debate amongst friends

[arty7774]

Please help solve an arguemnet between a number of my friends.

1, Is it ilegal for a woman to walk the streets topless?

2, If so how come there is such a discrimination against women as men can freely walk around topless.

3, If a man has had hormone therapy and has developed breasts is he still free to walk about topless?

[n00dles]

1. Get picked up for lewd behaviour...

2. See the reaction if he walked around bottomless.....

3. Free, but probably offered a bra by some little ol' biddy!....

[loobie]

If it's legal or not I certainly wouldn't want everyone to see my knockers!!! Can you imagine the unruly sights that would be seen!!! Urgh!!!

[ugly_bob]

1. Unless she's a clerk in a tropical fish store

[Octavius]

Hmm, some difficult hypotheses there. The law is vague to say the least. I believe the confusion lies in differing opinions of what constitutes 'indecency'.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is an offence for someone, male or female, to expose their genitals if they intended another person to see them and to be caused alarm or distress (Sexual Offences Act 2003). There is also the common law offence of outraging public decency. This could mean female breasts, depending on whether a person is offended. In Scotland, indecent exposure is covered by common law.

Women's breasts are viewed presumptively as sexual and accordingly as dirty and taboo - even public breastfeeding offends some people. During the Victorian era, exposure of a woman's legs was considered indecent in much of the Western world. An adult woman exposing her navel was also considered indecent in the West as late as the 1960s and 1970s.

This doesn't answer any of your questions, but I think that the law is so vague that it is open to speculation as could be deemed rather archaic.

[DavidUK]

To resolve this: are there any lady AB'ers who are prepared to walk the streets topless and let us know what happens (with photos as proof!)

[loobie]

Like I said above David - No F*****g way!!!!!!!

[gerkin]

I think a woman should be rewarded for walking the streets topless

[jump79]

1. No, but it is indecent.
2. It's not really discrimination, no decent woman in her right frame of mind would throw off her top and walk the streets topless, no matter how hot the weather.
3.He's still a man so I think he would be (although I have a feeling the viewers would not enjoy the sight).
If not, then it is outright discrimination against hormonal men.

[Booldawg]

*noted* ugly bobs reference to 'Deuce Bigalow' one of my all time favourite funnies.

[ugly_bob]

hmmm, never even seen that Booldawg.
I was under the impression that was an actual law. Now you mention a connection with Duece, I may have to rethink my thinking