad I’m not the only person that can honestly say… I don’t know. I just do it. When I get home from the office (to prevent any more odd looks than usual) I’ll try to pay attention to how I do it (without overthinking it and messing myself up…). Will answer/report back afterward. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/58 "2019-10-31T13:30:03Z")
Grab sleeve bottom in opposite thumb & fingers, pull up, shirt right side out. ---
**Author:** ![Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slight_Off_Hand)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/59 "2019-10-31T14:51:55Z")
Grab anywhere between the back of the neck and the sides of the neck and pull it off. I do turn it inside out after its off to save wear on the design on the front during the wash. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573/60 "2019-10-31T16:00:03Z")
Since this is a question about how I, **As A Man** , remove my shirt, the answer is: With my dick. (Actually, I shimmy) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-do-you-take-off-your-t-shirts/842573.md?page=4)