# Tops off! The acceptability of public half-nudity for women **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 28, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630 "2013-01-28T18:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/21 "2013-01-28T20:19:18Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I feel that, if you’re going to live in San Francisco, you ought to have a certain minimum comfort level with naked dudes. Otherwise, you might as well live in San Jose. _ZING!_ Topless beaches are fine. Topless in most other places… not for men or women. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/22 "2013-01-28T20:19:19Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I feel that, if you’re going to live in San Francisco, you ought to have a certain minimum comfort level with naked dudes. Otherwise, you might as well live in San Jose. You could say the same thing for homeless people shitting in the street, which I have also seen here. Go move to stockton if you don’t want to see it, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/23 "2013-01-28T20:21:04Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > You could say the same thing for homeless people shitting in the street, which I have also seen here. Go move to stockton if you don’t want to see it, huh? At least you have a chance to dodge the bum dung when it’s laying on the sidewalk. It’s the shit on the escalators that gets you. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/24 "2013-01-28T20:21:42Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > You could say the same thing for homeless people shitting in the street, which I have also seen here. Go move to stockton if you don’t want to see it, huh? Post/username, aw forget it. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/25 "2013-01-28T20:22:42Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > You could say the same thing for homeless people shitting in the street, which I have also seen here. Go move to stockton if you don’t want to see it, huh? He could say that, but he didn’t. Nudity =/= shitting. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/26 "2013-01-28T20:25:13Z")
I support boobs and boob related activities. Seriously, though - who cares if someone wants to walk around topless? That’s their business. Just remember that there is no expectation of privacy in public, and that goes double when you’re hot and topless. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/27 "2013-01-28T20:37:43Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > He could say that, but he didn’t. > > Nudity =/= shitting. They are both natural human activities that don’t belong in civilized public spaces, so they have that in common. Its all a question of where you draw the line. Some people like Miller draw it between nudity and poop. I draw it on the other side of nudity. Fortunately for me, enough people agree with me to codify it in law. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/28 "2013-01-28T20:40:38Z")
If a group of 14 year old females decided to parade down the street topless, wouldn’t that make the owners of every security camera that showed their display guilty of possession of child pornography? Might be an interesting way of harassing BofA and their sort. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@scule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scule)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/29 "2013-01-28T20:43:49Z")
Women have been allowed to go topless in Ontario since the mid-90s and I can honestly say I have never in the last 17 or so years since it was made legal seen anyone do so (and no, it isn’t cold here all year round). In response to the OP I’d say there’s no legitimate reason to make it illegal, at least not one based on a reasoned assessment of science or human behaviour, but I’d rather not see underage (below 18) girls going topless. Something about that just creeps me out. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/30 "2013-01-28T20:44:46Z")
nudity isn’t pornography. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/31 "2013-01-28T20:47:04Z")
So we’ve learned that Canadians are free to go flopping around half naked all they want, but don’t bother anyway. Why does that not surprise me? It’s Canada. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/32 "2013-01-28T20:48:04Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > nudity isn’t pornography. Tapes of nude children might be, under U.S. law. Hence the mention of cameras, not just nudity. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/33 "2013-01-28T20:49:14Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > They are both natural human activities that don’t belong in civilized public spaces, so they have that in common. Its all a question of where you draw the line. Some people like Miller draw it between nudity and poop. I draw it on the other side of nudity. Fortunately for me, enough people agree with me to codify it in law. Yes, it all comes down to a majority codifying, without much of a rational discussion about it. But we’re here for discussion, not voting on an ordinance. Besides, I can think of some perfectly legal body displays that offend me more than nice boobies. Topless fat hairy men, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/34 "2013-01-28T20:56:12Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Yes, it all comes down to a majority codifying, without much of a rational discussion about it. I assure you, there was plenty of discussion about it. Up to you whether or not you consider it rational, but there was quite a bit of debate. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/35 "2013-01-28T20:57:47Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Yes, it all comes down to a majority codifying, without much of a rational discussion about it. > > But we’re here for discussion, not voting on an ordinance. > > Besides, I can think of some perfectly legal body displays that offend me more than nice boobies. Topless fat hairy men, for instance. I’ll not take offense at that last coment even though I resemble that remark. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/36 "2013-01-28T21:05:33Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > I assure you, there was plenty of discussion about it. Up to you whether or not you consider it rational, but there was quite a bit of debate. I do question whether much of it was at all rational. I think for most people, stuff like this all comes down to gut feeling. “I don’t like looking at \_\_\_\_. Ewww.” ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/37 "2013-01-28T21:06:47Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > I’ll not take offense at that last coment even though I resemble that remark. Me too, so it’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/38 "2013-01-28T21:07:05Z")
Given the general level of sexual harassment women, especially attractive women, are subject to, I rather doubt there will be too many topless women parading around Manhattan by themselves any time soon. (There may be more protests and weekend “events”, however.) But given the catcalls etc., even modestly dressed women are subject to, I rather doubt many executive assistants will spend their lunch hours topless in the park or on Park Avenue. Nursing mothers are barely or not tolerated. That is a real issue, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/39 "2013-01-28T21:09:47Z")
I note the absence of women here. Sure wish they would come and share their opinions. (Preferably with pics!) ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/40 "2013-01-28T21:17:43Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I do question whether much of it was at all rational. I think for most people, stuff like this all comes down to gut feeling. “I don’t like looking at \_\_\_\_. Ewww.” What would constitute rational discussion here? There really isn’t more to it other than “I like going around naked” and “this is what we consider proper for a civilized society” which is just a fancier way of saying “I don’t like looking at \_\_\_\_. Ewww.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630.md?page=3)