For many women, fear of sexual assault is very real, and many men do not understand just how strong or widespread the fear can be. Rape is perhaps the most common form of sexual assault and is most usually what first comes to mind, but it should be noted that sexual assault can be physical, verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention: inappropriate touching, vaginal, anal, or oral penetration that has not been consented to, voyeurism and exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in an offensive context).
The prevalence of sexual violence against women in our society cannot be very reassuring to women contemplating the exploration of social nudity. It seems only logical that if some men can justify sexual assault based upon revealing dress, what then the effect of her wearing nothing at all? So clearly it is understandable why this might be one barrier to a woman wishing to get involved in social nudity.
While I would not attempt to minimize the validity of the legitimate concerns of women about sexual assault in general, there isn’t any evidence at all that most venues where social nudity are found to present women with any greater danger of sexual assault than similar places without nudity. A nude beach or a nudist resort is not a more dangerous place than a non-nude beach or resort. If anything, the opposite is true. Studies that have been conducted actually show significantly less incidence of casual premarital and extramarital sex, group sex, incest, and rape among nudists than among non-nudists. There is also the basic fact that there is always safety in numbers. In a situation involving a social nudity setting, there are others around, by definition and their mere presence would serve to deter a potential sex offender. Consequently, worries about physical safety I think tend to be overestimated as a reason for not wanting to try social nudity.
Our perceptions however often are our reality and I am sensitive to how real these concerns are for many women and that it takes effort to overcome this deterrent to women's participation, in spite of the factual evidence supporting the true, benign atmosphere in which people who like to be naked usually gather. A woman who has any fears for her safety is encouraged to investigate the possibilities for nudity which are available in her area and urged to bring along a significant other or friend when checking things out initially. As with every part of life, women are encouraged to be proactive and to take common sense precautions to minimize her chances of being victimized: Be aware of your surroundings - who’s present and what’s going on, project a confident image - the more confident you appear, the stronger you appear, be assertive - don’t let anyone violate your space and trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings, leave.
The prevalence of sexual violence against women in our society cannot be very reassuring to women contemplating the exploration of social nudity. It seems only logical that if some men can justify sexual assault based upon revealing dress, what then the effect of her wearing nothing at all? So clearly it is understandable why this might be one barrier to a woman wishing to get involved in social nudity.
While I would not attempt to minimize the validity of the legitimate concerns of women about sexual assault in general, there isn’t any evidence at all that most venues where social nudity are found to present women with any greater danger of sexual assault than similar places without nudity. A nude beach or a nudist resort is not a more dangerous place than a non-nude beach or resort. If anything, the opposite is true. Studies that have been conducted actually show significantly less incidence of casual premarital and extramarital sex, group sex, incest, and rape among nudists than among non-nudists. There is also the basic fact that there is always safety in numbers. In a situation involving a social nudity setting, there are others around, by definition and their mere presence would serve to deter a potential sex offender. Consequently, worries about physical safety I think tend to be overestimated as a reason for not wanting to try social nudity.
Our perceptions however often are our reality and I am sensitive to how real these concerns are for many women and that it takes effort to overcome this deterrent to women's participation, in spite of the factual evidence supporting the true, benign atmosphere in which people who like to be naked usually gather. A woman who has any fears for her safety is encouraged to investigate the possibilities for nudity which are available in her area and urged to bring along a significant other or friend when checking things out initially. As with every part of life, women are encouraged to be proactive and to take common sense precautions to minimize her chances of being victimized: Be aware of your surroundings - who’s present and what’s going on, project a confident image - the more confident you appear, the stronger you appear, be assertive - don’t let anyone violate your space and trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings, leave.
For any woman interested in testing out social nudity, worries about physical safety need not be an insurmountable obstacle. You can explore it in safety. By refusing to accept the need to “protect” themselves from men by covering their bodies, women gain power, and shift the burden of responsible behavior back to men, where it rightfully belongs. In a free society such as the United States, one’s lifestyle choices should not be dictated by fears.
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