Naturism, The Naked And Public Nudity

It is generally considered rude to be nude in public.  But there are circumstances wherein nudity is mandatory.  This would be the Nakation or the Naked Vacation.  If you are to take a Nakation you are agreeing to be with nudists or naturists and to respect their cultural values, one of which is to be as naked as is practical most if not all of the time. 

Nakations are taken using land and facilities that have been set aside for nudists.  They are not intended to shock or to peak the interest of he prurient.

There are more militant naturists who lobby congress and city councils and insist on their right to be nude in public.  If you think about it there are a whole range of issue concerning the minimal  amount of clothing that is acceptable in public. 

In some strict and orthodox countries the sin associated with the sexuality of women is considered so great that women must cover from head to toe in garment called the burqa.  Under extreme orthodox a woman can show no part of herself in the company of men she is not related to.  When the strictures are a little more relaxed she can show her eyes.  A little more leniency is common and in that case the garment which women may wear in public is called the hijab.  This is a scarf that covers the hair and neck.  The burqa is a manner of dress which causes a clash of cultures in the west where the police, employers, people who are proctoring tests insist on know who is taking the test.  They want to be able to compare a face with an ID.  The hijab is must more compatible with western cultures and values.

Easing the clothing in public restriction a bit more and you have the typical western woman in a knee length dress.   In modern culture such a dress can even be worn without glances of disapproval in church. 

Isn't interesting that issues of modesty and morality mostly concern women.  There is a reason for this.  The average woman is not sexually aroused by seeing the average man naked.  The average man can easily be aroused by seeing the average woman naked.

If we move further down the scale of clothing cultural rules we get to place where there is still controversy.  The mini skirt.  Most agree that if mini skirts are ever appropriate then they should only be worn by the young.  Preferably by women under 30.  Women have been told to go home and change by employers if they showed too much leg or cleavage.

Our next way station on our journey to the clothing optional lifestyle is the bikini.  Most agree that it is acceptable on the beach.  Most don't think it's acceptable or normal anywhere else.  The thong and other risque bikinis are usually argued about in the west in terms of aesthetics.  For instance, who wants to see a fat man in a speedo or a fat woman in a thong?

There are cases where many would argue that it is okay and even right and good for a woman to be partially naked in public.  This case is that call of nature known as breast feeding.  Again there are men and even women who object to public breast feeding but they are usually beaten down by public opinion in the west.

Now we come to a more controversial type of partial nudity.   Some militants have noticed that men can go about legally without shirts but that women can not.  So every year in many western nations there is some kind of protest wherein some women walk around topless or with just two pieces of tape covering the naughty bits.  If men participate they wear bras.

Now we come at last to nude beaches and other forms of naked recreation.  Every western country has a society or organization of nudists or naturists.  In generally these are people who think it better, more natural and healthier to be without clothes in public. 

There are organizations dedicated to naked hiking, also called "free hiking", naked bicycling, and naked horseback riding.

If you think about it, given that we are free in the west to live our own lives in a manner of our choosing, the existence of clubs for the naked is a good thing.  Do you really want to walk in on naked gym guy using the exercise equipment right before you do?  I don't think so.

One of the origins of the nude life style comes from Nordic countries where people were naked while using saunas. 

Europe is famous for it's nude beaches. 

In America, the best way to find out where you can go for clothing optional recreation are the groups and associations for nude creations such as the Trade Association for Nude Recreation, or the American Association for Nude Recreation.

If you are more into the philosophical side of body acceptance and public nudity try the Naturist Society.

Naked in America

The Secret Lives of Nudists

Traveling Naked

Pantless Purple Perverts