Topfree equality

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Topfree group.jpg Topfree equality or topfreedom is a social movement in North America, where resistance is much greater than in Europe or Australia. The goal of the movement is to give females the right to remove their clothing above the waist in public wherever males can legally do so (e.g., at a beach, swimming pool, or park). The reasons cited include keeping nursing mothers from having to find a hidden place for breastfeeding, sun tanning, comfort in places such as pools and beaches, and legal equality.

The movement does not try to secure a right for women or men to be without a shirt in a restaurant or where such is not accepted for either gender, but with ensuring equality under law for women. The struggle heated up (February 2005) in California, where attorney Liana Johnsson contended that under Megan's Law, women convicted of indecent exposure (for breastfeeding or sunbathing) could find themselves listed as sex offenders alongside rapists and child molesters. Some women in this movement have become discouraged when they find themselves exploited by nudist publications, morality groups of various persuasions, and pornographers.

The term "topfree" is used as an alternative to "topless", which may carry negative connotations. Some women prefer the term "shirtfree rights".

1 The basic argument
2 Topfree in North America
3 Topfree outside North America
4 See also
- 4.1 Organizations
- 4.2 People
5 References
6 External links

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The basic argument

North American clothist (against nudism/naturism) culture generally tends to oppose topfreedom basically because of the idea that females breasts are sexual organs, to be hidden like penises and vaginas. In contrast, they do not consider male breasts to be sexual organs.

Many courts in North America, however, are siding with female equality by ruling mammary glands to be nurturing organs, not sexual organs. There are isolated reports of men breastfeeding.

However, the main argument against the characterization of female breasts as sexual organs is that the objectification of breasts as sexual objects, often to the point of fetish, is an unnatural and unhealthy obsession. Topfreedom, it is said, would relieve women of unfair restriction caused by such views (sometimes associated with the male gender).

Biologically, there is no particular connection between mammary glands and copulation. Topfree equality could result in future generations considering breasts to be normal organs to be frequently and casually viewed by all and accessible to nursing children for emotional and physical nurturance.

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Topfree in North America

List of places in North America that are said Template:Fact to have topfree equality by law, although whether such equality is upheld or practiced varies:

Some provinces of Canada including
- British Columbia
- Ontario<ref>Province of Ontario Court of Appeal. Judgment C12668, The Queen vs. Gwen Jacob (1996)</ref> (where equality has been tested and upheld several times)
- All of Canada, in theory, because sex equality is an amendment to the Canadian Constitution. The Supreme Court could, however, overturn the precedents set in BC and Ontario.

Some states of the United States, including
- Hawaii
- Maine
- New York (and more generally, within the jurisdiction of the 2nd US Federal Circuit)
- Ohio
- Texas

Some cities and localities of the United States, including

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Topfree outside North America

In many countries, especially in Europe and Australia, it is well-established legally that females may go topfree at places like beaches, parks and open air swimming pools, and they do. In other areas, such as South Korea, it is considered highly offensive for women, and even men, to go topfree in almost any context.

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