AIBU to go topless at the local outdoor swimming pool?

[BrightBlueStar]

It's a glorious day & I'm at the local outdoor pool. It was a right hassle getting here (3 children under 5, queue to get in etc.) but now I'm here it's amazing! HOWEVER realised I've forgotten my bikini top!!! Not wearing a bra so can't use that instead. Going back for a bikini top isn't an option (it's a long round trip, would have to pay/queue again yadayadayada). This has made me think - Could I go topless? Im desperate for a swim and don't care about other people seeing my breasts. I'm not English and where I'm from going topless is more common. But here none of the women are topless.

Is it against the law? Would I be told off?

Would you go topless and if not why not?

There will be complaints. But if you feel like fighting, by all means, do it!

Laws that force women to wear more clothes than men are sexist and need to be challenged at every opportunity.

I'd not do it because I'd be uncomfortable with the men who'd ogle me, but plan to start going topless when I turn 80.

Lived in France for a bit and it was fairly standard to see women swimming and sunbathing topless at the local outdoor pool. Doesn't seem to be the done thing in the UK though.

Yup British people hate female nipples.

I'd probably just swim in my tshirt in this situation.

I don't really see why boobs are so taboo. It's like because you can make milk from them they are shameful and need to be covered up. Stupid attitude.

From the BBC

It's not an offence to be naked in public in England and Wales but it does become an offence if it can be proved the person stripped off with the intention to upset and shock. The complainant has to prove this.
In Scottish law there is no statutory offence, just the common law offence of offending public decency - a strand of the breach of the peace. The test is essentially the same as in English law, that a member of the public has been put in a state of fear or alarm.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service "a balance needs to be struck between the naturist's right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress".

You're kidding right OP?

I second anothers coments, if you're in a top i'd swim in that. More challenging in a dress though.

You're breastfeeding twins and not wearing a bra?

I was rather assuming if she had another adult with her, they could go home and fetch the bikini top, or pop out and buy one, or a cheap vest top. That would obviously be easier than dragging 3 small children off again

No. Enjoy your day and drink plenty.

I don't really see why boobs are so taboo. It's like because you can make milk from them they are shameful and need to be covered up.

More likely it is because they are female. Female hair is exactly the same as male hair, but still has been declared taboo by the patriarchies of many countries.

Once you start covering things men get sexually excited by, you are on the road that ends with you wearing a bag over your whole body.

You're breastfeeding twins and not wearing a bra?

This!

I do find it a funny thought that some parents might not want their children to be exposed to a pair of breasts

It's not that. It will be the women not wanting their men ogling other women's tits.

😵

The test is essentially the same as in English law, that a member of the public has been put in a state of fear or alarm.

With so many pearl-clutchers about, I guess there's some risk.

But if they try to accuse a breastfeeding mother of intending to cause upset and shock, that's going to make some interesting newspaper articles.

I honestly don't get the comments of surprise about not wearing a bra and breastfeeding. I have huge boobs, I bf to 3.5, I didn't always wear a bra. I don't always wear one now.

My boobs are perky as can be

OP if you feel comfortable then do it.

Crown - absolutely, but then maybe the onus might be on the chap not to ogle.....

Breastffeding and no bra = serious leakage

Or what NoCapes said.

Sorry, didn't see your post

It's not that. It will be the women not wanting their men ogling other women's tits.

You think there's really that large a supply of idiots born every day?

If their men ogle other women's breasts, the solution is getting rid of the man, not banning other women from going topless.

But I don't think it is about that. It is about gender policing.

I was told by other girls in primary school (age six to seven) that I needed a top because "boys can see your breasts!" (Not that I had any ...)

Pretty sure they didn't have any boyfriends at that age. They had just been taught that good, obedient girls under patriarchy cover their chests. Regardless of any existence of breasts. And were now eager to police other girls' behaviour.

Stealth boast.

You're sitting by an outdoor pool, tandem feeding twins and Mumsnetting?

And worrying about nipples, worra
Multi-tasking, innit