To be uncomfortable around topless sunbathers?

[corgo]

Went away for a bit of winter sun in a Spanish island. First day there, we were sat at a table - two middle aged women and her teenage DS and two young DC pull up loungers right near us. One woman proceeds to whip her bikini off - has been topless for hours now, walking round, up to the bar, swimming etc.

She’s the only one doing it and it’s a very family orientated resort, seems weird to do it around her teenage DS! It’s not 18-30 territory (and I’m in that bracket, not an old prude!).

Aibu to feel uncomfortable??

I'm not sure what the issue is here?

Strangely they never really want to articulate it!

Apparently it's

• naff
• tedious
• bad manners
• a pain
• unfashionable
• not sufficiently attractive
• too 1970s

And quite a few other reasons that I've forgotten. I suspect it's really nothing to do with any of these. I'm pretty sure a thread complaining about someone wearing a1970s naff swimsuit and being tedious would not attract the same level of irritated support

it's just a pair of boobs

Look at the outrage thats spewed when women discretely breastfeed in public! People are SO weird and prudish about breasts, its bizarre.

Yet men can wander around with huge hairy beer bellies, and moobs and noone complains about that! Still, I guess it gives the pearl clutchers something to tut about!

I find it weird that anyone is bothered about a pair of boobs in this day and age. Toplessness is probably less common now because of camera phones and social media but it’s just a pair of tits; we’ve all got nipples, just with varying amounts of tissue underneath.

If it offends you or makes you feel uncomfortable, look away and leave them to it. Unless I was in a nudist resort, I’d probably put a top on to go for a meal, but not if I was going to the sea, for a quick swim in the pool or up to the poolside bar but I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if another lady had hers out in a dedicated resort for sunbathing; it’s her choice.

For those of you who haven’t tried it, try going for a naked or topless swim, or go naked in a sauna. It’s one of life’s most wondrous feelings.

I'm with you OP.
In our society, like it or not, despite their primary purpose, breasts are sexualised. People get turned on by seeing breasts. I would only choose to share mine with a significant other (or, discreetly, a breastfeeding child) for that reason.

I am one of the topless sunbathers on holiday.

It's just how I choose and prefer to be. However, I will always put a top on to go to the bar, eat, walk around the pool area. I believe people should be dressed to eat a meal. I won't cover up to swim unless it's a bit of a walk to the pool, I wouldn't shuffle past people half naked.

Most people I've seen doing it keep themselves to themselves anyway and are happily minding their own business.

I've only ever had one negative, and actually quite vile, reaction from one woman once. I confronted her in return. On the other hand, I'm usually the only topless sunbather, but I notice that some other women sitting around me start to do it too after a few days of sitting near me. Confidence boost? Safety in numbers? 😂

Stop staring at her tits OP.

Wouldn’t bother me but agree that walking around topless is a bit inappropriate.

I would feel highly uncomfortable doing so, esspecially given the possibility that other people might take pictures and post them online.

Bet you haven’t batted an eyelid at all the men sunbathing topless. It’s the same thing. YABU.

Topless on the beach I’m used to seeing but in all my years of travelling I’ve never seen a topless person just casually walking around to go up to the bar, restaurant etc and I’ve been to a couple of the the Canary Islands.

A few hotels I have been to have an area sectioned off for totally nude sunbathing which the topless sunbathers were expected to go if they wanted to walk around etc but if they were top less but on their front and just tanning their back it wasn’t an issue.

I didn’t even see any topless in Ibiza and that wasn’t a family orientated hotel at all, but then again I did go as the season was coming to an end.

It wouldn’t bother me but i know my 11 year old would find it uncomfortable but in that awkward shy way, which in turn would bother me.

I think sunbathing topless is fine but then you should cover them up to walk around etc!

Stop staring at her tits OP.

Why should we have to deliberately make an effort not to look in a particular direction?

Bet you haven’t batted an eyelid at all the men sunbathing topless. It’s the same thing.

Errr .... no, it's not. Men's breasts are not considered an erogenous zone.

In the old days of long skirts, women's ankles used to be considered erogenous.

In Japan, the nape of the neck used (is?) considered erogenous, which is why Geisha used to show it, unlike modest women.

If women cover it, then it's erogenous, apparently.

Agreed with your first two paras.
But we havent got to the stage yet where a woman's breasts are not considered erogenous, which is why there are likely to be issues if they are not covered.

YANBU to feel that way as it’s up to you how you feel. Just move away from them if you don’t like it.