Women and Naturism - Donna Price

When did you first understand that being naked in front of people was ‘not a nice thing to do’? Were you just a toddler? Was this something your parents really felt strongly about, did they tell you off, that you had committed some terrible crime? Were you made to feel ashamed?

Sadly, I believe this may be an all too common scenario. To those little toddlers, running around on a beach, naked as the day they were born (yes, I think that is significant!), being in that state is just about as normal as it gets. It is generally through social conditioning that we are taught that this is unacceptable behaviour. Trying to uncover the truth behind this conditioning is the difficult part. Admittedly, certainly in the Northern Hemisphere, clothing of some description was ultimately seen as a necessity during colder months. From there, perhaps a very lucrative industry sprang up and the people making lots of money from this would have been very reluctant to relinquish the income and encourage people to shed their clothes.

Whatever the history, humans have had a difficult relationship with clothing. The trends and fashions have always been a bug-bear for parents to keep up with, both physically and financially. For women, particularly from teen years onwards, the lingerie industry alone is worth a very substantial amount, so inevitably they will tell you that it is essential you have the latest designs of underwear. However, underwear is essentially there to accentuate sexuality. For naturist women, one of the wonderful freedoms of finding naturism, is freeing oneself from this stereotypical view of underwear requirements. Yes, basic underwear might be needed in certain circumstances, but flowery, lacy, pretty and - let’s not deny it, expensive - garments are completely unnecessary, in a practical sense.

Clearly though, as this behaviour is ’learned’ it can just as easily be ‘unlearned’ - all it takes is a curiosity, a spark of interest and some determination to try!

There are studies that suggest that children who grow up in a naturist household or environment, often go on to have less body-image issues in later life. They have been accustomed to seeing all bodies, no matter their size, shape, age and none of them have been airbrushed or artificially enhanced. In an effort to try to understand why women still appear to be more reluctant than their male counterparts to try naturism we have to consider, the general social expectations of women’s roles in society. Sometimes I think that women may have a different view of those expectations than the guys have of the same expectations. I believe that women feel they may be judged for baring all by male naturists, when in fact, the guys just want them to take part, to join in.

I know for a lot of women they have body-image issues and they also worry more about other peoples’ reactions if they find out. Some of the comments and views from women I have encountered include:-

Nudists/naturists? They’re all swingers, aren’t they?

Obviously this is not the case. I have no doubt that there are some naturists who are swingers and equally I am sure there are swingers who are not naturists. It is just a common misconception that we have been brought up to believe that there are only a few reasons for being naked; such as taking a bath/shower, sleeping or having sex. If you aren’t engaged in the first two, then you must be engaged in the last one.

What if a naked photo of me ends up online?

I suppose that is always a possibility, particularly if you visit a large naturist gathering such as a beach or at a resort. People are on holiday, so they will take pictures. It is generally accepted that experienced naturists are very discrete and careful about taking pictures, they will try to ensure that there are no people in backgrounds. At organised events, cameras/phones are usually not permitted, in order to ensure that this problem does not occur. There may be official photographers as such events, but they will always seek permission for photos to be taken and published.

What if our neighbours/work colleagues/relatives find out?

This is a real scary thought for a lot of women. I know women often worry more about people they know finding out that they are naturists. I’m not totally sure why women seem to be more concerned about this than their male counterparts. My belief is that the men’s desire to engage in naturism may just be a little stronger and therefore over-rides any fears they may have about people finding out. However, I will say that for both sexes, this fear can have some solid reasoning, depending on chosen careers. There are some environments which could be less tolerant and more judgemental – those working with children perhaps. Although, this is still a misplaced judgement, it could have serious consequences.

No one wants to see me naked! I’m no spring chicken and I have scars, stretch-marks and saggy bits

Probably one of the most common responses! This again is based on a misconception of what naturism means. Being a naturist is not about seeing other bodies or being seen. That viewpoint can more often indicate exhibitionism. Social nudity is not actually about bodies it is about connecting with fellow humans. When we meet people in social situations, whether we realise it or not, we are making assumptions, judgements and forming opinions of that person. These are mostly based on first impressions; we base it on clothing, accessories etc. When we ‘strip’ these things away, we are all equal. There are no status symbols to interpret, there is no ‘uniform’ to either feel superior or inferior to. Naturism is a ‘great leveller’, which makes for a very relaxing and comfortable atmosphere to socialise in. You are not talking with a farmer, a lawyer, a doctor, a bus conductor or a policeman – you are talking to a person.

I would feel vulnerable if I was naked. Would I be safe?

I agree that ‘stripping’ ourselves bare does indicate a certain level of vulnerability, but again I think this is based on our social conditioning. We are not really any more vulnerable naked than we are dressed. People can still be verbally and physically abused in a dressed state. Naturism is deeply rooted in respect. It is about having respect for oneself, for others and for one’s surroundings. Naturists are very respectful and welcoming and events are usually very safe environments indeed. There are many naturist events and gatherings where it is common to see several generations of families together enjoying the comfort and relaxation that is social nudity.

I don’t want to see lots of naked bodies

This goes hand-in-hand with a previous concern. Naturism really is not about being seen or what you might see. Often difficult to explain to people who have never tried it, for those still tied to the indoctrinations of our upbringing, that nudity is somehow abnormal. However, most people will find during their first naturist gathering that they stop noticing their nakedness and those of the people around them, within the first 30 minutes.

I am confident that we have seen a change in attitudes over the last few years. People are becoming less negative about the idea of public and social nudity. It is certainly finding more acceptance here in the UK and in Europe and I hope that this will continue to grow and spread to other parts of the world. I have created a movement called Women Naturally in an effort to continue this spread of awareness. I really believe that for women, finding naturism is a seriously empowering notion that they really can achieve anything. The increased self-esteem and confidence it gives, plus the many physical and mental health benefits are very important. I would like to expand on this but I need help and input from others.

I would be keen to hear from any women on the subject of naturism. Please bare your thoughts in the comments, drop me a line and share your views, whether you agree with naturism or not. Tell me what it means to you? How you perceive it? Are you a naturist woman who is part of a couple or do you feel as if you are a lone naturist in a man’s world? Would you like to try it but don’t know where to start? If you are already a female naturist, what activities do you enjoy and what ones would you like to see more of? Do you engage in naturism in your everyday life – doing your housework and gardening, perhaps? I think by sharing our views we can really determine what it means to be socially free and comfortable.

Donna Price
Women Naturally womennaturally@tbtinternet.com