Social nudity is the practice of nudity in relatively public settings not restricted by gender. This occurs both in public spaces and on commercial property, such as at a naturist resort.
Some isolated indigenous nudity still exists in the tropics, though this way of life is highly endangered, as is male nude swimming in public, which used to be very commonplace in Western culture. Modern European-style naturism began around the turn of the 20th century in British India [1] [2] and Northern Germany, and it was brought to the United States by German immigrants in the 1930s. [3]
The usage and definition of terms relating to social nudity varies geographically and historically. In the book Cinema Au Naturel, Mark Storey states: "two related terms that we will continually run across are nudist and naturist. Although the meanings of the two terms are virtually identical, they often have different connotations for those who prefer one to the other. In America, people who believe that it is physically, socially, emotionally, and perhaps spiritually healthy to go about fully nude individually and in groups of mixed gender, wherever the weather permits and others are not offended, generally refer to themselves as "nudists". In Europe, such people more often than not, refer to themselves as "naturists". [4]
Ethical Naturism vs Recreational Naturism is a concept first introduced by Stéphane Deschênes in the April 2011 episode of The Naturist Living Show Podcast. [5] which attempts to create a taxonomy that classifies the various types of naturists/nudists. [6] Ethical Naturists are described as seeing themselves as part of a philosophy with ethical and moral aspects while recreational nudists are simply participating in a leisure activity that involves nudity. [7]
Many people casually enjoy social nudity without adhering to any term and without associating with any traditional naturist, nudist or FKK organization or any other groups or movements. [8] That is common, for example on nude beaches and other forms of public nudity, such as seen at cultural events like Burning Man or clothing-optional bike rides.
Several activists, such as Vincent Bethell, claim that associations to promote naturism or nudism are unnecessary, leading only to "nudity in tolerated ghettos". Activist Daniel Johnson believes that labels and affiliations overly complicate a relatively simple phenomenon, alienate others from a fear of over-commitment or undesirable stereotypes, and thus get in the way of integrating nudity into everyday life. [9]
Public nudity in England and Wales is permitted anywhere provided it is not done with the intention to cause harassment, alarm or distress. [10]
Naturism was excluded from the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (SOA) for England and Wales, under Section 66. Police and the Crown Prosecution Service were not adequately informed, and any report of nudity was then prosecuted under Section 5 of The Public Order Act 1986. The Equality Act 2010 gave Naturists a protected status and use of the Public Order Act route was defeated in the courts in 2013. [11]
Some laws target naturism. In the U.S. State of Arkansas, nudism is illegal beyond the immediate family unit, even on private property. It is also a crime to "promote" or "advocate" nudism. [12]
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) issues a (US specific) photo release form to allow people to give permission for the publication of photos of themselves or their children. [13]
As of 1998, many naturist and nudist clubs in the US had few young members. [14] However, in France the number of younger naturists was increasing during the 2010s. [15] [16]
Organized social nudity usually attracts more people of European ethnic backgrounds. This may be due to it becoming a social movement in Europe, before spreading to other parts of the world. Other reasons include the fact that most resorts are located far from the cities, and have done little to promote themselves to those of non-European ethnic backgrounds. [17] : 307
Those with non-European ethnic backgrounds may also be reluctant to engage in social nudity due to its different cultural implications for them. People from parts of Africa, Asia, pre-European Americas, Australia, and the Pacific Islands may have had recent ancestors for whom public nudity was not controversial. Hence they may regard it as being associated with poverty or outdated values. [17] : 308
In the early days of naturism in the U.S. (1930s–1950s), the rules at many resorts stipulated that when conversing, you must only look at each other face to face. [17] : 162
In the 1960s and 1970s, nudist royalty pageants and "Miss Nude" contests were held by some naturist clubs [ which? ] in the US and Canada. The former were open to men, women and children and were judged on the basis of audience applause, while the latter were typically open to women aged between 18 and 30 and were judged by panels drawn from the local community, businesses and the media as well as minor celebrities. [18] [19]
Smith and King pose the following points in their 2009 peer reviewed paper entitled Naturism and Sexuality: Broadening our approach to sexual well-being: [20]
The world's largest naturist resort at Cap d'Agde in France is nonchalant about erections. [21] The American Association for Nude Recreation suggests covering the waist with a towel, lying on one's stomach, or going into the swimming pool. [22]
Naturism is a lifestyle of practicing non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms are broadly interchangeable, nudism emphasizes the practice of nudity, whilst naturism highlights an attitude favoring harmony with nature and respect for the environment, into which that practice is integrated. That said, naturists come from a range of philosophical and cultural backgrounds; there is no single naturist ideology.
Cap d'Agde is a seaside resort on France's Mediterranean coast. It is located in the commune of Agde, in the Hérault department within the region of Occitanie. Cap d'Agde was planned by architect Jean Le Couteur as part of one of the largest state-run development schemes in French history. In the 1960s, the only buildings at the Cap were small houses that were typically used by locals over the weekends. It is now one of the largest leisure ports on the French Mediterranean.
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is a naturist organization based in the United States.
Ed Lange was a nudist photographer, and a publisher of many nudist pamphlets and magazines showing the nudist lifestyle.
Freikörperkultur (FKK) is a social and health culture that originated in the German Empire; its beginnings were historically part of the Lebensreform social movement in the late 19th century. Freikörperkultur, which translates as free body culture, consists of the connection between the health aspects of being naked in light, air and sun and an intention to reform life and society. It is partly identified with the culture of nudity, naturism and nudism in the sense of communal nudity of people and families in leisure time, sport and everyday life.
Christian naturism is the practise of naturism or nudism by Christians.
Gay naturism or LGBT naturism concerns a lifestyle of gay people in which nudity, especially in a communal context, is viewed as natural, positive and healthy. While naturist clubs and resorts in the United States date back to the 1930s, gay naturist organizations did not emerge until the early 1980s. Separate from official naturist clubs, gay individuals have long congregated in locally-known gay beaches in many countries, especially in Europe and North America.
Nude recreation consists of recreational activities which some people engage in while nude. Historically, the ancient Olympic Games were nude events. There remain some societies in Africa, Oceania, and South America that continue to engage in everyday public activities—including sports—without clothes, while in most of the world nude activities take place in either private spaces or separate clothing optional areas in public spaces. Occasional events, such as nude bike rides, may occur in public areas where nudity is not otherwise allowed.
Nudity is sometimes used as a tactic during a protest to attract media and public attention to a cause, and sometimes promotion of public nudity is itself the objective of a nude protest. The practice was first documented in the 1650s with Quakers "naked as a sign" practice. Later the tactic was used by svobodniki in Canada in 1903, and photographs of their nude protests have been published. The tactic has been used by other groups later in the century, especially after the 1960s. Like public nudity in general, the cultural and legal acceptance of nudity as a tactic in protest also varies around the world. Some opponents of any public nudity claim that it is indecent, especially when it can be viewed by children; while others argue that it is a legitimate form of expression covered by the right to free speech.
A nude beach, sometimes called a clothing-optional or free beach, is a beach where users are at liberty to be nude. Nude beaches usually have mixed bathing. Such beaches are usually on public lands, and any member of the public is allowed to use the facilities without membership in any movement or subscription to any personal belief. The use of the beach facilities is normally anonymous. Unlike a naturist resort or facility, there is normally no membership or vetting requirement for the use of a nude beach. The use of nude beach facilities is usually casual, not requiring pre-booking. Nude beaches may be official, unofficial, or illegal.
This timeline of social nudity shows the varying degrees of acceptance given to the naked human body by diverse cultures throughout history. The events listed here demonstrate how various societies have shifted between strict and lax clothing standards, how nudity has played a part in social movements and protest, and how the nude human body is accepted in the public sphere.
Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park is a naturist resort located in southern Ontario, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Toronto. It encompasses typical amenities for day users, 110 serviced campsites, five cabins, and five guest rooms. The club is situated on 50 acres (20 ha) of privately owned, forested land at the edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine, within the Ontario Greenbelt. Harrison Creek borders the northern boundary while the Black River bisects the property. There are also two ponds and a small lake.
Felicity Jones is an American naturist who blogs pseudonymously for Young Naturists America. She is from Newton, New Jersey and is known for her activism in the nudism and feminism movements. Jones is a feminist who promotes female self-acceptance feminist thinking and opposes fat shaming. She encourages acceptance of sexuality and social nudism in daily life. She has been a contributor to Failure Magazine.
Naturism is a cultural and social movement practicing, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It is particularly strong in Germany where it goes under the name Freikörperkultur (FKK). It refers to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism in the "great outdoors" environment. Naturism grew out of the German Lebensreform movement and the Wandervogel youth movement of 1896, and has been adopted in many neighbouring European countries and was taken by the German diaspora to North America and other continents.
Naturism in the United States is the practice of social nudity as a lifestyle that seeks an alternative to the majority of American society that consider nakedness and sexuality to be taboo based upon the legacy of Puritan and Victorian attitudes. Naturist enthusiasts began in the late 1920s with the establishment of members-only communities where they could gather to socialize and enjoy recreation without clothing in an environment that was no more sexual than while clothed. In later decades some groups began advocating for more general acceptance, and the opening up of public land to clothing-optional recreation.
A naturist resort or nudist resort is an establishment that provides accommodation and other amenities for guests in a context where they are invited to practise naturism – that is, a lifestyle of non-sexual social nudity. A smaller, more rustic, or more basic naturist resort may be called a naturist camp.
We introduce the concept of the Ethical Naturist.
It is a life philosophy with physical, psychological, environmental, social, and moral benefits.
The Ethical Naturist and the Recreational Naturist . . . is a scale with most positioned somewhere between the extremes.