A mother has faced a huge backlash online after claiming topless sunbathers should cover themselves up in front of children.
The Mumsnet user took to the site to ask fellow parents if it was unreasonable to want women to cover up in the presence of kids.
She admitted to becoming annoyed by a woman who took off her bikini top to lounge by the pool in a family resort.
But while some people agreed that it wasn’t right to be revealing so much of her in front of children and said she was right for being ‘annoyed’, not everyone was in agreement.
Most of the mothers came agreed that the original poster was indeed overreacting – arguing that she wouldn’t react to a topless man in the same way.
A Mumsnet user asked if she was unreasonable for being annoyed at women who sunbathed whilst topless
In her initial post the mother wrote: ‘We are on holiday in a family resort in a sunny country.
‘There is a lady who keeps ending up on the sun loungers opposite us, who seems to enjoy lying topless by the pool everyday. She has a son who looks about 15, and a daughter who looks about 5.
‘I think it’s really inappropriate to sunbathe topless on a family resort in full view of everyone and right by the toddler pool, and with her own son around.
‘Am I being unreasonable in feeling uncomfortable and wishing she’d cover up?’
The question sparked a huge debate on the forum, with over 500 users responding to her query.
The user said the woman should cover up in front of children, but faced huge backlash
Many users implied that the mother was being over-the-top with her reaction, with one even advising her to have a drink and ignore the sunbather.
‘Eh, yeah…. you’re off your rocker to be honest. Have a cocktail and relax on your holiday,’ they said.
Another commented: ‘Unless she is dangling her nipples in your cocktail or slapping your husband in the face with her boobs then I fail to see the problem.
‘You are being unreasonable I’m afraid.’
Others said she was the wrong in the wrong because she had been staring at the woman with no top on.
The comments in the thread accused the woman of being prudish for being annoyed
One pointed out: ‘Maybe the lady would appreciate your not looking and stressing about her?’
‘If looking at her boobs makes you uncomfortable, stop looking,’ another agreed.
Another ranted: ‘Poor woman, how much have you been staring at her to know how frequently she bathes topless? You know it’s perfectly legal and normal in many places?
‘Agree with the poster who said you need to have a look at yourself about why you’re so uncomfortable.’
Despite the majority disagreeing with the original poster, certain mothers admitted they shared her opinion but were self-confessed ‘prudes’.
Some people pointed out that children seeing topless women will help them normalise bodies
‘I would be annoyed too. Some of us have the presence to know there is a difference between men’s chests and women’s breasts and the sexual arousal associated with them,’ one said.
Another posted: ‘I wouldn’t hugely like someone sunbathing topless in a family resort. I am very prudish though.
‘To me my breasts are sexual, yes they have also fed my babies, but in between times their main role is providing sexual pleasure for me and my husband – we do not enjoy my husband’s chest in the same way!
‘For that reason I’d rather keep my own covered and would rather not see someone else’s across the pool.’
A third said: ‘User I do agree. Although admittedly I might be a bit of a prude. However yes I do think it’s a little bit inappropriate to sunbathe topless in a family resort.’
Other women in the thread said they feel too prudish to sunbathe without bikini tops on