Are Topless Women Still Considered NSFW Even When Discussing Breast Cancer?

Topless women aren't NSFW.

Topless women are not a danger to society. Seeing female nipples will not undo a person’s decency. And all breasts – male and female alike – are totally safe for work.

I get the NSFW (Not Safe For Work) label for some nudes. I mean, you probably shouldn’t be clicking through photos of topless women about to engage in a threesome on company time. But there are other nudes out there that are quite artistic and some that tell real, human stories.

Let’s talk more about the nudes that tell a story… Recently, Refinery29 posted an article that displayed some beautiful nudes of a topless woman who had breast cancer:

“When Kerry Mansfield was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31, she was shocked… To grapple with how her cancer treatment was changing both her body and spirit, Kerry, a photographer, turned her lens on herself… When she began her photo series, called ‘Aftermath,’ she had no idea how her treatment would end — but now, both the series and her treatment are complete.”

Every single one of these photos is beautiful and absolutely none of them should be considered NSFW.

Now, we’re not bagging on Refinery29 for using this tag. We’re pissed at the companies that would actually reprimand a worker for clicking through this piece on their break because it contains multiple photos of a topless woman.

Mansfield’s showing her breasts to tell a story – a harrowing, personal story – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

As you can probably surmise, I’m a big fan of #freethenipple and women who support ditching bras to screw with society. (Now, some women love their bras and NEED them – I realize this. I’m a medium-chested woman, so I don’t have to mess with those undergarments.) But what are your thoughts on the NSFW tag? Do you think topless women are offensive?

Related on EcoSalon

10 Years of Breast Cancer Prevention: Feel Your Boobies Celebrates Badassery

Munich Approves Nude Sunbathing: It’s Time to Rethink Our Own Body Image

heARTbeat: The Nu Project Focuses on Real Women in the Nude

Image: José David Leiva

Abbie Stutzer

Writer, editor, and owner of Ginchy!, a freelance writing and editing company, and home funeral hub. Adores smart sex ed, sustainable ag, spooky history, women's health, feminism, horror, wine, and sci-fi.