Why can men be casually topless in public but women can't?

[msrisotto]

I was hot in the car today and envied a bloke in a van for being able to be topless.

I don't believe it is illegal for a woman to be topless in public in the UK but she would get a load of attention and I reckon if the police were around, they'd tell her to put a top on. (she might get prosecuted under the public order act?)

Why? And, should, in an ideal world, women casually be able to be topless in public like men? Or should everyone put some clothes on!

I don't want to look at anyone's naked torso, thanks (except DP's and possibly some celebrities).

To be honest I'd rather see men put their tops on than women take theirs off.
However, I don't really see a problem with the way things are. Women can wear skimpier tops than men anyway.

Is this a serious question?

"I'd rather see men put their tops on than women take theirs off."

Why?

"Is this a serious question?"
Not as serious as say, world debt or famine but serious enough....

No, I mean, do you honestly want people to expend energy on answering it?

Obviously, women have breasts, breasts are covered in almost all cultures in the world and have been for many thousands of years, the sight of bare breasts wobbling around Sainsburys would just be disconcerting to most people and actually offensive to some, possibly the majority, who knows.

I mean that I am happy with the way things are.
However, if it had to change to be equal for men and women, I would prefer that men were forced to wear tops than women were allowed to take theirs off.

There is more than enough indecency in the modern world and sometimes people should realise that it's better to cover up and show some modesty.

I often take my top off when it's hot in the car. I still have a bra on underneath. What's wrong with that?

The question in the OP totally feeds into the breastfeeding in public 'debate'. Breasts are seen as only sexual rather than another part of the body with a biological function. Sad.

'There is more than enough indecency in the modern world and sometimes people should realise that it's better to cover up and show some modesty.'

There is NOTHING indecent about the human body. Get a grip.

bibbity - just because it would be disconcerting for some, doesn't mean it is right. It isn't right that the sight of a woman's torso in public is somehow unsightly whereas a man's isn't.

earweicga - There isn't anything wrong with it but it doesn't appear to be the norm! My DP would think I was a nutter for one. Very good point about the breastfeeding thing.

There was a cartoon strip in Shocking Pink years ago about this very thing. It was one of those gender role reversal things where the men were being harassed and arrested if they took their tops off in public.

I will try and find it for you.

As for breasts being covered in lots of cultures. Well lots of cultures have wars, no clean water, fighting in the streets, rubbish ice cream and exploit poor people. Just because something is common does not mean it is a good thing

maybe if more women went topless then it wouldn't be so offensive?

it's only offensive to some people because they associate breasts with sex

nigglewiggle

wow, cant believe some of the responses here. i get your point OP. but at the same time, why arent people of any gender allowed to walk round naked? why just the top half? the questions leads itself into so many others...

Well, breasts are associated with sex, aren't they?

Well yes, during sex they are tugamommy but the OP isn't about having sex in public.

Why is something with a biological function automatically not offensive? My arsehole has a biological function but I doubt anyone wants to see it

Well it is only society now which sees the naked body as indecent (saying that makes me cringe) people are not born with clothes on and there have been many cultures which existed and even today still exist (although they tend to be hunter gatherer societies) and you don't see the men in those villages etc walking around staring at every woman walking past (or vice versa) because it is normal to them.

The human body is as it should be there is nothing wrong with it, it is because certain parts of the body has become so sexualised that the sight of them has only one meaning.

It's a shame that we live in a society that is so ashamed of their own bodies.

Also the funny thing is there are men who are quite overweight and can have breast's of their own

Would anybody see your anus when you are walking around quaere?

I am so sick of people being scared of/disgusted with/hating their bodies. Practically everything about your body has a function and is necessary.

Quare, I don't find your anus offensive.

Oh heavens. I am just answering the question literally. It is not the cultural norm. Its not just "lots of" cultures where the breast remain covered most of the time, it is the vast majority of cultures.

Covering the breasts is not offensive or dangerous (unlike war, no clean water etc) so fail to see the point of that argument.

I hardly ever go on beach holidays to the Mediterranean but years ago when I did go a few times, most women appeared to sunbathe topless. This year I went to Italy for two weeks and didn't see a solitary topless woman. Is it out of fashion again now?

I cannot get worked up about this.

I disagree earwicga. Just ask any man, and probably many women, what their first thoughts are after seeing a woman's naked chest (and I don't mean they would necessarily have 'dirty' thoughts). The conotation is too strong.

BBH, that was why I included rubbish ice cream on my list. It is not just about things that are dangerous.

I would quite like to be able to go topless on British beaches or in my own garden without it being a big deal.

But I don't feel worked up about it. I don't think anyone on here does.