The Clothes Free Option

Regardless of how many disapprove of it to stereotype or label people, we all tend to do it. It’s simply I think how the human brain works. By classifying, grouping and organizing, we conceptualize what different people are about based on their proclivities and interests. Interestingly, despite the fact that we do it, at the same time, we all hate to be classified and labeled. We look at the label and we look at ourselves finding that the label is simply inadequate to explain who we are as a person. There is also the danger of misconceptions arising as a result of labeling. What a label means to one person, may mean something completely different to another.

There is sometimes a negative connotation associated with “nudist” and perhaps to a lesser degree “naturist”. I recently came across a very positive nudist web site which uses the term “clothes free” when referring to nudity because as they explain on the site, it doesn't label a person in the way the terms “nudist” or “naturist” sometimes do. They mention that “clothes free” seems to be catching on as the new friendly replacement to “nudist” observing that many resorts have adopted the practice of referring to their venues as clothes free resorts instead of nudist resorts.

I find myself in agreement with this philosophy as I think it really does contribute to lessening the issues of preconceptions among others about what nudism is really about and you have to admit, no sexual connotations leap to the mind when you say “clothes free” in the way it does with some people when they hear the word “nudist”.

Semantics: Nudism versus Naturism

Discerning observer that you are, you have likely noticed that I use the terms nudism and naturism; nudist and naturist interchangeably in my writings here. Is there a real difference in these terms? Does it matter which is used at any given time? I don't think so. In the United States, naturism and nudism have very similar meanings and people tend to use the two terms interchangeably. Nudism is perhaps used with a slight bit more frequency here and it is the older of the two terms used to describe the cultural lifestyle of a person who practices, advocates and defends social nudity in private and in public. In Europe, the term naturist is the most common. If you reference the Oxford English dictionary you will find that the two words are synonymous.

Still some feel quite adamant about this subject. Some nudists don't wish to be called naturists and some naturists don't like to be called nudists. Depending on whom you ask, some will say that the terms define two different philosophies which simply have nudity in common. Those who find a difference define naturists as closer to nature and more interested in practicing nudity in outdoor settings: forests, mountains and beaches while nudists are people who practice nudity more in urban and club settings.

Not all people who practice nudity like any label at all. They don't see themselves as different from anyone else and may not espouse or subscribe to any naturist/nudist philosophy.

As you can see the usage and definition of these terms varies geographically and historically. So while in the United States, naturism and nudism have very similar meanings, in Britain there is a clear distinction. Nudism is the act of being naked, while naturism is a lifestyle which embraces nudity in conjunction with nature, the environment, respect for others, self-respect, healthy eating, vegetarianism, teetotalism, non-smoking, yoga, physical exercise and pacifism as well as nudity.

Despite the distinctions that some like to draw, I think if you can see the elements: lifestyle, harmony with nature, social nudity, self-respect, respect for others and respect for the environment, you are really talking about the same thing regardless of which term is used. I don’t really have a preference for one term over the other perhaps because I can see myself easily moving between the two definitions when a distinction is made. While I do enjoy nudity in conjunction with nature, I also enjoy the social nudity practiced within urban and club settings.