Indecent exposure
|
A man exposing himself outdoors |
Indecent exposure is the display of
bare parts of the human body that, according to the standards of the local cultural norms, would otherwise be clothed. In most public places other than designated areas where nudity is acceptable such as in
nude beaches, unwelcome exposure of an
adult's
genitalia is the most common example of
indecent exposure. More specific cases of indecent exposure may also involve
masturbation,
sexual intercourse, etc. in a
public place. Indecent exposure is not to be confused with
exhibitionism.
During the
Victorian era, exposure of a
woman's
legs was considered indecent in much of the
Western world. An adult woman exposing her
navel was also considered indecent in the West up through as late as the
1960s and
1970s. Meanwhile, many other types of societies worldwide currently enforce strict standards of bodily
modesty, an example of which is the
Burqa imposed by the
Taliban former
regime of
Afghanistan.
What qualifies as
indecent exposure varies with the authority having jurisdiction. Indecent exposure is often also a
criminal offense within that area. For example, before the
Labour Party of the United Kingdom revised the law,
"indecent exposure" was defined exclusively as a
man exposing his
erect penis to the public. However, even if a male exposes his
flaccid penis (i.e., without an
erection) to an unsuspecting and/or unwilling observer, such an action still differs from mere public
nudity in that the intent of indecent exposure is to shock or harass.
Breastfeeding does not constitute indecent exposure under the laws of the
United States,
Canada, or
Scotland. In the United States, the
federal government and the overwhelming majority of states have enacted laws specifically protecting nursing mothers from harassment by others. Legislation ranges from simply exempting breastfeeding from laws regarding indecent exposure, to outright full protection of the right to nurse. Even in those states that have no such legislation, breastfeeding is neither indecent exposure nor
illegal. However,
mainstream ambivalence towards breastfeeding may prevent many women from exercising this right. Laws protecting the right to nurse aim to change attitudes and promote increased feelings of freedom and entitlement to breastfeed in public.
As late as the 1930s, both women and men were largely prevented from bathing or swimming in public places without wearing
bathing suits that covered above the waist. Today, however, it is not uncommon for women to go
topless at public beaches throughout
Europe and
South America .
|
A man and woman flashing their chests in a bar |
In noted contrast to indecent exposure is the term
flashing, which is generally used to denote a typically nonthreatening
exhibitionist type of exposure that most often refers to a
female exposing her
breasts. Flashing is quick, brief, and for the viewer(s), often unexpected. Its purpose can be to
titillate, amuse, express sexual power, to shock, or to rebel against societal norms.
Displaying one's buttocks for
shock value is known as
mooning in American English, or a 'browneye' in Australia and New Zealand. Unexpectedly running naked through a public place is known as
streaking.
*
Obscenity*
Sex crime*
Topless*
Anasyrma*
Girls Gone Wild
