Free the nipple:should women be able to go topless in public

[Bojikami]

Honestly, yea, I think if some 500 pound guy who has got the breasts to fill a g-size bra can go outside topless, then a woman should also.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I'm not about to go wandering around topless either way, but it would still make sense for the law to be gender-neutral. If it causes a problem in some places, just tell everyone to put their shirts on in those places.

Biology isn't really gender-neutral though.

In this specific context, I am not seeing how biological differences would make it impractical for the law to be gender-neutral.

[Threlizdun]

Then yes. Everyone is aware that it's a possibility if they go to the beach. They still go.



No, we put them in pens just up the shore while the adults go sunbathe and drink cocktails....

What do you think?



Nah, that's a terrible reason. Just look away if it offends your pure vision.

Same argument with abortion is applied here. Consent to going to the beach is not consent to seeing naked people. This is why you have to agree to being over 18 before going on any adult content over the net. Because however you should have the choice, I should also have the choice not to see that. Me not wanting to see my family/friends/neighbors going around town naked is an actual argument.

I did not consent to see women's hair. Many culture would consider that indecent. Should we ban that to? What makes breasts more indecent than hair? If we cannot point to actual harm caused by certain actions, it is ridiculous to outlaw them.

[Ereria]

Hell ye, it's a win win situation. We get to see tits and women can feel like an equal

[Olthar]

I'm not about to go wandering around topless either way, but it would still make sense for the law to be gender-neutral. If it causes a problem in some places, just tell everyone to put their shirts on in those places.

Biology isn't really gender-neutral though.

In this case, it is. Both men and women have tits. The only difference is that men tits are underdeveloped. In that respect, if you are going to segregate based on sex, then it should be the men who have to cover up. After all, we have qualms about showing other underdeveloped body parts.

[Uawc]

I'm astonished that this is still being argued, but I suppose I shouldn't be. Do I even need to state my opinion? People should be free to do whatever they want as long as they're not hurting others.

[Immoren]

Ah, so it's your position that the US is too immature to deal with seeing boobies. I've seen plenty of topless sunbathing around Europe, society seems to have managed not to implode into a mass orgy of sex and violence.

Nor mixed gender saunas.

[The Archregimancy]

I'm absolutely stunned - stunned I tell you - that 70% of individuals on a forum dominated by heterosexual males between the ages of 15 and 25 would like women to be able to go topless in public.

Tonight I'll raise a glass in honour of their no-doubt totally selfless and utterly unselfish dedication to the cause of women's equality and the principle of gender neutrality within their local legal systems.

[Herrebrugh]

I'm absolutely stunned - stunned I tell you - that 70% of individuals on a forum dominated by heterosexual males between the ages of 15 and 25 would like women to be able to go topless in public.

Tonight I'll raise a glass in honour of their no-doubt totally selfless and utterly unselfish dedication to the cause of women's equality and the principle of gender neutrality within their local legal systems.

Eh. I'm a gay male who doesn't particularly like the sight of female breasts, and I'm supportive...

Well, in any case, it should either be both males and females being restricted, or both males and females being unrestricted for me.

[Jumalariik]

There is a difference between what is legal and what is socially acceptable.
So, yes, it should be legal. As people said, only in certain places, exactly like with men.

[The Archregimancy]

I'm absolutely stunned - stunned I tell you - that 70% of individuals on a forum dominated by heterosexual males between the ages of 15 and 25 would like women to be able to go topless in public.

Tonight I'll raise a glass in honour of their no-doubt totally selfless and utterly unselfish dedication to the cause of women's equality and the principle of gender neutrality within their local legal systems.

Eh. I'm a gay male who doesn't particularly like the sight of female breasts, and I'm supportive...

<sarcasm mode off>

And your support is just a little more convincingly selfless to me than the support of some of the people posting in this thread. As you rightly note, you're in little danger of confusing the issues of support for gender neutrality in laws regarding toplessness with a personal desire to see women's breasts.

A quick skim through the thread suggests that not all the heterosexual males posting in this thread are able to quite so fully separate the two to quite the same degree that NSG's gay male component can.

[Camelza]

Idiotic double standard, yes women should go topless if they want.

[Scotland and the Enchanted Dominion]

yes, because of women's rights and gender equality, no because this might cause an increase of rape, of course I know not every woman would do this, but there are perverted men.

[Camelza]

Eh. I'm a gay male who doesn't particularly like the sight of female breasts, and I'm supportive...

<sarcasm mode off>

And your support is just a little more convincingly selfless to me than the support of some of the people posting in this thread. As you rightly note, you're in little danger of confusing the issues of support for gender neutrality in laws regarding toplessness with a personal desire to see women's breasts.

A quick skim through the thread suggests that not all the heterosexual males posting in this thread are able to quite so fully separate the two to quite the same degree that NSG's gay male component can.

That's not really indicative of the posters' beliefs, many posters are simply immature-like and like to goof off when a thread regarding breasts, penises etc, appears.

[Salus Maior]

Maybe in a time where sexual harassment and rape is much less of a thing.

[Quintium]

There is a difference between the female nipple and the male nipple. The female nipple is located on top of the female breast. The female breast is a secondary sex characteristic, which means it's something that men are supposed to judge the quality of a potential mate by. Therefore, female nipples are part of a feature which is intended by nature itself (not by 'society', or 'conservative social norms', or 'the patriarchy') to be arousing to men. Women shouldn't walk around topless any more than men should walk around in thongs that their testicles are hanging out of.

[Fartsniffage]

There is a difference between the female nipple and the male nipple. The female nipple is located on top of the female breast. The female breast is a secondary sex characteristic, which means it's something that men are supposed to judge the quality of a potential mate by. Therefore, female nipples are part of a feature which is intended by nature itself (not by 'society', or 'conservative social norms', or 'the patriarchy') to be arousing to men. Women shouldn't walk around topless any more than men should walk around in thongs that their testicles are hanging out of.

So I assume you keep your face covered at all times in public?

[Camelza]

The female breast is a secondary sex characteristic, which means it's something that men are supposed to judge the quality of a potential mate by.

So are abs, hairy chests and facial hair, should men cover them as well? Pffft.

[Quintium]

So I assume you keep your face covered at all times in public?

My face is not a primary sex characteristic and not a secondary sex characteristic either.
In fact, I'm decidedly un-sexy, so I doubt my face is going to put flames into the hearts of women the world over.

So are abs, hairy chests and facial hair, should men cover them as well? Pffft.

If you come from a place where men regularly walk around topless with their hairy chests hanging out, then I'm going to have to call you a redneck.

[Immoren]

My face is not a primary sex characteristic and not a secondary sex characteristic either.
In fact, I'm decidedly un-sexy, so I doubt my face is going to put flames into the hearts of women the world over.

Facial hair is secondary sex characteristic.

[Dyakovo]

So, if this wins woman can be topless whenever?

The Mormon side of me says "Oppose this!" but the rest of me says "Support!"
I might support this now.

No, not "whenever", instead it is "whenever a man would be able to, women are as well". This has been the legal situation here in NYS for around 20 years now iirc, with no adverse effects.

[Quintium]

Facial hair is secondary sex characteristic.

And do you see lots of guys with enormous beards at the top of businesses?
No, you see them in 'countercultural' circles.

And, uh, I keep a pretty clean shave.

[Dyakovo]

No. There is a socio-cultural difference between men being topless and women being topless. It is not in the best interests of society to legally allow women to be topless in public.

Yes, it is. Equal treatment under the law is in the best interest of society.

[Dyakovo]

Maybe in a time where sexual harassment and rape is much less of a thing.

It's been legal in NYS for around 20 years (as I already pointed out) with no increase in the occurrence of either.

[Hladgos]

Yeah sure, why not? So long as you don't run around and get black eyes. I don't see a problem at all.