Should America allow topless sunbathing?
 

It doesn't seem to hurt anyone in Europe.

Women are legal to go topless in NYS. Not sure about NYC, but i certaintly see a lot of breasts during halloween and gay pride...

yes, but those events bear(or bare) some erotic connotations.
Same with flashing during Spring Break or Mardi Grass.
I thought only around Miami was topless sunbathing allowed.

With the summer coming, I thought I'd... umm... bump up this topic.

The politically correct term is now "topfree". (I don't care about political correctness, just thought you'd want to know the term.)

Females are allowed to bathe topfree at beaches in New York State. Beaches owned by the federal government or localities may have more restrictive laws.


More globally, Wikipedia has a good overview of the "Topfree Movement":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topfree

I can't imagine why anyone without some sort of serious psychologicl issues would want to proscribe the nAtural state of nudity.

me, I like clothes. But tht's MY choice.

Toplessness seems to work fine in Europe.

Going topless is legal here- people just don't want to do it so much.

I bolded your text, Luca, because you hit the nail on the head:
~ SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES ~

Agreed-

Luca, Americans are becoming increasingly educated to the risk of skin cancer via prolonged sun exposure -- are Europeans becoming more concerned about cancer? Also, so many gawkers are getting kooky with their cell phone cameras -- is this as much of a problem where you are?

Before cell phone cameras, and before I became concerned about skin cancer, there was something else: I've always found it more physically comfortable to wear swimsuit tops, (and bras, too).

Oh, sure. I've nothign against people choosing to cover up, of course. Just talking about whether it should be allowed or not. People in Northern Europe are indeed lectured to about skin cnacer risk but generlly 'health scares' tend to be taken with a much larger pinch of salt here in Europe.

Go to Miami, its done there, its up to the state/city

There is a section of Riis beach, down at the end, where you can go bottomless too! So Continental, I love it. Reminds me of the nude beaches in Greece...too bad we can't do something about the color of our water...

YES!!!! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.pnghttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.pnghttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.pnghttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.pnghttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.pnghttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.png

Well, ideally the beaches would be privately owned, and the owners would be allowed to set policy regarding whether or not topless (or bottomless http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.png) sunbathing is to be allowed.

My experience of a 'naturist' beach came about 8 years ago in Wales of all places. We didn't even realise we'd wandered onto the nude section of the beach until a naked man of about 70 jogged past. The average age appeared to be about 60+. Of course i was far to modest to join in the fun and strip off http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/redface.png (although my friend did). If people are happy enough with their bodies to strip off i'm all for that, but until i get a fit, toned body i think i'll just stick to shorts / tshirt in public.

Everyone should be as naked as often as they want. Not that I necessarily want to see them do it http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/cool.png

I did my first naked body surfing at Devil's Slide south of SF. Lately the road here keeps getting washed out and access down the cliffs to the beach is rather treacherous.

More time was spent at Coal Oil Point (aka Deveraux) near Isla Vista -- which was a great place to get naked and get in a mix of studying and body surfing.

And had some memorable times at Black's Beach north of San Diego -- a very popular place.

go to any urban park in Europe in the height of summer and many women will be topfree, not only on the beach. Its weird to go to London and see secretaries and office ladies lying on a concrete slab on their lunchbreak, with just an office skirt and a newspaper, then putting their clothes back on once 2 o clock is up. In Germany, Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe its the norm to go naked in urban parks too (and not necessarily a pretty sight, more the reserve of the older generation).

No thanks. As soon as this is allowed you'll see obese and ugly disgusting woman with their chests on display. It's already atrocious to see mothers breastfeeding with both their t$$s out in a restaurant in Park Slope.

What are the mothers supposed to do?
Choose:

- Never go to restaurants?

- Do it in a dirty restroom, sitting on the toilet with the baby because the room has no chair?

- Leave the restaurant in the middle of the meal and do it on a bench or stoop?

- Make the baby go without milk until the meal is over?

- Pump as milk from themselves beforehand, put it in a bottle, bring it to the restaurant, and hope it doesn't spoil before the baby drinks it? (Especially prone to spoiling in the summertime.)


Eugenius, it would be so easy for you to seat yourself in another direction if you see it and don't like it.

I fully support extensive female, public nudity.

I think it should be common courtesy of the women not to do this at a restaurant.