Should women be able to walk around topless in the USA?

Contributor: Just Jen Just Jen
Men get to, babies get to, why are breast to be kept covered?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Yes, a woman should be able to walk around topless if she wants
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287
No, a woman should keep 'em covered
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87
I'll explain in the comments.
Chilipepper , OhMy! , Carrie Ann , Envy , PassionQT , Gunsmoke , Not here , isisandshiva , Love Buzz , verbalized , aleong , Liz2 , Danielle1220 , Unconventional , PuplePleasures , Cadence , Tart , mariah , Persephone's Addiction , darthkitt3n , C4ss , Sir , ms. cheeks , Miss Jenn , MeliPixie , Eliza , Stephanie Marie , K101 , cburger , null , SiNn , Kat Shanahan , Ansley , Eucaly , yrnw , js250 , The Curious Couple , kadytheredpanda , aliceinthehole , WetJenn , eeep , PeachieClean , Mia Fey , BlooJay , SubmissiveFeminist , JennSenn , amazon , blondie , Noelle , glasskitten , Daofan , misty82 , Kenneth Fort , RebelRebelJen , xilliannax
55
Total votes: 429 (406 voters)
Poll is closed
09/02/2010
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Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Because we're surrounded by people who won't 'get' the freedom idea, and they'll be such a nuisance that it's not worth it.

(Personally, I don't like mine getting sunburned and weathered and aged before their time.)
09/02/2010
Contributor: SydVicious SydVicious
Do I think a person should be able to walk around topless in the mall? No. I do not. I think that there are places that people who want to be naked can go and be in a comfortable environment, and that it wonderful... I just don't wanna see it while im at the park with my kid.
09/02/2010
Contributor: OhMy! OhMy!
Quote:
Originally posted by SydVicious
Do I think a person should be able to walk around topless in the mall? No. I do not. I think that there are places that people who want to be naked can go and be in a comfortable environment, and that it wonderful... I just don't wanna see it ... more
We agree. There are places where it is truly beneficial, comfortable, and acceptable. Others, not so much. We would not expect to see topless moms/women at a baseball/soccer game, at the mall, or at a wedding reception. On the other hand, being topless at the beach, an outdoor concert, on a boat, at the pool, at your own backyard barbecue/pool party, etc seems to be the more expected place.

The one that is really tricky is at the gym. It's a 50/50 for us on whether or not this would work.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I don't think men or women should be allowed to run around without a shirt in public.

I do think places like designated beaches and your own back yard should be fine, however.

For me it's just a personal thing, though. There are plenty of men and women I have no desire to see topless. At all.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
I think it would be fine for a woman to go topless anywhere it is appropriate/acceptable for a man to go shirtless. Having "boobs" should not make a difference. There are plenty of guys with manboobs bigger than a womans.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Envy Envy
I don't think they should unless it was like designated areas.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
Where I live it is legal, but I've never seen anyone do it.
09/03/2010
Contributor: PassionQT PassionQT
I'd like to be able to do it at the beach or pool, like they do in Europe. No one makes a fuss over it there because that's normal for them. I have no desire to run around the streets topless though. I need something to hold these jubblies in!
09/03/2010
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
There's a lot made of the ability for women in Europe to go topless - and indeed in the US there are places where its allowed.

When I was in Rio back in the 80s there were 3 main beaches. Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon - only Ipanema was topless - the others required a top. I admit that the tops (and bottoms) were so skimpy as to be near meaningless.

In an age where we now understand sun damage and the risks of skin cancer - it seems that the avoidance of the sun is more common than ever.

Honestly I've been to 'clothing optional' beaches - and you end up wishing the old wrinkly cogers would cover up their wrinkled blobs of sagging flesh.

Search out the beaches that allow topless if that's what you want - but walking around the streets topless doesn't even happen in Europe.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Dusk Dusk
I definitely have some mixed feelings about this issue. On one hand, it would be nice to have the same freedom as men to walk around with our shirts off on a hot day, etc. etc. On the other hand, female breasts are much more of an erogenous zone and are sexualized much more. I feel that people should be able to make their own decisions about whether or not they want to see that, and whether or not they want their children to see it as well. There's an issue of giving women the freedom to do what they want and also protecting those who don't want to see borderline public nudity on a day to day basis.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Hannah Savage Hannah Savage
I think that men and women should have moderate coverage when walking around town, but I have no problem with nude beaches or communities. Although there is the chance that you might be a very attractive man/woman, that's a pretty small chance. Odds are I DON'T want to see you without your shirt.

The beach town that I'm from, women and men walk around in their bathing suits and I am 100% fine with that since it is appropriate for their location. Would I want to see that in, say, downtown Los Angeles? Probably not.

I understand that people want to be able to express themselves however they want to but there needs to be a degree of respect for those around you.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Darling Jen Darling Jen
I know that it's already too imprinted in our collective memory and culture to probably do away with the discrimination in any quick manner, but it does bother me that there's a very obvious double-standard between the genders.

Consider this: It's the nipple on the breasts of women that require covering. Cleavage, shape, and size are not only acceptable but they are enhanced and we can expose all of those aspects and in as much as we want, depending on the situation. Just as a man can go topless in certain situations. And in bathing suits, the requirement is to cover the nipple but the rest can be expose.

So if THAT is what is indecent or private, then why are male nipples fine? If there's going to be any enforcement of covering a certain body part, shouldn't it be what men and women have different instead of being so obviously discriminatory?

Oh and another interesting note. It's legal for women to be topless in New York (and other places as well, I believe).

link

Now I don't want to see people walking around topless or anything, men OR women. I just think that whatever people decide is "decent" should be fairly applied to both genders instead of skewed to sexism.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Alegria Alegria
It's a human body; there is no reason to be scared or offended. I think if it were somewhat normal to have people of every age and gender walking around in various stages of nudity, there would be a lot more body acceptance. Even if I don't want to see certain people's bodies, I'm still going to be accepting of them.

People now feel like they have to hide themselves- Spanx, layering fabrics and what not. I understand needing a bra though, sometimes it gets very uncomfy without something holding up the Ladies.

Then again, I'm an art student, so I see nude models every other week during school. I don't see a problem with nudity. I personally find every body type acceptable if not beautiful.
09/03/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I don't think men or women should be allowed to run around without a shirt in public.

I do think places like designated beaches and your own back yard should be fine, however.

For me it's just a personal thing, though. There ... more
I feel pretty much the same. Hell, I wish there was the same rule for men too. Hillbilly belly? No thanks.

I think it would also cause a lot of problems. People don't know how to keep their hands to them selves.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
You know, there are nudists camps and beaches here in the states but the main majority of those who attend are elderly. Everyone seems to enjoy the idea, but the only ones who put it into action are the over 60 set.

Any David Sedaris fans out here...?
09/03/2010
Contributor: Not here Not here
Ha, I noticed a lot of guys voted Yes! What a surprise, but be careful what you wish for, cuz not all boobies are pretty. In fact, a lot aren't.

I agree with most of the comments already posted. I think in certain areas it should be allowed if the person wishes to do so, but it's completely inappropriate for normal circumstances. Like Carrie Ann and ~LaUr3n~ said, I don't even like seeing topless men! (most of the time, anyway...)

Imagine if women were allowed to go topless everywhere... it could get pretty scary. Remember the McDonald's coffee incident? How about topless? I'll pass, thanks.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Just Jen
Men get to, babies get to, why are breast to be kept covered?
Men shouldn't be able to wander around topless either in my opinion. It should be equal or not at all and it seems that more people want men to wear a shirt as well. *sigh*
09/03/2010
Contributor: NightNight NightNight
Women should be allowed to go topless wherever men are allowed by law. There are exceptions for men that should also apply to women, i.e. businesses with a "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy, that exist for health and safety and liability reasons and that's ok with me. The double standard that a woman can potentially be arrested for exposing her chest on the street while a man would not is unacceptable. There are already medium/large cities in North America where men and women have equal "topless rights" (the only ones I can think of off the top of my head are New York and Ottawa-- what are some more?) and societal pressure is enough to keep it from being an overly common occurrence for women just as its enough for men.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
Quote:
Originally posted by Not here
Ha, I noticed a lot of guys voted Yes! What a surprise, but be careful what you wish for, cuz not all boobies are pretty. In fact, a lot aren't.

I agree with most of the comments already posted. I think in certain areas it should be ... more
Jesibel420 --- Don't take any offense to this (none is intended) but your statements align perfectly with my point so I hope you don't mind me using them as an example.

And my point is; that is exactly why going topless is and always will be a big issue in America. Too many people think of it in terms of "What I want to see" or "What looks sexy." Alan & I have been to nudist colonies before, and you learn to understand nudity in any form *can* be about comfort only. Every piece of exposed flesh doesn't have to be part of a walking meat market for everyone to feast their eyes on and judge whether it's arousing or not.

As for only wanting to see boobs that are "pretty"... well that's a little off when you think about it. Our society doesn't ban people with ugly legs from wearing shorts, or require butt-ugly people to go out with bags over their heads, so what's the diff really? You simply look at something else when something "ugly" crosses your line of vision.
09/03/2010
Contributor: Midway through Midway through
I honestly can't say I care either way. I'm one of those if it floats your boat, then yay. I personally wouldn't do it, but then again, I'm just not willing to, that's all.
09/04/2010
Contributor: OhMy! OhMy!
Quote:
Originally posted by Not here
Ha, I noticed a lot of guys voted Yes! What a surprise, but be careful what you wish for, cuz not all boobies are pretty. In fact, a lot aren't.

I agree with most of the comments already posted. I think in certain areas it should be ... more
Just like if we asked people if they should be allowed to go "bottomless". Not all wangs and vajay-jays are "pretty" either!
09/05/2010
Contributor: Miss Cinnamon Miss Cinnamon
For anyone who is interested, a similar thread was started about a year ago link

Personally, I think I would like the option of going topless wherever, but I would still choose to keep covered in most circumstances.
09/05/2010
Contributor: Kim! Kim!
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Jen
I know that it's already too imprinted in our collective memory and culture to probably do away with the discrimination in any quick manner, but it does bother me that there's a very obvious double-standard between the ... more
Exactly, you summed it up better than I could right now.
09/06/2010
Contributor: joja joja
I agree that it's a rather absurd double-standard. I would like the option of taking my shirt off on a blistering hot day, or to relax at the beach or pool. It's not fair that my male friends can enjoy that comfort when I'm stuck with a bra at the very least, and will probably have to endure stares for that.

I honestly don't get people who are incredibly upset by seeing people they don't find attractive naked. I lived in Germany for over a year, and one of my favorite things about the place was the saunas - which are mostly occupied by people 50+, usually totally nude. Sure, most weren't conventionally attractive, but I wasn't thrown into fits of uncontrollable vomiting upon the sight. They're just people, people who I will likely resemble in a few decades. I think we are a bit spoiled by porn and pop culture's portrayal of the human body.

The question is not whether the small number of hot topless chicks is worth seeing old/fat/ugly people topless. It is only whether the option to go topless will benefit women (without causing the downfall of society, I suppose).
09/06/2010
Contributor: Not here Not here
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan & Michele
Jesibel420 --- Don't take any offense to this (none is intended) but your statements align perfectly with my point so I hope you don't mind me using them as an example.

And my point is; that is exactly why going topless is and always ... more
No offense taken. I definitely understand your points. I realize in hindsight my "pretty" statement sounds a bit mean now. Beauty is, after all, in the eye of the beholder.

However, that's not why I don't think people shouldn't be allowed to go topless everywhere. I simply think it's just not appropriate in certain places, since breasts are considered so sexual in our society.
09/06/2010
Contributor: isisandshiva isisandshiva
I answered that I believe women should be allowed to be topless, simply based on the principle that there will never be a mass ban on men going shirtless. My boobs are not very different than a guys chest, and the ways they are different i don't think should matter. granted I may not want to see it all the time, but there are plenty of things I see on a daily basis that I don't want to see. So I don't focus, simple as that. on the point of "PROTECT THE CHILDREN!" kids will see things, and how they react to what they see depends on us. kids get their perceptions of the world from us, if we treat breasts like something that need to be hidden, it's never going to change. I am not disagreeing with the it's not appropriate everywhere, I would never go to the court house topless, probably not even grocery shopping, but you know I would love to not have to duck down so much when i have to change in my car, to just be able to drive around with out a shirt on when it is just awful humid in a car with no AC.
09/07/2010
Contributor: Love Buzz Love Buzz
I'd not be comfortable walking around without a shirt on and don't really want to see women walking around the mall topless. That said there are certainly places such as some beaches - where the option should be available.

Yet at the same time I'm all for breast feeding in almost any location on any occasion (just thinking it would be kinda weird in the middle of a wedding reception!!)
09/07/2010
Contributor: LikeSunshineDust LikeSunshineDust
To echo what others have said, I think it should be allowed in appropriate places. There are plenty of times that I would have loved to hang out at the beach or the pool topless. (Screw tanlines!) I also agree that if we continue to treat our breasts as things that should be hidden, they will remain hidden.
09/07/2010
Contributor: Just Jen Just Jen
Quote:
Originally posted by Coralbell
Where I live it is legal, but I've never seen anyone do it.
Where do you live?
09/07/2010