# Showing Cleavage Then Covering It- Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 21, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892 "2013-01-21T07:42:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/61 "2013-01-21T22:38:07Z")
Women also learn that it doesn’t necessarily matter what you wear, as some guys will be dicks regardless. In high school bio class, the teacher would come up behind girls who were reading and look down over their shoulder to see if their shirt gapped and he could get a look down into your cleavage. In college, I was walking at night with a female friend; both of us were wearing huge, baggy sweaters that obscured our (decent) figures. A car stops and a guy leans out and yells, “You’re both fat but I’d still love to fuck you!” and then drives off. :mad: So don’t be shocked if a lot of women just say, “fuck it, whatever.” We’re not going to be noticed (in professional ways, in most jobs) or promoted on a wardrobe of muumuus, turtlenecks and floor-length skirts, hijabs, men’s suits with shirts buttoned up to a throat-choking level, and Amish black dresses, so yeah, we’ll wear something that hugs the curves or has a V in the neck. That doesn’t mean this is a free-for-all “lookit me!” time. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/62 "2013-01-21T23:13:02Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > If he’s wearing any clothing that fits his dimensions, then his butt, his chest, his biceps, his waist (or lack thereof) and his package are on display to anyone who cares to study his fine, masculine form. > > That doesn’t mean that he spent hours in the store and in front of the mirror in an attempt to pinch, tuck, plump, and snug his muscles and lumps into a woman-pleasing tableau. I mean, his nuts may have a spectacular profile in a certain pair of khakis, but I’m willing to put quite a bit of money on the wager that most of his female coworkers aren’t rejoicing that **“Carl wore his nut pants today!!”** The bolded line really needs to make it into a sitcom or movie or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/63 "2013-01-21T23:16:49Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > But I do find it eye-rolling when it’s claimed that a woman who’s dressed to highlight her charms is doing so for attention and response only from selected individuals. Why is she doing it, then? You’re not one of those guys who thinks we’re all either prudes or sluts, are you? ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/64 "2013-01-21T23:53:55Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Agreed. I giggled. I am only responding to this to see if I can sneak a _glance_ down your top. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/65 "2013-01-22T00:44:27Z")
You realize there is a proper, medical name for cleavage? “Inter-Boobical Groove,” or IBG for short. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/66 "2013-01-22T02:40:40Z")
I agree with everything the women here are saying. I do however want to clear up a misconception, most recently found in MOL’s post. Us “gentlemen” are going to be looking at the tits of any reasonable attractive woman, not just those who “can’t carry it off” or whatever. I don’t even really get what that entire thing is about. I also have to say this entire thing is a bit silly, but at the same time very interesting to see how different people (and especially different sexes) approach things. Especially, I also have to ask Troppus: are you unsusually perceptive, hang around men a lot, are Australian, or just say what every woman knows? I love women like you that say things in a comprehensible way. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/67 "2013-01-22T02:54:02Z")
There is a difference between “wanting to be seen” and “wanting attention”. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/68 "2013-01-22T03:27:45Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Thanks for reminding me why I’m so glad I’m a man. > > My tough decision every morning is: > > 1. Black pants, with black belt and black shoes. > 2. Non-black pants, with brown belt and brown shoes. “DB. You forgot to wear a shirt again. We’ve _talked_ about this.” ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/69 "2013-01-22T03:36:33Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > Especially, I also have to ask Troppus: are you unsusually perceptive, hang around men a lot, are Australian, or just say what every woman knows? I love women like you that say things in a comprehensible way. Thanks. Now there’s vomit all over my walls. (For future reference: “Are you Australian?” _Not_ a great line.) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/70 "2013-01-22T03:39:25Z")
> [@iftheresaway](#): > > All is well, and my little atheist butt is proud of how churchy I look. > > Then we get to the church, and it turns out my FIL has saved us seats in the very first pew. In the name of people who are so accustomed to the baptismal party having reserved seats in the first row (your FIL? I’m used to the church itself reserving that pew) that we exclaimed “of course!”, I apologize for forgetting to warn you. I never, ever, ever wear any kind of low-cut tops, yet there are people whose looks kind of make me wish for a burka. Looks, like words, can carry a tone, if you know what I mean: some once-overs say “I’m identifying you; hello”; others say “you’re a slab of bacon and the only reason I’m not using my knife and fork on you is that all these morons here would protest - don’t ask me why, the assholes, they should just join the meal.” ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/71 "2013-01-22T04:26:26Z")
The only times I’ve either adjusted my top or buttoned it up were when some dude was talking to my boobs instead of my face. While I dig the occasional comment when in a bar-type setting (“Nice rack,” or free drinks from the bartender), I don’t need to have it made clear to me in just about any other setting that who I’m talking to is not really listening or speaking to me, and is instead just whispering “booooobieeesss” in his head. And **Troppus** , your post ending in Carl’s nut pants had me giggling like a fool. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/72 "2013-01-22T06:03:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > You realize there is a proper, medical name for cleavage? “Inter-Boobical Groove,” or IBG for short. True. Steely Dan wrote a song about that. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/73 "2013-01-22T06:55:13Z")
Asking males like myself? They show 'em to show em. Then they cover 'em to show they’re modest despite. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/74 "2013-01-22T07:47:24Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Does this seem so strange to you? Say you have a pair of jeans that a woman whose opinion you trust once told you make your butt look good. Would you feel any different if you realized an attractive woman snuck a glance versus one you found hideous staring openly at your jean clad behind? No one is going to think my butt looks good under any circumstances, but even if they did, I wouldn’t care about the latter possibility. Men don’t worry about unattractive women finding them attractive. Women do. Presumably explicable in terms of power imbalance. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/75 "2013-01-22T11:34:03Z")
> [@colander](#): > > I am not sure you understand very much about how some workplaces expect female employees to dress. “Snappy” clothes are very much de rigeur in many jobs. For women, that means a requirement to dress in a somewhat sexualized manner. As noted, it is not quite the same for men. > > It is kind of funny that this even has to be explained. Good grief, it’s like women’s liberation never happened. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/76 "2013-01-22T11:42:24Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Just because I want people to see my cleavage doesn’t mean I want you to see my cleavage. > > Seriously…when I do this, it’s because you’re making me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. Not because the shirt is making me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. I have the solution for your problem. Put a red light and a green light on your forehead. When a man that you don’t want to see your cleavage approaches switch on the red light so he can avoid you, and the green when you do want to be oggled. For goodness sake, do you think men are psychic? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/77 "2013-01-22T11:54:54Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > I have the solution for your problem. Put a red light and a green light on your forehead. When a man that you don’t want to see your cleavage approaches switch on the red light so he can avoid you, and the green when you do want to be oggled. > > For goodness sake, do you think men are psychic? Even from men you do fancy, ogling is unpleasant. I’m sure you can work out the difference between ogling and a glance without having to resort to psychic powers. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/78 "2013-01-22T11:58:10Z")
Okay, that’s it. Obviously it’s time to implement [purdah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdah) in the West. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/79 "2013-01-22T13:08:16Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > For goodness sake, do you think men are psychic? If I’m at work, and I’m giving a lecture or talking to you on how to improve on something, or discussing my cases/research, then there is no reason you should for the moment don’t oogle, just give a quick glance and pay attention to what I say. It is the same that I have to ignore how hot my coworkers or students are when I have to teach them something. If I’m outside of work, particularly at a place known for flirting, drinking, dancing, and hooking up, admiring what I got is slightly more acceptable. But if you want more than to look, then it’d be better to stop looking and start paying attention to the rest of myself. Is the concept of different behaviors for different settings that difficult to understand? Another very good reason why I may fidget in that area or cover what was uncovered is… changes in the weather. When it gets too cold, some parts that may not be noticeable, suddenly are. That would be totally inappropriate in some settings, so covering it is. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892/80 "2013-01-22T13:48:32Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > I have the solution for your problem. Put a red light and a green light on your forehead. When a man that you don’t want to see your cleavage approaches switch on the red light so he can avoid you, and the green when you do want to be oggled. > > For goodness sake, do you think men are psychic? Why on earth do you need to be psychic? I can cover my cleavage by adjusting my shirt or putting my hand to my chin. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my problem myself. That’s rather what this whole thread is about, dear. Do try to keep up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-cleavage-then-covering-it-why/647892.md?page=5)