Hi. I'm just discovering your post and blog. I just wanted to mention that here in Ontario, Canada women have had the right to go topless since 1991. So there is hope for perhaps the rest of North America.
You can read more about Gwen Jacobs if you are not familiar with her bravery: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/women-s-topless-court-victory-20-years-later-1.1026403
There's hope...we are just slow to change. People just don't seem to want to question "why?" so much. "Just because it's always been that way" or "because it's indecent" doesn't satisfy me. Why do we think some things are or are not indecent? I think that I think too much. ;)
Thanks for sharing the article link. I had not read that exact account of Gwen Jacobs story. I'm glad you there have the option of this freedom. Do you ever exercise it personally?
As I am male, your question doesn't apply to me directly. However I personally think it's fine and support any woman's right to do so. I have no issue with complete nudity for men and women but that seems like a stretch in today's cultural climate.
I think the argument that men will harass or oogle at a woman going topless and that somehow it shouldn't be permitted because of this is false. Many men are attracted to other things (eg. feet, face, hands etc.) more than breasts and we don't see mass assaults happening.
One thing that should be pointed out is that although this legal victory came in 1991 the actual practice of going topless here died out a couple years after it became legal. Sort of like a fad. I was in college back then and used to see women topless around that time but not for many years since. I think society has imposed an unwritten law against practicing this right because it is not exercised by woman here even though they have it. So it may as well be illegal. Kinda sad don't you think?