The debate about women in the public domain almost never refers to the actual Torah sources that discuss it. It is predicated on people's feelings and modern non-Torah, anti-Kedusha perspectives. Here is ONE source that is worth considering. [Note - I am not suggesting that women be locked up in their homes חס ושלום. I AM suggesting that we gain an appreciation of Kedusha. What the practical considerations are is for people much greater than myself to decide].
מסייע ליה לרב דאמר רב אסור לאדם שיאמר כמה נאה עובדת כוכבים זו
It is taught in the baraita cited earlier: Another matter: “You should not show them favor”; this teaches that you should not give them favor by praising them. The Gemara notes that this supports the opinion of Rav. As Rav says: It is prohibited for a person to say: How beautiful is this gentile woman!
מיתיבי מעשה ברשב"ג שהיה על גבי מעלה בהר הבית וראה עובדת כוכבים אחת נאה ביותר אמר (תהלים קד, כד) מה רבו מעשיך ה' ואף ר"ע ראה אשת טורנוסרופוס הרשע רק שחק ובכה רק שהיתה באה מטיפה סרוחה שחק דעתידה דמגיירא ונסיב לה בכה דהאי שופרא בלי עפרא
The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: There was an incident involving Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, who was on a step on the Temple mount, and he saw a certain gentile woman who was exceptionally beautiful and said: “How great are Your works, O Lord!” (Psalms 104:24). And Rabbi Akiva too, when he saw the wife of the wicked Turnus Rufus he spat, laughed, and cried. He spat, as she was created from a putrid drop; he laughed, as he foresaw that she was destined to convert and he would marry her; he cried, as this beauty would ultimately be consumed by dirt.
ורב אודויי הוא דקא מודה דאמר מר הרואה בריות טובות אומר ברוך שככה ברא בעולמו
And how would Rav explain the incident involving Rabban Gamliel, who praised the beauty of a gentile? The Gemara answers: Rabban Gamliel was giving thanks to God for creating such beautiful people rather than praising the gentile herself. As the Master said: One who sees beautiful or otherwise outstanding creatures recites: Blessed be He, Who has created such in His world.
ולאסתכולי מי שרי מיתיבי (דברים כג, י) ונשמרת מכל דבר רע שלא יסתכל אדם באשה נאה ואפילו פנויה באשת איש ואפי' מכוערת
But is it permitted to gaze upon a woman? The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita. The verse states: “And you shall keep yourself from every evil thing” (Deuteronomy 23:10); this teaches that a person should not gaze upon a beautiful woman, even if she is unmarried; and a person should not gaze upon a married woman, even if she is ugly;
ולא בבגדי צבע [של] אשה ולא בחמור ולא בחמורה ולא בחזיר ולא בחזירה ולא בעופות בזמן שנזקקין זה לזה ואפילו מלא עינים כמלאך המות
and a person should not gaze upon the colored garments of a woman; and a person should not gaze at a male donkey, at a female donkey, at a pig, at a sow, or at fowl, when they are mating; and even if one were full of eyes like the Angel of Death and saw from every direction, it is not permitted to look.
The Gemara answers: Rabban Gamliel did not intentionally look at the woman; rather, he was walking around a corner and he saw her unexpectedly as they each turned. [Avoda Zara 20a]
The Gemara says "ולאיסתכולי מי שרי??????????????" Is a man allowed to gaze upon a woman?? [Note - There is a difference in Halacha between a cursory glance and gazing. Critical distinction].
In today's woke-progressive society the answer is "what is the problem?? Are you suggesting that we 'cancel' or 'erase' women???"
The answer of the Gemara is that INDEED, one may not gaze. The reason is that we strive for קדושה and gazing upon a woman doesn't jive with קדושה. When Rabban Gamliel looked it was unintentional. So how can one gaze intentionally???
Just saying.
