Are you offended by naked breasts?

Question

I was river rafting over the weekend and one of the girls in our party took off her top while we were riding down the river. I was honestly not shocked by it (I have spent lots of time in Europe where this is normal) but all the girls in my boat went off on this girl and how her boyfriend (who was there) should be so ashamed. The river was crowded and had people and kids of all ages on it.

What do you think of this attitude, and what do you think it says about the perception of women in the US?

And, if you are a man, would you be upset if your girlfriend or wife did this?

Nidavellir- on French beaches and in Germany at swimming bathes, festivals, concerts, etc.

Answer 1

Check out this documentary I saw on HBO one time a few months ago, it traces the historical significance of the american fascination with the breast. I found it very interesting and explainitory. here's a link to check it out, and maybe check your listings to see if HBO will be airing it again sometime soon. I think it holds the answers to your questions about this topic.

http://www.stiritup.com/show.php

there's even a trailor of the film so you can see what i'm talking about

Answer 2

With the strict, puritan-like nature of our society, nudity of any sort is associated with sex since it usually only occurs in R and X rated movies, shows, magazines. It really shouldn't be that way but it is. Somehow, it is believed that if a child sees a naked adult body, it will terrorize him/her for life. The child will need endless counselling. I've been to Germany and partial nudity is the norm at beaches or even sunbathing in a park. But that in that society, people grew up where that was a natural thing. The U.S. is supposed to be a land of freedom of expression, but we are really suppressed in doing so.

As for the girl in the raft, is was probably inappropriate without asking/knowing other's views on the issue. Was this girl a stranger to the crowd? Were they unaware she might do such a thing?

Answer 3

Hmm i am not offended with nudity, the human body can be so beautiful BUT your friend should have repected the idea that many people would not be comfortable with this. WE live in a society where breasts are considered private for some reason, so when someone just whips theres out, its kind of shocking and uncomfortable. If she likes going topless she should find some like mided people and go in the woods and run around crazy and topless lol. Ps- Im a nursing mother and people get uncomfortable when I nurse around them ,and that is only so I can FEED my baby. Breastfeeding is so natural yet people are freaked out by it.

Answer 4

It would not offend me. It might take me a little by surprise as that is not the norm in the US, but I've been to quite a few public events (concerts, music fests, etc.) where women have taken their tops off and it was no big deal. There were people of all ages around and it was a non-issue.

For some reason breasts are considered a sex object in the US, unlike many other countries. Maybe it says we are still a little backward in our thinking and that we still treat women as sex objects.

Would it bother me if my wife/girlfriend went topless in a situation like that? Nah. If everyone around us starting having a conniption I would probably ask her to put her top back on, but otherwise it's just not a big deal. In fact, me going topless with my fat belly should be more offensive.

Answer 5

Culture is a funny thing.

A few years ago, the president of the US got in trouble because he was in a car in Australia, and he wanted to flash a "peace" sign with his fingers. But he was scrunched up against the window, and couldn't get his hand to turn around, so he put it up backwards. Well, turned out this was a rude gesture in Australia!

The problem isn't the bare breasts. The problem is that she did it in a place where the culture says it is "rude" for a woman to do that.

On the beach in Greece, people can go 100% naked, and it isn't a problem. Move inland from that beach one half a mile, and walk naked down a city street in Greece, and it will definitely be a problem.

The shame in the girl taking off her top without consulting her raft-mates, is that it wasn't within her culture to do that. So she broke a taboo. So only people who worry about breaking cultural taboos need be ashamed.

For me, on the beach in Greece, I'll happily go naked. And I'll happily keep covered when culturally called for. (Though I do prefer avoiding tan lines.)

:)

Answer 6

No I would not women should be able to be topless if they want to be The whole thing about public indecency in from the antiquated victorian based laws of the land .
In Europe public nudity is no big deal only in this country does it become an issue because hollywood and the media have sensationized that a seeing a naked woman or man is wrong. The original basis of all laws is based on the roman model where nudity was not an illegal thing, but since christianty took hold in western world it has been made to be wrong to be nude when even the vatican has nude art inside of it. go figure

Live naked and be free of cloth

Answer 7

Isn't it amazing the power and controversy that mammary glands create? We as a society seem mezmorized by women's breasts. They seem to define our womanhood. In men the penis defines their manhood, but unless you've had the opprtunity to see it, you don't really know how big it is. For women, our breast size is pretty much out there, since you don't need to see a woman topless to know if she's an A cup or a DD cup. Look at how much marketing goes into breasts. There's an entire porn sub-industry devoted to large breasts, not to mention fashions, both under and outer, that are devoted to various ways to "promote" our bustline. And do I need to mention the plastic surgery culture?

Am I offended by bare breasts?, not at all. My hubby and I have been to a few topless beaches over the years. But it must be in the right setting. I can't say I'd be comfortable serving my guy's poker friends at the house topless, and I'm pretty open minded.

Answer 8

The only way to change these laws is to ignore them. If the same group ever gets together on the river again, think about taking off your top. Start a trend.

Answer 9

Sounds like the other girls who went off on her are kind of uptight! They sound like the types who get mad at women breastfeeding their babies in public. I think it's embarrassing that Americans in general have such a problem with bare breasts. They're just as God made them! There seems to be an assumption by many people in this country that bare skin= sex, and those who think that are the ones who freak out over shirtless women who are just enjoying river rafting.

I'm American, and I know there are days I'd like to go out shirtless but I can't because some busybody would call the cops on me.

Answer 10

I lived in Europe for 8 years and have also seen this commonly done on the beaches there. Breasts are beautiful and I wish women were "allowed" to display them more in the U.S. Nothing is more of a turn on than seeing a beautiful, confident, half naked woman walking down the beach.

However, seeing a loud, drunk girl flashing her wares is a big turn off.

Answer 11

I wouldn't be offended by it at all, though I'd be a little surprised if a woman took her top off in front of a group of people without asking others if it were okay to do so. I believe in being sensitive to a group's overall societal norms (unless they're violent or hurtful); some people would call it virtuous, others would just call me weak or a conformist.

I think that it stems back to the way we've been, for the most part, raised to regard sex. Rather than teaching people to care about their bodies because of the sacredness of sexuality, we've taught people to hide their bodies because of the supposed dirtiness of it. It's really pretty silly when you think about it -- something that serves the purpose of feeding your offspring is offensive. Go figure.