108-406: 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
216-439: A 1980 law requiring the admission of women. For younger boys, lack of modesty might include public behavior as in 1909 when The New York Times reported that at an elementary school public swimming competition the youngest boys competed in the nude. Hygiene was given as the reason for official guidelines requiring nudity in indoor pools used only by men. Swimmers were also required to take nude showers with soap prior to entering
324-506: A basin attached to every cathedral. Both men and women were baptized naked, deaconesses performing the rite for women to maintain modesty. Until the fifth century CE, pagan nudity was associated with sex, Christian nudity with grace . Jesus was originally depicted nude as would have been the case in Roman crucifixions, but the Christian adoption of the pagan association of the body with sex prompted
432-468: A beach on the island of Rab where King Edward obtained special permission from the local government to swim naked, this event marked the beginning of nudist tourism in Croatia. In Finnish culture, nudism is considered to be a relatively normal way to live. It is not uncommon to see entire families spending time together naked. Families may be naked while bathing, in a sauna , swimming in a pool, or playing on
540-514: A beach, and it is not unusual to see children playing naked in a family yard for example. Nudity as a whole is considered less taboo than in many other countries. Marcel Kienné de Mongeot is credited with starting naturism in France in 1920. His family had suffered from tuberculosis, and he saw naturism as a cure and a continuation of the traditions of the ancient Greeks. In 1926, he started the magazine Vivre intégralement (later titled Vivre ) and
648-420: A belt with a piece of string attached holding their foreskin shut over their glans penis . There was no shame or modesty attached to women's breasts, and therefore no garments devoted to concealing them; however, women did cover their pubic area in the presence of men, as exposing it was a cultural expression of anger and contempt. Pre-pubescent children wore no clothes at all. European colonists cited nudity as
756-672: A common theme is that much of Christianity has misinterpreted the events regarding the Garden of Eden , and that God was displeased with Adam and Eve for covering their bodies with fig leaves . Naturism is usually promoted as not being sexual, but there are resorts where social nudity is practised alongside exhibitionism , voyeurism , and other alternative lifestyles like swinging . Mainstream discourse around naturism sometimes conflates sexual and non-sexual variations, though family-oriented naturism organisations try to resist this stigma. Some naturist clubs have shifted to catering to swingers, and as
864-713: A form of protest, and those with power may impose nakedness on others as a form of punishment. While the majority of contemporary societies require clothing in public, some recognize non-sexual nudity as being appropriate for some recreational, social or celebratory activities, and appreciate nudity in the arts as representing positive values. A minority within many countries assert the benefits of social nudity , while other groups continue to disapprove of nudity not only in public but also in private based upon religious beliefs. Norms are codified to varying degrees by laws defining proper dress and indecent exposure . In general English usage, nude and naked are often synonyms for
972-536: A human being unclothed, but take on many meanings in particular contexts. Nude derives from Norman French , while naked is from the Anglo-Saxon . To be naked is more straightforward, not being properly dressed, or if stark naked , entirely without clothes. Nudity has more cultural connotations, and particularly in the fine arts, positive associations with the beauty of the human body. Further synonyms and euphemisms for nudity abound, including " birthday suit ", " in
1080-421: A legal right in public and the workplace. Where public breastfeeding is unregulated or legal, mothers may be reluctant to do so because other people may object. The issue of breastfeeding is part of the sexualization of the breast in many cultures, and the perception of threat in what others perceive as non-sexual. Pope Francis came out in support of public breastfeeding at church services soon after assuming
1188-637: A loincloth for men and a skirt for women. The Tokugawa period in Japan (1603–1868) was defined by the social dominance of hereditary classes, with clothing a regulated marker of status and little nudity among the upper classes. However, working populations in both rural and urban areas often dressed only in fundoshi (similar to a loincloth ), including women in hot weather and while nursing. Lacking baths in their homes, everyone frequented public bathhouses where they were unclothed together. This communal nudity might extend to other activities in rural villages. With
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#17330862486651296-549: A natural curiosity about their own bodies and the bodies of others. The report recommended that parents learn what is normal in regard to nudity and sexuality at each stage of a child's development and refrain from overreacting to their children's nudity-related behaviors unless there are signs of a problem (e.g. anxiety, aggression, or sexual interactions between children not of the same age or stage of development). Problematic childhood behavior often takes place in daycare, rather than home environments. The general advice for caregivers
1404-684: A part of their naturism. Naturism became a more widespread phenomenon in the 1920s in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other European countries and spread to the United States, where it became established in the 1930s. By 1951, the various national federations united to form the International Naturist Federation. Some naturists preferred not to join clubs, and after 1945, pressure arose to designate beaches for naturist use. From
1512-447: A person's membership in their society, thus nakedness meant being at the bottom of the social scale, lacking in dignity and status. In each culture, ornamentation represented the wearer's place in society; position of authority, economic class, gender role, and marital status. From the beginning of civilization, there was ambiguity regarding everyday nakedness and the nudity in depictions of deities and heroes indicating positive meanings of
1620-495: A person's social and individual characteristics. Indigenous peoples in warm climates used clothing for decorative, symbolic or ceremonial purposes but were often nude, having neither the need to protect the body from the elements nor any conception of nakedness being shameful. In many societies, both ancient and contemporary, children might be naked until the beginning of puberty. Women may not cover their breasts if they were associated with nursing babies more than with sexuality. In
1728-554: A positive impact on having a well-balanced sexuality, too. For various sociocultural and historical reasons, the lay public, the media, and many contemporary naturists and their organisations have, or present, a simplified view of the relationship between naturism and sexuality. As of 2009, research has begun to explore this complex relationship. The International Naturist Federation explains: Each country has its own kind of naturism, and even each club has its own special character, for we too, human beings, have each our own character which
1836-465: A protest by mothers. However, only the middle school required suits, the elementary schools in the same district continued to allow girls to swim nude. The public health recommendation of male nudity continued officially until 1962 but was observed into the 1970s by the YMCA and schools with gender segregated classes. The era of male nude swimming in indoor pools declined steadily as mixed-gender usage became
1944-439: A resort in order to practise naturism. Active recruitment of younger members is being pursued by some organisations. The phenomenon varies by country, with, for example, naturism in France experiencing steady growth in a younger demographic during the 2010s. A similar trend is seen in Germany, with young people eager to depart from social norms and beauty standards. Naturism was part of a literary movement [ fr ] in
2052-475: A result may be expelled from mainstream naturist organizations, whilst some naturist villages, notably Cap d'Agde , have been successfully overtaken by swingers and " libertines ". Others struggle with wanting to maintain a family image while being lax in behavior enforcements for fear of losing revenue and no longer being financially viable. Attempts have been made to legislate naturist activity, such as children's summer camps. Many films and published materials in
2160-511: A ritual costume by association of the naked body with the beauty and power of the gods who were depicted as perfect naked humans. In Etruscan and early Roman athletics, in which masculinity involved prudishness and paranoia about effeminacy , the Greek traditions were not maintained because public nudity became associated with homoeroticism . In the Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE), the status of
2268-681: A school of naturism in Berlin, encouraging a mixing of the sexes, open air exercises, and a programme of "sexual hygiene". In 1929 the Berlin school hosted the first International Congress on Nudity. Nudity Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing . While estimates vary, for the first 90,000 years of pre-history, anatomically modern humans were naked, having lost their body hair and living in hospitable climates. As humans became behaviorally modern , body adornments such as jewelry, tattoos, body paint and scarification became part of non-verbal communications, indicating
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#17330862486652376-580: A sign of Māori racial inferiority , calling them "naked savages". On the islands of Yap State , dances by women in traditional dress that does not cover the breasts are now included in the Catholic celebration of Christmas and Easter. In Brazil, the Yawalapiti —an Indigenous Xingu tribe in the Amazon Basin —practice a funeral ritual known as Quarup to celebrate life, death and rebirth. The ritual involves
2484-571: A survey by The Daily Telegraph , Germans and Austrians were most likely to have visited a nude beach (28%), followed by Norwegians (18%), Spaniards (17%), Australians (17%), and New Zealanders (16%). Of the nationalities surveyed, the Japanese (2%) were the least likely to have visited a nude beach. This result may indicate the lack of nude beaches in Japan; however, the Japanese are open with regard to family bathing nude at home and at onsens (hot springs). From Woodstock to Edinburgh , and Nambassa in
2592-561: A thesis on heliotherapy , and in that year, he opened the Club gymnique de France . In 1936, the naturist movement was officially recognised. Albert and Christine Lecocq were active members of many of these clubs, but they left after disagreements, and in 1944, they founded the Club du Soleil with members in 84 cities. Four years later, they founded the Fédération Française de Naturisme [ fr ] (FFN); in 1949, they started
2700-623: Is Denmark, where beach nudity is explicitly allowed on all beaches, except for two in the far west of the country. Organized naturism in Belgium began in 1924 when engineer Joseph-Paul Swenne founded the Belgian League of Heliophilous Propaganda (usually abbreviated to Hélios ) in Uccle . This was followed four years later by De Spar , founded by Jozef Geertz and hosted on the country estate of entrepreneur Oswald Johan de Schampelaere. Belgian naturism
2808-656: Is a facility that specializes in providing apartments, chalets and camping pitches for visiting holidaymakers. A center is run commercially, and visitors are not members and have no say in the management. Most holiday centers expect visitors to hold an INF card (that is, to belong to an INF-affiliated organization), but some have relaxed this requirement, relying on the carrying of a trade card. Holiday centers vary in size. Larger holiday centres may have swimming pools, sports pitches, an entertainment program, kids' clubs, restaurants and supermarkets. Some holiday centres allow regular visitors to purchase their own chalets, and generations of
2916-519: Is a gradual process of social learning similar to other forms of group socialization . However, philosopher Krista Thomason notes that negative emotions including shame exist because they are functional, and that human beings are not perfect. The meaning of the naked body in Judaism , Christianity , and Islam is based upon the Genesis creation narrative , but each religion has their own interpretation. What
3024-555: Is accepted as natural. In contemporary rural villages, both boys and girls are allowed to play totally nude, and women bare their breasts in the belief that the meaning of naked bodies is not limited to sexuality. Full or partial nudity is observed among some Burkinabese and Nilo-Saharan (e.g. Nuba and Surma people )—during particular occasions; for example, stick-fighting tournaments in Ethiopia. In Lagos, Nigeria , some parents continue to allow children to be naked until puberty. There
3132-610: Is accepted vary. Indigenous peoples retain pre-colonial norms to varying degrees. People in Western cultures may practice social nudity within the confines of semi-private facilities such as naturist resorts , while other seek more open acceptance of nudity in everyday life and in public spaces designated as clothing-optional. In the Islamic societies of Africa nudity is forbidden, while in sub-Saharan countries that never abandoned, or are reasserting, pre-colonial norms partial or complete nudity
3240-510: Is asserted in the adoption of traditional dress—young women wearing only beaded skirts and jewelry—in the Umkhosi Womhlanga (Reed Dance) by the Zulu and Swazi . Other examples of ethnic tourism reflect the visitor's desire to experience what they imagine being an exotic culture, which includes nudity. In Asian countries, rather than always being immoral or shameful, not being properly dressed
3348-736: Is associated with sin, criminality, and punishment. The strong connection of nudity to sex produces shame when naked in contexts where sexuality is deemed inappropriate. The connection of nakedness with the corruptibility of flesh and death may have biblical origins, but gained real world associations during epidemics in the Middle Ages. Confronted with this ambiguity, some individuals seek to resolve it by working toward greater acceptance of nudity for themselves and others. Although psychologist Keon West found positive effects from short-term participation in social nudity, such as an improved body image, sociologist Barbara Górnicka found that lasting change
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3456-440: Is based upon the idea that nakedness is connected to nature positively as a form of egalitarianism , that all humans are alike in their nakedness. Nudity also represents freedom: the liberation of the body is associated with sexual liberation, although many naturists tend to downplay this connection. In some forms of group psychotherapy , nudity has been used to promote open interaction and communication. Religious persons who reject
3564-424: Is most frequently encountered in the contexts of bathing, swimming and using saunas, whether in single-sex groups, within the family, or with mixed-sex friends, but throughout history and in many contemporary tropical cultures, nudity is a norm at many sports events and competitions. The first known use of the word naturisme occurred in 1778. A French-speaking Belgian, Jean Baptiste Luc Planchon (1734–1781), used
3672-473: Is now an issue with strangers taking photographs, and they worry about pedophiles, but want kids to grow up with a positive body image and have the same freedom they remember from their own childhood. The upper torso of women is not sexual due to the general acceptance of breastfeeding in Africa, while their legs are covered by skirts to a greater extent than by Western clothing. The revival of pre-colonial culture
3780-459: Is one of the changes that mark the end of the Neolithic and the beginning of civilization, between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago. Much of what is known about the early history of clothing is from depictions of the higher classes, there being few surviving artifacts. Everyday behaviors are rarely represented in historical records. Clothing and adornment became part of the symbolic communication that marked
3888-677: Is one of the changes that occurred in the late Paleolithic (40,000 to 60,000 years ago) in which humans became not only anatomically modern, but also behaviorally modern and capable of self-reflection and symbolic interaction. More recent studies place the use of adornment at 77,000 years ago in South Africa, and 90,000—100,000 years ago in Israel and Algeria. While modesty is a factor, often overlooked purposes for body coverings are camouflage used by hunters, body armor, and costumes used to impersonate "spirit-beings". The current empirical evidence for
3996-470: Is part of both Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan. Purification in the bath is not only for the body, but the heart or spirit ( kokoro ). Public baths ( sentō ) were once common, but became less so with the addition of bathtubs in homes. Sentō were mixed gender ( konyoku ) until the arrival of Western influences, but became segregated by gender in cities. Nudity is required at Japanese hot spring resorts ( onsen ). Some resorts continue to be mixed gender, but
4104-420: Is perceived as a breach of etiquette (loss of face ) in most situations, while nakedness may be part of maintaining purity by public bathing, or expressing rejection of worldliness including clothes. In contemporary China, while maintaining the traditions of modest dress in everyday life, the use of nudity in magazine advertising indicates the effect of globalization. In much of Asia, traditional dress covers
4212-445: Is reflected in its many meanings, often expressed in the metaphors used to describe cultural values, both positive and negative. One of the first—but now obsolete—meanings of nude in the 16th century was "mere, plain, open, explicit" as reflected in the modern metaphors "the naked truth" and "the bare facts". Naturists often speak of their nakedness in terms of a return to the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The term naturism
4320-459: Is reflected in our surroundings. The usage and definition of these terms varies geographically and historically. Naturism and nudism have the same meaning in the United States, but there is a clear distinction between the two terms in Great Britain. In naturist parlance, the terms " textile " or "textilist" refer to non-naturist persons, behaviours or facilities (e.g. "the textile beach starts at
4428-532: Is shared by all was various degrees of modest dress and the avoidance of nakedness. The meaning of the creation myth is inconsistent with a philosophical analysis of shame as an emotion of reflective self-assessment which is understood as a response to being seen by others, a social context that did not exist. The response of Adam and Eve to cover their bodies indicates that upon gaining knowledge of good and evil, they became aware of nakedness as intrinsically shameful, which contradicts their intrinsic goodness "before
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4536-677: Is usually optional. At naturist swimming pools or sunbathing places, however, complete nudity is expected (weather permitting). This rule is sometimes a source of controversy among naturists. Staff at a naturist facility are usually required to be clothed due to health and safety regulations. Facilities for naturists are classified in various ways. A landed or members' naturist club is one that owns its own facilities. Non-landed (or travel) clubs meet at various locations, such as private residences, swimming pools, hot springs, landed clubs and resorts, or rented facilities. Landed clubs can be run by members on democratic lines or by one or more owners who make
4644-538: The Wandervogel youth movement of 1896, from Steglitz , Berlin, which promoted ideas of fitness and vigour. At the same time, doctors of the Naturheilbewegung (Natural Healing Movement) were using heliotherapy, treating diseases such as tuberculosis, rheumatism, and scrofula with exposure to sunlight. Nacktkultur , a term coined in 1903 by Heinrich Pudor, connected nudity, vegetarianism and social reform, and
4752-576: The International Naturist Federation (INF) held at Agde, France in 1974 defined naturism as: ...a way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment. Many contemporary naturists and naturist organisations advocate that the practice of social nudity should not be linked with sexual activity. Some recent studies show that naturism can help grow self-esteem, and thus have
4860-616: The New Kingdom of Egypt (1550–1069 BCE), that functionaries in the households of the wealthy began wearing refined dress, and upper-class women wore elaborate dresses and ornamentation which covered their breasts. These later styles are often shown in film and TV as representing Ancient Egypt in all periods. Male nudity was celebrated in ancient Greece to a greater degree than any culture before or since. The status of freedom, maleness, privilege, and physical virtues were asserted by discarding everyday clothing for athletic nudity. Nudity became
4968-450: The 1960s, with the acceptance of public places for clothing-optional recreation, individuals who do not identify themselves as naturists or nudists have been able to casually participate in nude activities. Nude recreation opportunities vary widely around the world, from isolated places known mainly to locals through officially designated nude beaches and parks, and on to public spaces and buildings in some jurisdictions. The XIV Congress of
5076-748: The Body" given in 1979, Pope John Paul II said that the innocent nudity of being before the fall is regained only between loving spouses. In daily life, Christianity requires clothing in public, but with great variation between and within societies as to the meaning of "public" and how much of the body is covered. Finnish Lutherans practice mixed nudity in private saunas used by families and close-knit groups. While maintaining communal nudity, men and women are now often separated in public or community settings. Certain sects of Christianity through history have included nudity into worship practices, but these have been deemed heretical . There have been Christian naturists in
5184-433: The Greek classical and later Abrahamic traditions has resulted in Western ambivalence, with nudity acquiring both positive and negative meanings in individual psychology, in social life, and in depictions such as art. The conservative versions of these religions continue to prohibit public and sometimes also private nudity. While public modesty prevails in more recent times, organized groups of nudists or naturists emerged with
5292-559: The Netherlands went through the same period of feminist activism in the 1960s–70s, but Dutch men were generally more open to the idea of gender equality, there being a prior history of regarding sexuality as healthy and normal, including nudity not always being sexual. A report issued in 2009 on child sexual development in the United States by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network asserted that children have
5400-574: The Papacy. Historically, men and boys bathed and swam nude in secluded rivers and lakes. In England when sea bathing became popular in the 18th century, beaches were initially male only, but with the easier access of the 19th century due to rail transportation, the mixing of genders became a problem for authorities. The addition of " bathing machines " at seaside resorts was not successful in maintaining standards of decency, men often continuing to be nude while women wore bathing costumes. However, public concern
5508-496: The United States promotes equal rights for women to be naked above the waist in public on the same basis that would apply to men in the same circumstances. Advocates of topfreedom view its illegality as the institutionalization of negative cultural values that affect women's body image. The legal justifications for topfreedom include equal protection , the right to privacy , and freedom of expression . The law in New York State
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#17330862486655616-529: The United States since the 1920s, but as a social and recreational practice rather than part of an organized religion. Islamic countries are guided by rules of modesty that forbid nudity, with variations between five schools of Islamic law. The most conservative is the Hanbali School in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where the niqab , the garment covering the whole female body and the face with a narrow opening for
5724-437: The altogether " and " in the buff ". Partial nudity may be defined as not covering the genitals or other parts of the body deemed sexual, such as the buttocks or female breasts . Two human evolutionary processes are significant regarding nudity; first the biological evolution of early hominids from being covered in fur to being effectively hairless, followed by the sociocultural evolution of adornments and clothing. In
5832-762: The ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, from Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire, proper attire was required to maintain social standing. The lower classes might possess a single piece of cloth that was wrapped or tied to cover the lower body; the lowest classes including slaves might be naked. However, through much of Western history until the modern era , people of any status were also unclothed by necessity or convenience when engaged in labor and athletics; or when bathing or swimming. Such functional nudity occurred in groups that were usually but not always segregated by sex . Although improper dress might be socially embarrassing,
5940-408: The association of nudity with sin regarding sexuality began with Judeo-Christian societies, spreading through Europe in the post-classical period. Traditional clothing in temperate regions worldwide also reflect concerns for maintaining social status and order, as well as by necessity due to the colder climate. However, societies such as Japan and Finland maintain traditions of communal nudity based upon
6048-446: The beginning: Crawford and two sons of an Anglican missionary, Andrew and Kellogg Calderwood. The commune fell apart when Crawford was transferred to Ratnagiri ; he died soon after in 1894. In 1902, a series of philosophical papers was published in Germany by Dr. Heinrich Pudor under the pseudonym Heinrich Scham, who coined the term Nacktkultur . In 1906 he wrote a three-volume treatise with this term as its title, which discussed
6156-475: The benefits of nudity in co-education and advocated participating in sports while being free of cumbersome clothing. Richard Ungewitter ( Nacktheit , 1906, Nackt , 1908, etc.) proposed that combining physical fitness, sunlight, and fresh-air bathing, and then adding the nudist philosophy, contributed to mental and psychological fitness, good health, and an improved moral-life view. Major promoters of these ideas included Adolf Koch and Hans Suren. Germany published
6264-454: The body, such garments might be removed in public for practical or ceremonial purposes. Children until puberty and sometimes women until marriage might be naked. All humans lived in hunter-gatherer societies until 20,000 years ago, and they were naked. In the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, the Americas and Southeast Asia, this way of life continued until a few hundred years ago. Perhaps
6372-434: The clothing of Christ. Some clerics went further, to hatred and fear of the body, insisting that monks sleep fully dressed. Christian theology rarely addresses nudity, but rather proper dress and modesty. Western cultures adopted Greek heritage only with regard to art, the ideal nude. Real naked people remained shameful, and become human only when they cover their nakedness. In one of a series of lectures entitled "Theology of
6480-638: The direction to a remote naturist beach. In some European countries, such as Denmark, all beaches are clothing optional, and in others like Germany (and experimentally in France) there are naturist sunbathing areas in public parks (e.g., in Munich and Berlin). Beaches in some holiday destinations, such as Crete, are clothing optional except some central urban beaches. There are two centrally located clothes-optional beaches in Barcelona. Sweden allows nudity on all beaches. In
6588-432: The early 20th century, the brothers Gaston and André Durville , both physicians, studied the effects of psychology, nutrition, and environment on health and healing. They became convinced of the importance of natural foods and the natural environment on human well-being and health. They named this concept naturisme . The profound effect of clean air and sunlight on human bodies became evident to them and so nudity became
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#17330862486656696-522: The entire body, similar to Western dress. In stories written in China as early as the fourth century BCE, nudity is presented as an affront to human dignity , reflecting the belief that "humanness" in Chinese society is not innate, but is earned by correct behavior. However, nakedness could also be used by an individual to express contempt for others in their presence. In other stories, the nudity of women, emanating
6804-460: 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. Ethical or philosophical nudism has a long history, with many advocates of the benefits of enjoying nature without clothing. At the turn of the 20th century, organizations emerged to promote social nudity and to establish private campgrounds and resorts for that purpose. Since
6912-516: The eyes, is widespread. Hands are also hidden within sleeves as much as possible. The burqa , limited mainly to Afghanistan, also has a mesh screen which covers the eye opening. Different rules apply to men, women, and children; and depend upon the gender and family relationship of others present. In Western cultures, shame can result from not living up to the ideals of society with regard to physical appearance. Historically, such shame has affected women more than men. With regard to their naked bodies,
7020-448: The fall". According to German philosopher Thorsten Botz-Bornstein , interpretations of Genesis have placed responsibility for the fall of man and original sin on Eve, and, therefore, all women. As a result, the nudity of women is deemed more shameful personally and corrupting to society than the nakedness of men. The meaning of nudity for early Christians was the baptism , which was originally by full immersion and without clothes in
7128-424: The first French naturist club, Sparta Club , at Garambouville, near Évreux. The court action that he initiated established that nudism was legal on private property that was fenced and screened. Drs. André and Gaston Durville bought 70 hectares (170 acres) on the Île du Levant where they established the village of Héliopolis, which was open to the public. In 1925, Dr. François Fougerat de David de Lastours wrote
7236-599: The first journal of nudism from 1902 to 1932. The wide publication of those papers, and others, contributed to an explosive worldwide growth of nudism in which nudists participated in various social, recreational, and physical fitness activities in the nude. The first organized club for nudists on a large scale, Freilichtpark (Free-Light Park), was opened near Hamburg in 1903 by Paul Zimmerman. In 1919, German doctor Kurt Huldschinsky discovered that exposure to sunlight helped to cure rickets in many children, causing sunlight to be associated with improved health. In France in
7344-674: The flag", "they are a mixed couple – he is naturist, she is textile"). "Textile" is the predominant term used in the UK ("textilist" is unknown in British naturist magazines, including H&E naturist ), but some naturists avoid using this term due to perceived negative or derogatory connotations. "Textilist" is said to be used interchangeably with "textile", but no dictionary definition to this effect exists, nor are there any equivalent examples of use in mainstream literature such as those for "textile". At naturist-organised events or venues, clothing
7452-407: The future of the movement. The clubs' aging memberships may have put younger people off. A rise in social conservatism , re-asserting a nudity taboo, also may have contributed to the decline. However, since tolerance for nudity in general is increasing over time, and is higher among younger generations, an alternative hypothesis is that younger naturists no longer feel they need to join a club or visit
7560-481: The last uncontacted hunter-gatherers are the community of a few hundred individuals on one of the Andaman Islands . The Europeans who first contacted tropical peoples reported that they were unashamedly naked, only occasionally wrapping themselves in capes in colder weather. Many pastoral societies in warmer climates are also minimally clothed or naked while working. This practice continued when western clothing
7668-750: The late 19th century (see the writings of André Gide ) that also influenced the art movements of the time, specifically Henri Matisse and other Fauve painters. This movement was based on the French concept of joie de vivre , the idea of reveling freely in physical sensations and direct experiences and a spontaneous approach to life. Naturist activities can have positive psychological benefits including greater life satisfaction, more positive body image, and higher self-esteem. Social nudity leads to acceptance in spite of differences in age, body shape, fitness, and health. Christian naturism includes various members associated with most denominations . Although beliefs vary,
7776-441: The legal definition of indecent exposure . In the United States, the exposure of female nipples is a criminal offense in many states and is not usually allowed in public. Individual women who have contested indecency laws by baring their breasts in public assert that their behavior is not sexual. In Canada, the law was changed to include a definition of a sexual context in order for behavior to be indecent. The topfreedom movement in
7884-555: The magazine Vie au Soleil , and in 1950, they opened the CHM Montalivet , the world's first naturist holiday centre, where the INF was formed. Henri Zisly was another prominent figure and primitivist in the French naturism movement who wrote on a return to lifestyles based on self-sufficiency. German naturism ( Freikörperkultur , FKK) was part of the Lebensreform movement and
7992-428: The middle decades of the 20th century were presented as documentaries of the naturist lifestyle. In fact this was largely a pretext to exploit a loophole in censorship laws restricting the exhibition of nudity. Additionally, child pornography has been distributed under the guise of naturist media. Precisely defining the distinction has proved challenging for law enforcers, as it depends on the subjective question of whether
8100-448: The middle of the 20th century, with changing leisure patterns, commercial organisations began opening holiday resorts to attract naturists who expected the same – or better – standards of comfort and amenity offered to non-naturists. More recently, naturist holiday options have expanded to include cruises. In the early 21st century, many organised clubs saw a decline in attendance by young people, which worried many naturists about
8208-516: The naturist village of Charco del Palo on Lanzarote , Canary Islands; Vera Playa in Spain; and Vritomartis Resort in Greece are examples. In US usage, a naturist resort can mean a holiday centre. Freikörperkultur (FKK)—literally translated as 'free body culture'—is the name for the general movement in Germany. The abbreviation is recognised outside of Germany and can be found on informal signs indicating
8316-639: The norm, and sped up following the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 . Eventually all pools use became mixed-gender, and in the 21st century, the practice of male nude swimming is largely forgotten, or denied as having ever existed. Social acceptance of mixed gender nudity due to sauna culture is associated with greater gender equality, which is highest in Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden (the US being #53 of 153 countries listed). America and
8424-427: The number is declining as they cease to be supported by local communities. In Korea , bathhouses are known as Jjimjilbang . Such facilities may include mixed-sex sauna areas where clothing is worn, but bathing areas are gender segregated; nudity is required in those areas. In Russia , communal banyas have been used for over a thousand years, serving both hygienic and social functions. Nudity and mixed sex usage
8532-557: The opening of Japan to European visitors in the Meiji era (1868–1912), the previously normal states of undress, and the custom of mixed public bathing, became an issue for leaders concerned with Japan's international reputation. A law was established with fines for those that violated the ban on undress. Although often ignored or circumvented, the law had the effect of sexualizing the naked body in situations that had not previously been erotic. Public bathing for purification as well as cleanliness
8640-640: The origin of clothing is from a 2010 study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution . That study indicates that the habitual wearing of clothing began at some point in time between 170,000 and 83,000 years ago based upon a genetic analysis indicating when clothing lice diverged from their head louse ancestors. A 2017 study published in Science estimated that anatomically modern humans evolved 350,000 to 260,000 years ago. Thus, humans were naked in prehistory for at least 90,000 years. The habitual use of clothing
8748-399: The past there have been several theories regarding why humans lost their fur, but the need to dissipate body heat remains the most widely accepted evolutionary explanation. Less hair, and an increase in eccrine sweating , made it easier for early humans to cool their bodies when they moved from living in shady forest to open savanna . The ability to dissipate excess body heat was one of
8856-490: The pool, in order to eliminate contaminants and inspect swimmers to prohibit use by those with signs of disease. During women's weekly swim hours, simple one-piece suits were allowed and sometimes supplied by the facility to insure hygiene; towels were also supplied. Compared to the acceptance of boys being nude, an instance in 1947 where girls were given the same option lasted only six weeks in Highland Park, Michigan before
8964-636: The power of yin , could nullify the yang of aggressive forces. In India, the conventions regarding proper dress do not apply to monks in some Hindu and Jain sects who reject clothing as worldly. Although overwhelmingly male, there have been female ascetics such as Akka Mahadevi who refused to wear clothing. In Bangladesh , the Mru people have resisted centuries of Muslim and Christian pressure to clothe their nakedness as part of religious conversion. Most retain their own religion, which includes elements of Buddhism and Animism , as well as traditional clothing:
9072-408: The presentation of all young girls who have begun menstruating since the last Quarup and whose time has come to choose a partner. The Awá hunters , the male members of an Indigenous people of Brazil living in the eastern Amazon rainforest , are "completely naked except for a piece of string decorated with bright bird feathers tied to the end of their penises". This minimalist dress code reflects
9180-503: The purpose of the production is sexual. Court cases attempting to differentiate naturist publications from pornography reach back almost a century. Mpenjati beach in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa has nude-beach status. In most European countries, nudity is not explicitly forbidden. Whether it is tolerated on beaches which are not marked as official nudist beaches varies greatly. The only country with substantially different laws
9288-433: The relative lack of body coverings was one of the first things explorers noticed when they encountered Indigenous peoples of the tropics. Non-western cultures during the period were naked only by comparison to Western norms. The genitals or entire lower body of adults were covered by garments in most situations, while the upper body of both men and women might be unclothed. However, lacking the western concept of shame regarding
9396-410: The result is a tendency toward self-criticism by women, while men are less concerned by the evaluation of others. In patriarchal societies, which include much of the world, norms regarding proper attire and behavior are stricter for women than for men, and the judgements for violation of these norms are more severe. In much of the world, the modesty of women is a matter not only of social custom but of
9504-727: The right to be briefly nude in public as a form of expression protected by the First Amendment , but not on a continuing basis for their own comfort or enjoyment as men are allowed to do. In 2020 the US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of three women after the New Hampshire Supreme Court found that the state law does not discriminate against women because it bans nudity, which has traditionally included female breasts. Breastfeeding in public may be forbidden in some jurisdictions, unregulated in others, or protected as
9612-445: The rules. In either case, they can determine membership criteria and the obligations of members. This usually involves sharing work necessary to maintain or develop the site. The international naturist organizations were mainly composed of representatives of landed clubs. " Nudist colony " is no longer a favored term, but can be used by naturists to address landed clubs that have rigid non-inclusive membership criteria. A holiday centre
9720-564: The same families may visit each year. Holiday centres are more tolerant of clothing than members-only clubs; total nudity is usually compulsory in the swimming pools and may be expected on the beaches, while on the football pitches, or in the restaurants in the evening, it is rare. A naturist resort is, to a European, a private property with accommodation and facilities where naturism is the norm. Centre Helio-Marin in Vendays Montalivet , France (the first naturist resort, established in 1950);
9828-405: The social connotations of low status and deprivation rather than shame regarding sexuality. Slaves might not be provided with clothing. Other workers would be naked while performing many tasks, particularly if hot, dirty, or wet; farmers, fishermen, herders, and those working close to fires or ovens. Only the upper classes were habitually dressed. It was not until the later periods, in particular
9936-510: The southern hemisphere, communal nudity can be seen at music and counterculture festivals. The Nambassa hippie festivals held in New Zealand in the late 1970s were examples of non-sexual naturism. Of the 75,000 patrons who attended the 1979 Nambassa three-day festival, an estimated 35% of attendees spontaneously chose to remove their clothing, preferring complete or partial nudity. Some nudist festivals are held to celebrate particular days of
10044-541: The spirit of the hunt and being overdressed may be considered ridiculous or inappropriate. The Western world inherited contradictory cultural traditions relating to nudity in various contexts. The first tradition came from the ancient Greeks, who saw the naked body as the natural state and as essentially positive. The second is based upon the Abrahamic religions —Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which view being naked as shameful and essentially negative. The interaction between
10152-425: The stated purpose of regaining a natural connection to the human body and nature, sometimes in private spaces but also in public. Naturism in the United States, meanwhile, remains largely confined to private facilities, with few "clothing optional" public spaces compared to Europe. In spite of the liberalization of attitudes toward sex, Americans remain uncomfortable with complete nudity. The moral ambiguity of nudity
10260-657: The term to advocate nudism as a means of improving the hygiène de vie or healthy living. The earliest known naturist club in the western sense of the word was established in British India in 1891. The Fellowship of the Naked Trust was founded by Charles Edward Gordon Crawford, a widower who was a District and Sessions Judge for the Bombay Civil Service . The commune was based in Matheran and had just three members at
10368-416: The things that made possible the dramatic enlargement of the brain, the most temperature-sensitive human organ. Some of the technology for what is now called clothing may have originated to make other types of adornment, including jewelry , body paint , tattoos , and other body modifications , "dressing" the naked body without concealing it. According to Mark Leary and Nicole Buttermore, body adornment
10476-478: The unclothed body. The social humiliation of nakedness was not associated with sin or shame regarding sexuality, which was unique to Abrahamic societies. For millennia from Mesopotamia to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt the majority of men and women wore a cloth wrapped or tied to cover the lower part of the body. Both men and women would be bare-chested and barefoot . Complete nakedness was embarrassing due to
10584-558: The upper classes was such that nudity was of no concern for men, and for women only if seen by their social superiors. At the Roman baths ( thermae ), which had social functions similar to a modern beach, mixed nude bathing may have been the norm up to the fourth century CE. The encounter between the Indigenous cultures of Africa, the Americas and Oceania with Europeans had a significant effect on all cultures. Because clothing and body adornments are such an important part of cultural meaning,
10692-542: The use of baths and saunas that provided alternatives to sexualization . The spread of Western concepts of modest dress was part of colonialism, and continues today with globalization. Contemporary social norms regarding nudity reflect cultural ambiguity towards the body and sexuality, and differing conceptions of what constitutes public versus private spaces. Norms relating to nudity are different for men than they are for women. Individuals may intentionally violate norms relating to nudity; those without power may use nudity as
10800-399: The warmer summer months. Some regions host first-time naturists and people who have recently started to practice the naturist lifestyle. One study noted that some of these people are seasonal naturists who wear clothes during other times of the year. Nudity in social contexts has been practised in various forms by many cultures and in all time periods. In modern Western society, social nudity
10908-433: The world as it is including all possessions may practice nudism, or use nakedness as a protest against an unjust world. Many of the negative associations of nakedness are the inverse of positive ones. If nudity is truth, nakedness may be an invasion of privacy or the exposure of uncomfortable truths, a source of anxiety. To be deprived of clothes is punishment, humiliating and degrading. Rather than being natural, nakedness
11016-706: The year, and activities may include nude bodypainting . One example is the Neptune Day Festival held in Koktebel , Crimea to depict mythological events. Another is the Festival Nudista Zipolite organized by the Federación Nudista de México (Mexican Nudist Federation) held annually since 2016 on the first weekend of February. A few camps organize activities in the nude, such as oil wrestling by camp Gymnasium. Naturism tends to be more common during
11124-591: Was challenged in 1986 by nine women who exposed their breasts in a public park, which led to nine years of litigation culminating with an opinion by the Court of Appeals that overturned the convictions on the basis of the women's actions not being lewd, rather than overturning the law as unconstitutional on the basis of equal protection , which is what the women sought. While the decision gave women more freedom to be topfree (e.g. while sunbathing ), it did not give them equality with men. Other court decisions have given individuals
11232-508: Was first introduced; for example Aboriginal Australians in 1819 wore only the jackets they were given, but not pants. Western ambivalence could be expressed by responding to the nakedness of natives as either a sign of rampant sexuality or of the innocence that preceded the " fall of man ". Norms related to nudity are associated with norms regarding personal freedom , human sexuality , and gender roles , which vary widely among contemporary societies. Situations where private or public nudity
11340-473: Was influenced in equal part by French naturism and German Freikörperkultur . Belgian naturists are represented by the Federatie van Belgische Naturisten (FBN). Croatia is world-famous for naturism, which accounts for about 15% of its tourism industry. It was also the first European country to develop commercial naturist resorts. During a 1936 Adriatic cruise, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson stopped at
11448-678: Was only regarding adults, it being generally accepted that boys at English beaches would be nude. This prompted complaints by visiting Americans, but Englishmen had no objection to their daughters being fully dressed on the beach with naked boys. In the United States and other Western countries for much of the 20th century, male nudity was the norm in gender segregated activities including summer camps, swimming pools and communal showers based on cultural beliefs that females need more privacy than males. Beginning in 1900, businessmen swam nude at private athletic clubs in New York City, which ended with
11556-422: Was practised in a network of 200 members clubs. The movement gained prominence in the 1920s by offering a health-giving lifestyle with Utopian ideals. Germany published the first naturist journal from 1902 to 1932, but it became politicised by radical socialists who believed it would lead to classlessness and a breakdown of society. It eventually became associated with pacificism . In 1926, Adolf Koch established
11664-473: Was typical for much of this history. Bathing facilities in homes threatened the existence of public banyas, but social functions maintained their popularity. Prior to the European colonization of New Zealand , Māori people went naked or partially clothed in casual settings as the climate allowed, although they did wear clothing to keep out the weather and denote social status. Men frequently wore nothing but
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