I've seen some men that should definitely keep their shirts on.  I would be uncomfortable around another woman without a shirt, but I don't think I can pinpoint why.  I think it is something that most of us learn through our parents and society.  I think the main reason is, what you pointed out, that w woman's chest is sexual.  Maybe it is wrong for a woman to go topless because men can't control themselves and women can: (just kidding).

Try nursing a baby in public.... talk about stigma.  Doesn't matter how discreet  you are, it makes people uncomfortable.  I think it's because women's breasts are sexual... men's aren't. And despite what you see every day in on TV and elsewhere, I think sex makes some people uncomfortable.  It's not all societies though. I remember hearing a story from some missionaries who were having a hard time focusing on work because the native women went topless. They asked the leaders of this tribe if the women could cover up for the sake of the men working.  They agreed, but asked that the female missionaries not wear shorts - because their men could stop looking at the uncovered legs!

Not that we should all be able to walk around topless whenever we feel like it, but "sexual"??? That is the best excuse we can come up with.
Why is it okay then for women to push and contort their breasts (ie. smash them together, push them up and out of their tops, barely cover their nipples with bikinis), but topless is sexual? I think wearing a teeny-tiny tank top and pushing cleavage together is more sexual than removing your top to change a shirt, or cool off at a park, beach, whatever. I know it sounds weird, but imagine. It would feel so free...
I do no think children would be affected by a woman not wearing her shirt in public. If they are raised with it, why would they think any different?
Oh, and whoever doesn't think that a gorgeous man without his shirt is not just as "sexual" is crazy.

I think society has dictated to us for generations that breasts are sexual therefore we have been raised to believe it. Look at countries like Brazil or some  of the European countries where women can go topless at the beach and no one bats an eye "except the American tourists" LOL ;-) its accepted and I would bet their sexually related crimes are lower too --- I'm not certain but thats my guess. 

I think men's breasts are just as sexual as women's breasts (in the right setting).  I like what Dhall said, "I think it is something that most of us learn through our parents and society. "  I think if our parents taught us that a woman without a shirt on is no big deal, we wouldn't think it was either.  When I was in Izmir Turkey many years ago I saw a lot of women openly breast feeding their babies... no one even cared or payed attention, but me.  I felt awkward at first, it took several months before I too thought of it as 'normal". It simply does not phase me today to see a woman breast feed her baby.   Women and men can be topless around me all day long and I would not care one way or another.  I have been to a couple of nude beaches and I didn't think about sex at all while there.  I don't think men are any different than women when it comes to nudity, most men and women are mature enough to know when another person is being sexual or not.   This may just be me, but haven't some of you thought of a man or a woman looking more sexually attractive with clothes on?  A great body in the nude or not... I will most likely be more turned on by someone wearing a tank top and boxer shorts. ... Oh no, an open button up shirt with suspenders hanging down around a pair of dockers... oh no wait...  A sweaty t-shirt and.....  (grin)    Baby, can we have sex with your clothes on this time?  lol  Nudity.... who cares.

Yes, the nursing in public is difficult.  I have two stories on this...one funny, one not so.

There is a women that is a criminal defense lawyer in New York that is trying to outlaw breast feeding in public.  Not even if get up and go to the bathroom to do it.  She feels if you are breast feeding, you should stay at home.  Here is a direct quote from her:  "The damage that can be done to children by seeing woman's breast in public is not that far off from the damage that can be done to children who engage in sexual activity with adults."  Now this women is just ridiculous in my opinion. How can you equate you breast feeding with sexual abuse.   Most women who breast feed don't whip it out for the whole world to see.  In fact, sometimes you have to really look to see what is going on.   

Now for the funny story.  My mother is all but 5 foot tall, has arthritis, bad knees, can't walk very well, etc.  My parents were at there place, a casino.  My mother had to use the rest room so my dad was standing outside the doors waiting for her.  Well, as she was going to a stall she notice that there was a young mother standing inside the restroom breasting her very young child, with a blanket over herself and the baby.  While, she in the stall taking care of business, she heard another women come in and start yelling at the young mother about breast feeding in the bathroom.  The women was telling the young mother that she was disgusting, and that it was wrong for her to be doing that where other people can see (remember she was covered).  Well, what happened next, I got two separate accounts of--one from my father and one from my mother.  My mom said she came busting out of her stall, with pants her pants around her ankles, yelling at the women while pulling up her pants.  My mom said the young mother was in tears by the time my mom came out of the stall, which even made her angrier.  Well, my mom started telling this women that there was nothing wrong with the mother feeding her baby.  That the young mother shouldn't even have to leave the casino and go into the restroom, but she did.  My mom then preceded to tell the woman that she must be the one that has a problem, maybe with her own sexuality, and not the young mother.  The next few sentences my mom said I can't repeat, but let just say they were very descriptive.  Now this is where the story begins with my dad.  He said he was waiting outside for my mom, minding his own business (my father is very calm, soft spoken man---unlike my mother), when all of a sudden he hears from inside of the woman's bathroom a commotion.  He said he heard a bang (stall door), stumbling (my mom with pants around ankles), and my mom's voice yelling and cussing.  My dad said he was at a dilemma---should he go into the womens bathroom, or wait until mom comes out.  He waited a minute or so, and then was afraid for personal safety.  So he had to go in and drag my mom out kicking and screaming.  Needless to say he received some odd looks from people.  Did I mention my mom was 58 at the time.

Colitas banning a mother from breast feeding in a public place when it is indeed a natural thing for a mother to do is rediculous.  Your mother is spunky... I like that.  Can you imagine a Home Depot or a Wal-Mart with a sign on the bathroom door saying:

"NO Breast Feeding Allowed"        & nbsp;   LMFAO.   What is the world coming to?  Grow up people!!! 

I can't imagine walking around without a top on. I have a hard enough time being comfortable in a bikini. lol  The reality is this is never going to happen. If you want to go nude go to a nude beach. Women's  breasts were are there for two reasons. To attract men and to feed babies.  How can they not bee seen as sexual? It's been programed into our minds since a very young age. I think we need a males point of view on this to truly understand how an exposed female breast effects them. lol

On a side note: Isn't it interesting how acceptable female nudity is in the movies. Even more so than men. ???

I would really love to speak to someone who thinks a woman breastfeeding her child is disgusting. I can't imagine where that thinking comes from. ( rolls eyes)

This male's view....

I don't really see what the big deal is, women should have the same right as men to be topfree.  I don't think of breasts as sexual -- it's the person that matters.  To me a clothed beach is more sexual than a nude one because of what is hidden.

While you may have been raised to think nudity == sex doesn't make it so.  We are all thinking people and able to change our own minds and don't have to conform to society's rules.

I grew up in a family that had a very casual attitude to nudity and even visited nude beaches, so ever since I was a little kid nudity was no big deal. 

The notion that men can't control themselves is also silly - besides each person is responsible for their own actions no matter what they see.  So if a woman is topfree and a man does something wrong it's the man's fault.

I'd love the right to take my shirt off. Heck, at this point I'd settle for being able to go braless without people acting like it's the coming of the apocalypse :o)

I have updated my photo so my super-sexy chest does not get mentioned again. 

Interesting topic for debate...  I feel that everyone, men and women, should be covered in public.  I am a boob man and it would be a little awkward to have them exposed regularly, I would not be able to concentrate.  In recreation areas such as lakes & beaches, let it all go, most wear next to nothing anyway!  If I choose not to expose myself or my children to this type of situation, then I can make that decision.  As for breastfeeding, that is the reason they are there!  Anyone who makes an issue about is just plain stupid.

Would it be unlawful for me to walk through town in just my briefs, or a lady in bra and panties?