Information AboutTopfree Equality |
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in San Francisco on March 20 , 2003 .]] demonstration - ColognePride 2006 .]] Topfreedom is a Social Movement to accord women and girls the right to be topfree ( Topless ) in public where men and boys have that right. Examples of Public Space s at which topfreedom might be exercised include Beach es, Swimming Pool s and Park s. The reasons include keeping nursing mothers from having to hide for Breastfeeding , Sun Tanning , comfort, and Sex Equality . In North America , where resistance to toplessness of women is greater than in mainland Europe or Australia , a small topfree equality movement has grown. In February 2005 in California , attorney Liana Johnsson contended that under Megan's Law , women convicted of Indecent Exposure (for Breastfeeding or Sunbathing ) could find themselves listed as Sex Offender s alongside Rapists and Child Molesters . The term "topfree" is used as an alternative to "topless", which may carry negative connotations. Some women prefer the term "shirtfree rights". CULTURAL ARGUMENTS Western culture generally tends to oppose public female toplessness because of the idea that females breasts are sexual organs, and thus Indecent . In contrast, the male chest is not commonly considered to be sexual. Biologically there is no particular connection between mammary glands and copulation, but breasts have conventionally been regarded by many cultures as sexually arousing, and some zoologists (notably Desmond Morris ) believe that through human evolution, female breasts have acquired secondary sexual characteristics as a counterpart of the buttocks in other primates. For more information, see Breast . Some courts in North America have ruled that mammary glands are nurturing organs, not sexual organs, a relevant distinction in light of laws in certain jurisdictions that specifically restrict the public display of sexual organs. TOPFREE IN NORTH AMERICA Some places in North America have topfree equality by law, although whether such equality is practiced varies. These include:
Even where topfree is legal, police might still arrest those practicing it for Disorderly Conduct or similar charges. TOPFREE IN OTHER COUNTRIES In some European countries and Australia , it is well-established that females may go topfree at places such as beaches, parks and outdoor swimming pools. That might be by law (''permitted'') or might be by common consent, with the law simply not being applied (''tolerated''). In other areas with more conservative social norms, women are prohibited from being topfree in any public place. TOPFREE EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION (TERA) The Topfree Equal Rights Association (TERA) http://www.tera.ca ''Tera.ca'' is a Canadian organization for helping women who have legal troubles exercising their rights to go 'topfree' where men are able to. Their Web site states that they serve both Canada and the United States. The organisation also aims to inform and educate the public about topfreedom. They campaign to change laws against topfreedom which exist in most North American Jurisdiction s, which laws they see as Sex Discrimination and inhibiting to breastfeeding. SEE ALSO
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