Voyeurism and Sexual Harassment Concerns

Any woman knows that many men do harbor certain unwholesome sexual interest in nude female bodies. The growth of the pornography industry and the titillating displays of busty, naked women in magazines, movies and videos designed to meet a variety of male sexual fantasies and fetishes is testament enough to that. So how a woman might reasonably ask can she be certain that if she decides to participate in non-sexual social nudity can she know her nudity won’t be exploited by voyeuristic males or be confident that she won’t be subjected to unwelcome sexual comments, advances and other forms of sexual harassment?

One of the more persistent concerns and criticisms voiced by non-nudists about the practice of social nudity is that it must represent the ultimate dream come true for the male voyeur. Though this is usually expressed by women, many men may hold this opinion also. Probably nothing short of actual experience can adequately rebut this concern. Indeed, it may well be that many voyeurs do frequent clothing optional beaches and even pose as nudists to gain access to resorts and the like simply to satiate their voyeuristic appetites.

Mature, psychologically healthy people who like to be naked are neutral about seeing others naked. Even for those who might find it pleasurable, they still derive most of their satisfaction from being naked themselves. But what about individuals who are immature, inconsiderate, or otherwise are not in the best psychological health? The answer depends on the setting. Except for situations where access can’t be effectively controlled (such as clothing optional beaches or other public lands), a community of people enjoying nudity naturally tends to exclude individuals whose behavior for whatever reason is disruptive to their enjoyment. Even in the cases of public beaches, there is often a community spirit present among the regular users of such places that actively works to discourage voyeurism and other disruptive behavior. As far as nudist resorts, where access can and will be effectively controlled, voyeurs are less of a problem since any male who by his behavior demonstrates that he is there for the purpose of satisfying his sexual urges for voyeurism or exhibitionism will quickly upon detection be excluded and notified not to return.

It would be disingenuous to say a woman never need fear being exploited by a voyeur but it is truly less of a potential problem at resorts than at more public venues. It is also true that individuals who actually try the experience of nudity in a social setting usually find that being naked is so pleasurable and satisfying in itself, that the issue of voyeurism diminishes greatly in importance.

Unlike simple voyeurism, harassment on the other hand can be a real problem in gatherings of people enjoying nudity just as it can be a problem at places where people aren’t naked, such as a beach, a nightclub, a private party and even the workplace. Where sexual harassment is concerned, it would be less than honest to proclaim that it doesn’t occur at places where people are naked. It can and it does. In theory, if anything, the possibilities of harassment occurring are even greater in the form of staring, voyeurism, exhibitionism, explicit remarks about specific, “private” body parts and even inappropriate and unwelcome touching. In addition to all the usual openings some men will take advantage of to make unwelcome sexual remarks or advances, a state of nudity obviously affords many new ones. A program of education and sensitization directed at men is needed here. It needs to become very well known that places which offer social nudity do not welcome men who have harassing behavior in mind. It needs to be equally well known that women who participate in social nudity are not one bit more tolerant of sexually harassing behavior than women who are clothed.

Some men will probably never learn to curb harassing behavior, but they should learn very clearly where they aren’t welcome. Most men who choose to participate in social nudity for its own sake already understand that sexual harassment is wrong, just as stealing and selfishness are wrong. Men who are attracted to social nudity for the “wrong” reasons, or who sometimes simply forget their good manners, can spoil it for everyone, just as inconsiderate or boorish people can take the fun out of any kind of social event. Most if not all naturist clubs, parks, and resorts have formal policies that forbid harassment and provide for the expeditious ejection of anyone who can’t conform their behavior and conduct to the rules.

In summary, while both the concerns over voyeurism and harassment are legitimate concerns for women contemplating participation in social nudity, the former is often far less of a problem than it is imagined, at most a minor irritation that must be dealt with occasionally. The later, however, while it cannot be promised will never occur, is quite effectively dealt with by the existence and enforcement of rules against it and any other behavior that might serve to cause anyone to be made to feel uncomfortable. Thus, neither concern need be a reason for women to avoid social nudity participation.

Social Nudity Experience: A Female Perspective

As a follow up to my last post, I decided to post an interesting article I recently found on the web about a female’s first social nudity experience. The article, written by University of Texas at Austin staff writer, Roxanna Asgarian, and published April 2, 2009, at The Daily Texan online web site, details her first social nudity experience when she visited a club party hosted by members of Hill Country Nudists, a non-landed nudist club located in Austin, Texas.

Generally it is not my habit to publish the work of others on my blog as I prefer to write my own original content and share my own personal experiences and opinions. Yet when it comes to the female perspective, I am of course rendered unqualified by the fact that I’m male. I think this article succinctly and effectively communicates the female perspective on a first experience with social nudity and felt that exposure to this article would be beneficial to any women who might visit this blog. I tried without success to contact the writer for permission but hopefully she won’t mind having her article re-printed here with full credit. Given that I only came across the article by happenstance myself and that few outside Texas are familiar with the Daily Texan, hopefully this re-printing will allow greater access to what was a very well written and enlightening piece of journalism.

Nudist club gets down to the essentials[1]

As I head down the winding, tree-lined Highway 71 on Saturday evening, I can’t help but feel butterflies in my stomach. I am going to the home of John and Connie, who withhold their last names, to have my first social nude experience.

Pulling up to the driveway, I am floored by the beautiful, secluded home.

I shyly ring the bell and look through the glass front door into the house, and see an awesome view of Lake Travis, which lines the backyard. A naked man appears in my line of vision. I blush as he beckons me in.

“Here goes,” I think, as I strategically avoid his lower region with my eyes as he directs me to a room to change. On the way, I glance at 10 or so middle-aged people, mostly couples, hanging out by the bar. Most of them are naked, although some have on a shirt or a sash covering select parts of their bodies.

We talked at length about nudism before the event, and they set my mind at ease. I was curious to know what goes down at a nudist event and how I would handle being naked in public.

“Women have an additional barrier to nudism,” one man said. “Many women don’t know whether nudism in a group setting will be safe, when actually it’s incredibly safe. It’s safer than going out to a bar, because you know and trust these people.”

I thought it was funny that, before I went to the Hill Country Nudists’ gathering, all my friends asked, “What are you going to wear there?” as if my outfit would be even more important since it would only be on for five minutes. I have on yoga pants and a T-shirt, and when John drops me off in the guest room with two other changing women, I peel them off.

The youngest woman there, besides me, is 24 and also a UT student. Other than that, the crowd is primarily middle-aged and most of them have their partners with them, which helps me loosen up and let my arms hang by my sides, rather than gripping tightly around my body.

They all introduce themselves as I crack open a Red Stripe and someone blends Pisco sours, a traditional Peruvian drink that tastes like a margarita topped off with bitters.

The theme of the evening is “Peruvian night,” and Virginia and Carlos, a married couple from Peru, fix empanadas and ceviche in the kitchen.

Then I meet Paul, who takes me out to the backyard to look at the view. In the back of my mind I wonder if “look at the view” means different things to each of us, but I figure I’m here to participate. Once I am naked, I feel like the hardest part is behind me. He is surprised when I tell him this is my first social nude experience.

“You seem so at ease,” he said.

I take that as a compliment. I had been worried leading up to the event that I’d arrive to find some massive middle-aged orgy, or that I wouldn’t be able to stop looking at all the penises on display. But no orgies (at least in front of me) and I only sometimes glance at the penises, a little. The ceviche and empanadas are divine, and the atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and respectful.

After dinner, the group takes turns in the hot tub, which is housed in a room with hanging plants and a wall of windows overlooking Lake Travis. Saturday evening also happens to be Earth Hour, a time when people around the country are urged to turn off the lights and conserve energy for one hour.

So off go the lights, and I sit in the hot tub, in the dark, with a couple of middle-aged men. I marvel at the fact that there isn’t even a hint of sexual overtone.

I’m serious. They’re asking me about my career goals and I am responding openly. I definitely feel naked, but I don’t feel exposed or sexually objectified.

I realize that these people are onto something, and that it takes maturity to be able to hold it down like this when you’re all nude.

At the end of the evening, after retreating to the guest bedroom to put my clothes back on, I say my goodbyes. I am invited back and told to bring friends. I take their invitation seriously, but am not sure if I want to become a lifetime member just yet. I hug the women and men and promise to come back. And on the way out, I don’t even glance at the penises.

For more information on the nude lifestyle, visit www.hillcountrynudists.com.

[1] Roxanna Asgarian, Daily Texan Staff. “Nudist club gets down to the essentials.” [Online] April 2, 2009. <http://www.dailytexanonline.com/nudist-club-gets-down-to-the-essentials-1.1639833>.

Hopefully as you read the article you were able to identify many of the obstacles and barriers to female participation in social nudity which were discussed in my previous post. The issues and concerns are very real to women as I’m sure you could see expressed in Roxanna Asgarian’s article. But also, I hope you were encouraged by the positive experience that she had and saw how she worked through her initial misgivings and misconceptions and in the end discovered that social nudity was an enjoyable, wholesome, non-threatening, safe and relaxing experience.

Barriers to Social Nudity Faced by Females

Anyone who has been involved in naturism for any time at all quickly learns the fact that far fewer women than men seem to enjoy participation in social nudity. At clothing optional beaches for example there are generally several times as many men as women. The same is true of online nudist and naturist discussion groups. Only in private clubs and resorts, where deliberate quotas are enforced does anything approaching parity between the sexes occur.

The focus today is on the barriers to female participation in social nudity. In a future article I will explore some of the reasons why men seem to be more attracted to social nudity and seem more willing to adopt the naturist lifestyle.

Just why do so many more men than women seem to enjoy social nudity? Are women just less likely to find the experience of nudity, either privately or socially enjoyable than men? Or is there another explanation for the persistent gender imbalance commonly found in social nudity circles?

Significant deterrents do exist for women when it comes to social nudity that men do not have to deal with and I feel this is why fewer women are involved. These include greater problems with body image, concerns about voyeurism and sexual harassment, worries about physical safety, and simply the conditioned cultural disapproval of nudity in general - the general attitude has been that nudity is offensive, disgusting, lewd, shameful and immoral. The weight of social tradition is much more likely to be an issue for women than men.

Even for women who manage to overcome these obstacles, and are able to feel relatively at ease with being naked in public and who have come to discover that they enjoy it, there remains one other significant problem. Since many more men than women choose to participate in social nudity, some women nudists may feel simply feel intimidated and inhibited simply because there are fewer of them, in other words by the sheer imbalance of numbers among the sexes. The gender imbalance may not even be an obstacle to female participation necessarily because of concerns about rude behavior or physical safety. It can simply be that women like to spend time socializing with other women at about any kind of social gathering, whether naked or clothed. Thus, the absence of other women in significant numbers, to talk with and socialize with can be a real deterrent to many women having the desire to participate in social nudity.

Clearly, a woman who is able to get past all the obstacles and learns to feel at ease with and enjoy being nude in a social setting deserves great admiration. I feel it takes a great deal of courage for a woman to get past all the barriers to the enjoyment of social nudity that can be identified. She must also he bold enough to overcome complex social and cultural conditioning embedded since childhood that equates nudity with sexuality and creates unhealthy attitudes about human bodies. She must be willing to shed the negative body image perceptions she may have, imposed by mass media constantly bombarding women with perfect images of an air-brushed, cosmetic beauty standard which only a tiny percentage could hope to approach much less retain for very long.

Women also have to consider the consequences of family, friends, or employer finding out about her participation in social nudity. Even if she knows better, others in our repressed society may label her as a hedonist or at minimum, a compulsive exhibitionist. She may have concerns about how her participation in social nudity will affect her relationship with a significant other. If she is a mother, the issues of social nudity multiply and magnify. What about her children’s safety and welfare? Is it harmful for the young to see adults nude? What about the possible negative judgments of her fitness as a parent by ignorant family and friends who might find out?

It really seems a wonder that women even consider, much less risk, social nudity despite all the touted benefits of clothes free living. What a leap of faith it must take for a woman to overcome her litany of anxieties in order to be nude and vulnerable among strangers for the first time. It is a shame that women face so many determents to participation in social nudity. A naturist experience has the power to make special contributions to women because it is so very different from the anti-female culture that teaches them to reject their bodies and can help them to appropriate the truth that each person’s body is a uniquely beautiful, original creation and an incomparable work of natural art. Women can learn that social nudity actually defuses sexual tension and feels so freeing and relaxing. Because it is such a humanizing experience, being nude with people also facilitates communications across gender and generational gaps, making us feel a part of some great universal family.

In subsequent posts, I will discuss individually and in more detail, the obstacles and barriers to female participation in social nudity and will attempt to offer solutions which might help a female curious about naturism but daunted by the deterrents to feel more inclined to try nudity and experience it in a social setting. It is human nature to fear the unknown and sometimes the obstacles and barriers are much larger and more intimidating in the mind than they actually turn out to be in reality.