Do you feel represented by nudism today?
In this #UndressedThread, we’re asking a question about belonging
“Nudism” or “naturism”—two words with many associations, and even different meanings—most often show up through clubs and nude-friendly spaces, as well as in media, advocacy, and online communities. Not everyone connects to those structures, and some people understandably reject the “ism” altogether.
Regardless of how you label yourself, I’m curious whether you feel represented by nudism as it actually appears in these spaces. That can mean whose bodies you see, whose voices get amplified, what values are centered, or what feels taken for granted. That sense of representation can feel familiar, uncomfortable, or somewhere in between.
In this week’s #UndressedThread, we’re asking:
Do you feel represented by nudism as it exists today?
Do you connect with the practice, the movement, neither, or both?
Where do you feel included—and where do you feel left out?
There’s no right answer here. Share what feels true for you. 🪐
I feel underrepresented. Whenever I research anything naturist it is cis het white male centered. Honestly there should be more Black, Transgender and NB representation. We have people doing the work but their voices are often overshadowed or talked over.
Yes and No
Personally, I am for a clothing optional world, where what you wear and don't wear is a matter of one's taste in fashion. Today, I view nudity as the ultimate fashion statement or the ultimate lack of fashion. Nobody should care either way.
Yes to current nudist representation in terms of highlighting the benefits of nudism and teaching that the human body and all body parts are normal and natural. At worst nudity is harmless. In fact, I have offered for 20 years, now, $12,000 to anyone who can write an intelligent 500 word essay on the topic on What harm would befall a child who see a nude adult. To date, I have received zero essays. Send your essay to george123570@yahoo.com. Also, Yes to representation trying to create space where nudists can legally congregate.
No to nudist representation fighting the enforcement mechanisms that maintain nudephobia. (I won't go into the social, religious, political reasons that nudephobia exists.) However, the biggest overt enforcement mechanisms are state laws and codes against nudity that are enforced by police action. The biggest and. by far. most effective covert enforcement mechanism to quietly subvert Bare Body Freedom is Censorship of Nude Images in both Old Media (Newspapers, Magazines, and Television.) And even scarier, New Media (FaceBook, YouTube, Instagram, TicTok, et al.) Not going into San Francisco protests that I have participated in, the only other nude protest that I can remember was a Spencer Tunnick protest in front of FaceBook's New York regional headquarters with nudists protesting a few years ago. People and media pay attention to these protests. From front line observations and participation, I can tell you it will take a hip cis male and female to organize an effective Body Freedom Movement. It's that simple.
I used to make public political nudist speeches and nudist actions in San Francisco, New York City and Washington, DC. I am now 80 years old, retired with mild treatable hypertension, so I am out of the working organizational loop, I also find lots of traveling difficult. But, visible public action is what it is going to take to create a clothing optional word.