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Helsinki embraces gender-neutral shirtless policy at Hietaniemi Beach

Thursday 25th 2024 on 19:29 in  
Finland

In Helsinki, people of all genders are allowed to go shirtless at the beach, a policy the city quietly decided on last year. To gauge public opinion on this issue, we visited Hietaniemi Beach and asked beachgoers about their thoughts on women’s toplessness and any potential restrictions.

Helsinkian Pasi Pietilä expressed that he finds it unproblematic and does not see the need for such a ban. He believes the custom of being shirtless is influenced by European practices. However, he differentiates this from nudist beaches, which he considers a separate matter.

Pietilä remarked on the impact of this practice on everyday life, stating, “I had to think for a moment if this would affect anything in life. It won’t be very common, but if some people happen to be shirtless here and there, it’s not an issue for me; perhaps the opposite.” He noted that women who choose to be shirtless usually lie on their stomachs, adjusting their bikini straps to avoid tan lines on their backs.

Paivi Vuokila-Oikkonen from Oulu shared her viewpoint, stating that she doesn’t mind topless individuals at the beach. “There are all sorts of people in the world. It doesn’t bother me at all, as long as I don’t have to do it,” she said with a laugh.

The discussions highlight a growing acceptance of body positivity and diverse practices at public beaches in Finland, reflecting a broader cultural shift.

Source 
(via yle.fi)