One brave woman has won a victory for breast cancer survivors everywhere by fighing a ban on women with mastectomies who want to swim topless in Seattle public pools. The woman, 47-year-old Jodi Jaecks, had chemotherapy as well as a double mastectomy last year. The operation left her with a burning sensation in her chest, caused by overstimulated nerves. In order to ease the pain, Jodi wanted to take up swimming. However, Seattle officials told her she would not be allowed to swim unless she had on a bathing suit top. What happened next will make you cheer.
At first, Jodi understood that city officials would want her to cover up, so she looked all over for a suitable bathing suit. However, one pieces were painful; bikini tops were impossible; and tops made for women with masectomies all had fake breasts inside of them. And Jodi says, "I'm never going to fake it. I'm not ashamed of my body."
Good for Jodi. Why should she wear fake boobs so that other people feel more comfortable looking at her? First of all, the woman has been through enough. Second of all, breast cancer, as well as other forms of cancer and health issues, are part of life. So what if children and adults have to look at people who appear different? Do we insist that people without legs put on fake ones before they go outside? Give me a break!
When Jodi then told the parks department she would have to swim topless, they turned her down. So Jodi took her story to the press. After seeing a picture of Jodi in only swim trunks, officials decided that they saw "nothing that would alarm or cause affront to parents or children." Because some people are so affronted by the reality that some people get sick? Insane.
Jodi has been given the green light to swim topless, but the department says other breast cancer survivors will have to be approved on a "case by case" basis. Ridiculous.
Do you think women with mastectomies should be allowed to go topless in public?
Image via brownpau/Flickr
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Comments 35
I knew it would bring the demon, "if she can so can I." That's what's wrong with everything. People act like children and if they see or hear of someone doing something, right away it's their right to do the same thing so I have to say no. She should have to wear a suit.
Now, if people were grown up about things, my attitude would be let this poor woman swim. She looks like a man. And NO, I don't think I need to see everyone's breasts flopping around while I'm at the local pool. I'm also sorry but men's don't flop all over the place and I'm sorry but that's the way I feel. Mine are covered and I don't want to see yours! If you want to be naked, you're more than welcome to go to Europe or places that allow it.
And frankly, I find constant derrogatory remarks by you and others, about a person's body to be in much poorer taste than anything I have ever said. Having a body that YOU don't want to look at, doesn't make someone less of a person.
You're an incredibly shallow human being if you think someone isn't worthy of equal treatment just because you don't like their floppy parts.
Well that's good for you 4mutts. I have a right to my opinion. I never say how I really feel about some of the crap that comes out of your mouth either. But....I rise above and move on. I believe at the public pool, we should be clothed and if you don't like it I'm sorry. I don't want to see a penis flopping around either.
You have a right to what you think the rules should be and so do I.
I at least have the security of knowing that when I blast someones opinion, its soley based on the fact that I disagree with them, and not based on their looks, because I'm not a shallow asshole
Btw, a penis is a sex organ. Just like a vulva. Women and men are treated equally under laws and regulations for not exposing your sex organs. You're simply spouting your own back-woods gender stereotypes based on nothing legitimate what-so-ever.
Just where did you see me say one word about what someone looked like?
Not everyone had "floppy" parts. My breasts, even at a D cup, do not flop. Its called push-ups. I do them.
Using the judgemental and degrading term "flopping" insinuates a less than appealing breast/other body part. Showing what a judgemental jerk you're being about someones body.
I think those boys teasing the bus driver said she had "floppy titties". Nice to know you're right in line with some verbally abusive grade schoolers.
Ghostbaby- and you are...? And I care, why...?
It is a double standard. I just had to explain to my daughter the other day how a man, can walk around without a shirt on but a girl can not. I don't think she really understood it, probably because I don't really understand the double standard fully myself. In the end, I told her that the law in our country says that a girl has to cover her top when she is out of the house but a boy does not, and left it at that.