Is it illegal to walk around bare chested?

Answer 1

It depends on where you are (and possibly who, or at least what, you are).

In private, you're allowed to do pretty much whatever you want as far as nudity goes. But "in private" means "in private", not "in your house in front of your picture window and easily visible from the street."

In most locations in the western world it's legal for men to be bare-chested (this doesn't mean you can walk around anywhere you like shirtless; it's usually forbidden for health reasons in restaurants, for example, and businesses may in general have and enforce a stricter dress code, up to and including the wearing of formal attire... not wearing a tie in a restaurant that requires one isn't actually a crime, but refusing to leave when requested to do so by the management for not wearing a tie is).

In some locations it's illegal for women to be bare-chested, while in others it's technically legal but strongly discouraged by societal norms. A bare-chested woman in such areas may not actually be breaking the law and will not be arrested for that simple fact, but may nevertheless be ordered by a police officer to cover up (and, at least in California, such an order is lawful and must be complied with), especially if others in the area are complaining about it.

Some examples may help (again, these are specific to California):

California has no law against women going topless in general (see for example Robins v. Los Angeles County (1967)). It does have laws against public lewdness (defined vaguely, but most case law makes it pretty clear that simple nudity is not "public lewdness"), and public exposure of the genitals of anyone (whether male or female) is against the law.

Also, there is a law that specifically states women may not expose "any portion of the breast at or below the areola" while in an area that's part of the state park system, unless they are in a portion where nudity is specifically authorized. This is usually not actively enforced unless complaints are received, and even then she's more likely to be asked to voluntarily comply than to be issued a citation or arrested.

Answer 2

Yes, unless you are in a place where nudism is allowed - such as a nudist beach or a naturist camp.

Answer 3

It all depends on WHERE you are walking around naked, and WHO, other than your immediate family, might see you.

Answer 4

Yes it is. You will be arrested for public nudity.

Answer 5

Not exactly. But running down the street NAKED probably would.

Answer 6

In most places, yes.

Answer 7

Yes