Social Nudity: What it is and isn’t

Social nudity refers to nudity in a communal setting. Nudity or nakedness generally is the state of wearing no clothing but the term nudity is sometimes used to refer to wearing significantly less clothing than expected by the conventions of a particular culture or situation and in particular exposing the bare skin in not an entirely private context. Social nudity may or may not involve public nudity which refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. Nudity in the privacy of a person’s home or private property is not public nudity. Nudity at nudist or naturist clubs or resorts is social nudity but also not public, since it also takes place on private grounds. Naturism promotes social nudity, but mostly on private properties or officially sanctioned public areas. Social nudity may be sexualized or non-sexualized nudity. In the practice of conventional nudism/naturism, nudity is non-sexualized and presented as wholesome, nurturing and even family oriented. There is however a fringe element within the nudism movement where social nudity is highly sexualized. At nudist gatherings of these groups sex is a prominent part and may include the sharing of sexual partners, having multiple sexual partners and/or engaging in sex while in the company of or while being watched by others. Participants are commonly termed “swingers”. While considered “unconventional” this behavior still falls within the concept of social nudity.

In some circumstances, public nudity may be legal. For example, in Europe, Canada, Australia, the U. S. and other countries there exist public areas designated as nude beaches. A nude beach is a beach where the users generally are nude. There are however also clothing optional (CO) beaches where persons are permitted to be completely nude but it isn’t required. In such places a person would not face legal prosecution merely for being nude. A top free beach or topless beach is one where upper body clothing is not required for women or men, but a swimming costume covering the genitals is required. In such places a person could face legal prosecution merely for being completely nude (uncovering the genitals) since complete nudity is not officially permitted.

Outside of those areas, community and legal acceptance of public nudity varies considerably. To avoid offending the public in general, public authorities maintain what are sometimes called “standards of decency”. What falls outside these standards is usually termed “indecent exposure”. Indecent exposure is the display of nude parts of the human body that, according to the standards of the local cultural norms, should be clothed. These standards, however, vary with time and place. Most people object to public nudity in a sexualized context, or when children are an issue. Some people regard those who appear nude in public as trying to draw attention to themselves. If the attention seeking is to oneself, it may be referred to as exhibitionism. Exhibitionism is the psychological need and pattern of behavior to exhibit naked parts of the body to other people.

There are also some people who disrobe in public to attract attention or publicity to themselves or to a cause they support. There are also those who engage in “streaking”. Streaking is a non-sexual act of taking off one's clothes and running naked through a public place, often the sites chosen are sporting events. There are also others who spontaneously disrobe in public, as an expression of their freedom and the shedding of inhibitions, an example being skinny dipping. Skinny dipping is swimming in the nude.

There are some people who object to any public exposure of a naked human body, on moral, religious or decency grounds, and usually regard the exposure of a naked body as inherently sexual. Some people are Gymnophobic. Gymnophobia is a fear or anxiety about being seen nude and/or about seeing others naked, even in situations where it is socially acceptable.

The degree to which a person can be exposed to be considered “indecent” varies with cultural standards. At one extreme is the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan which considered the exposure of any part of a woman's body in public as indecent, and required all women to wear a burqa, an all-enveloping tent-like outer garment designed to be worn by women in public. A less extreme example is the requirement of some religions for women who enter a church to wear “modest” clothing and to cover their heads. Modesty comprises a set of culturally and/or religiously determined values that relate to the presentation of the self to others.

In recent times, public nudity is becoming more common with nude sporting events and other activities being held. These include naked hiking (Free Hiking), naked walking, naked running, naked boating, etc. All are sub-sets of the modern form of social nudity. There is also the World Naked Bike Ride, an international event in which participants plan, meet and ride together en masse in the nude on human-powered vehicle to protest oil dependency and celebrate the power and individuality of human bodies.

Don't be Clothes Minded

While not an activist when it comes to nudism I am an advocate because I truly believe it to be a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. My beliefs about this come not from reading about the experiences of others but from experiencing it myself. That is of course the reason I began this blog. I hope to start a dialogue with those who have some very honest, sincere reservations and objections to the naturist lifestyle for the purpose of helping to debunk many of the myths associated with nudists. While I haven’t had anyone comment on anything I’ve posted here yet, obviously some are visiting based on the hit count and I hope many are staying to read some of the articles. At this stage my efforts are more of a monologue than a dialogue but if what people read here encourages them think and examine their beliefs about nudism then in a very real sense we are communicating in a positive way. As I have said before, my intent is not to convert anyone to naturism but simply to help people understand what the lifestyle is really about and hopefully to earn more tolerance from those who choose for their own reasons not to practice it. So often we hold negative opinions about things that we only know about in a superficial way and it is human nature to embrace the stereotypical views we manage to pick up here and there in the course of our life experiences. If you will take the time to examine what nudism is really about, I feel you will be hard pressed to find any real reason to be intolerant of it and those who practice it even if you never develop an interest in experiencing it yourself.

Nudism is nothing more than the practice of being without clothes. I enjoy nudity for many reasons but here are just three. I enjoy the physical way it feels to be nude, especially in the outdoors. Being nude is very emotionally liberating. I find the environment of social nudity to be typically less stressful, more honest, accepting and friendly than I have experienced in many of the clothed social environments I have experienced. The social aspect of nudism is what many non-nudists have the most difficulty with. While they might understand why someone would enjoy being nude at home, they just have difficulty understanding why people would want to gather with other naked people unless it had to do with something sexual or something perverted like exhibitionism or voyeurism. Nudism can be practiced alone and in fact I do spend a good deal of time nude at home but nudism is also a natural social activity. In fact I think a good deal of the benefits of nudism come from experiencing social nudity. Humans are social animals and like most everything else we do, the enjoyment of nudity is more rewarding when done with others. We like spending time with and socializing with others who hold similar views and like similar activities. Think about the social activities you personally enjoy and why you find them enjoyable and rewarding and I think you will readily come to understand why nudists seek and value social nudity.

Nudists tend to be much more accepting of everyone for who they are without regard to shape, size or any physical attributes. Not long ago I was talking with a non-nudist acquaintance and he said that the reason he would never be interested in going to a nudist gathering is because nudists typically are not the kind of people you want to see naked. From a voyeuristic perspective I’d have to say that there is some truth to his observation. If you were to visit most nudist resorts or clubs you would find that the typical male naturist is not “perfect”, past 40, perhaps hairy and has some extra pounds. It is also unlikely that you would see many “hot chicks” there in the sense Western society has conditioned us to define that; younger, thinner, firmer and big breasted. No, what you would find is what you might call the “average” type of bodies. Nudists come in all shapes and sizes and the best part is no one feels uncomfortable about it. You see it’s the freedom of not wearing clothes that naturists enjoy, not looking at other people’s bodies. In a very real sense nudism is more about the mind than it is about the body. The essential wholesomeness and beauty of the human body is actually enhanced by the naturalness of social nudity. Physical health benefits are derived from exercise and relaxation and mental well being is enriched through the body-positive values inherent in social nude recreation. In a nutshell, naturists enjoy the same things everyone else does. We simply do them without the restrictions of clothing.

Naturists have the right to practice social nudity in appropriate settings, provided they do not infringe on the rights of others and that really sums up the whole point of this article. The majority of those who identify with nudism are just as sensitive to the rights and beliefs of others as they are of their own. Nudism isn’t about forcing nudity on others. Nudists don’t lobby for the right to appear naked at every public place or beach. We simply ask that parts of existing public lands and recreational areas like beaches be set aside and designated for us to enjoy them in the way we find meaningful. If you sincerely find nudity uncomfortable or even offensive, it isn’t my design to force you to change your beliefs to accommodate mine. I hope only that the next time they hold a town meeting in your area for the purpose of denying or further restricting the use of public lands for nude recreation you won’t be clothes minded, but open minded. I hope that you will seriously give consideration to the fact that there is really nothing to fear from nudists or any harm in people enjoying what is to them a meaningful and healthy way to live, relax and enjoy nature.

Nothing to Hide

I imagine for the most part many of those who visit this site have probably come across it through a search engine. Perhaps for some, the thought of living life clothes free has some appeal for you. Maybe you even spent part of your day naked around your own home. However, the thought of spending time naked around others in a social setting is something you can’t even imagine doing.

For a great many people, this is due to poor body image acceptance. According to a poll conducted by Psychology Today magazine, 24 percent of women and 17 percent of men say they would give up more than three years of life to be thinner. Sociologists who study the mostly western-world phenomenon of poor body image attribute the problem to a variety of factors, including media and cultural influences. The advertising industry ties the already complex issue of body image with materialism. A slender body is associated with wealth, health, and attractiveness while a heavier body is associated with sloth, indulgence, and a lack of self-control.

There are some real dangers associated with poor body image acceptance. When someone has a poor body image, they will try to find external validation to feel better about themselves. Poor body image can lead to crash dieting and excessive exercise which in turn can lead to poor nutrition, injuries, depression and eventually poor health. Eating disorders are often the result of having a negative body image.

Psychologists tell us that one of the best means of developing a more positive body image acceptance is to surround oneself with supportive friends whose focus is not on looks. Other people can make the biggest difference in our lives by being mentors and leading by example. Social nudity is one excellent place to find these kinds of friends. One of the key aspects of naturism is a strong emphasis on promoting positive body image. Spending time naked in the presence of others often has very positive benefits with respect to improving a person’s body image and self esteem. It helps one be able to let go of misconceptions or distorted messages and expectations that you have been learned through the media’s portrayal of what people should look like. It helps people to feel less self conscious about their bodies and in turn learn to become more accepting of themselves as well as others for who they are and not what everyone else expects them to be. I know this is true because I have actually experienced it. The first thing you will discover when attending a nudist social gathering is that bodies come in all shapes and sizes. You will find people older than you and people younger, some larger and some smaller. But the amazing thing is you will find most of us look pretty much the same without clothing. Clothing hides the body and makes it easy for us to live under the false illusion that our body just doesn’t measure up to that of others. The human body is beautiful in all its forms, at any age during the life cycle.

Have you ever suffered from poor body image? Are you open minded enough to consider trying social nudity? This year why not resolve to learn to become more comfortable with your nudity? Perhaps you might just become comfortable enough to explore spending time naked with others in a relaxed, non-sexual social environment and in the process learn that you really have nothing to hide.

Getting Started as a Nudist

While I didn’t start this blog as previously mentioned for the purpose of converting anyone to the nudist/naturist lifestyle, perhaps you have been following this blog and some of what I’ve said seems to resonate with you. Perhaps you have found yourself interested in exploring nudism but don’t quite know how to start.

If you had the same type of conservative upbringing that I did, you first inclination is not to head for the nearest nude beach or resort. My well meaning parents imbued me with a good bit of shame about nudity and as a consequence for years I struggled with body issues. When I first came to look at nudism and began to see that this was something I wanted to experience, I needed a very low key and non-threatening introduction to it. The same is likely true of many others.

Getting started is actually very simple, just take your clothes off and get naked right there in the privacy and safe environment of your own home. That is exactly how I started. If you are anything like me, the first thing you do when you arrive home is to remove your shoes. Why? Because it just feels more comfortable. Getting naked just takes that a step further and believe me it does feel a lot more comfortable. I have reached the point where I never wear clothes at home and am always nude unless I’m answering the door or entertaining non-nudist friends. I feel so comfortable with it now in fact that on more than one occasion I have just caught myself at the last second before walking out on my patio completely naked. That would not be a good thing since I live in an apartment complex where anyone who happened to look would have seen me. This is just an illustration of how comfortable I have grown with being nude and now I actually don’t really even think about it or notice that I’m not wearing clothes.

Another way to get comfortable with living clothes free at home is to spend time doing routine household chores and activities in the nude: house cleaning, laundry, cooking, eating, etc. I use to hate cleaning my apartment and candidly, I still don’t actually enjoy it but it is one of those things that must be done. Now that I do it in the nude, it doesn’t seem nearly as much a chore because I’ve combined something not inherently pleasurable with something very pleasurable, spending time nude. Everything I do at home, I do while naked and this I think is an excellent way to gain comfort with your own nudity. At first anytime I walked past a mirror, I’d notice my nakedness but now I don’t give it a thought.

Once you get comfortable being naked inside your home, if you happen to have a backyard with a privacy fence, I’d encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to get comfortable with being nude outdoors. You could sunbathe, just sit out on your patio nude reading a good book or if you have a pool, try some skinny dipping. I think you will find the feel of the warm sun and breeze on your bare skin to be most delightful. I think you will be surprised how quickly you will become comfortable living in just your own skin.

At some point after getting comfortable spending time naked at home, many people will then become interested in trying social nudity and spending time naked around others. The others might be family, close friends, people you live with, or perhaps total strangers (which is often easier) by way of a visit to a nude beach or nudist resort. If you do live with others, be sure to respect their feelings. It’s better to discuss things with them beforehand as they may find it a little odd if you just start going naked around the house. Once they find out you like to be naked and get accustomed to it, they may not have any problem with it even if they don't choose to go along. Once you are comfortable with being nude at home and on your own property and if you do decide to try social nudity among strangers, in a later article I will discuss how you go about finding a nudist venue and what to expect on your first visit.

Some people will learn to enjoy spending time at home nude but that may be where their interest in nudism ends and being a “home nudist” may fulfill all the needs they have as a nudist. If that is the case, then there is certainly nothing wrong with it. Just as nudism isn’t for everyone, social nudism also isn’t. There is no hierarchy among nudists. If you enjoy being a home nudist, you are every bit as much a nudist as those of us who enjoy social nudism and are comfortable spending time nude while socializing with other like minded people.