How do we talk about children in naturism?
In this #UndressedThread, let’s explore how to navigate one of naturism’s most vital—and challenging—conversations
For a century, naturism has been a family-friendly practice, promoting body acceptance and wholesome, universal values for all—even children. Yet today, cultural taboos and pedophilia panic make it harder for families with children to be public advocates for naturism, and in turn, harder for organizations like the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) to promote the benefits of naturism for people of all ages. In aggregate, this silence creates a vacuum that reinforces these stigmas. So, for this week’s #UndressedThread we’re curious to hear your take:
How can we promote the family-friendly nature of naturism while navigating these cultural challenges?
What strategies can help emphasize that naturism is wholesome, universal, and beneficial for all?
Let’s try to have an honest and thoughtful conversation about how we tackle this vital topic. Share your ideas in the comments. 🪐
We’ve ran into so many people that have families that say they do not include their children. The parents usually say something like they don’t want to deal with the headache if their kids say something and I just feel that’s incredibly sad for the kids they don’t get to be raised in this way of life we all know and love, but also when the parents say that it seems to send the wrong message. If you hide something, the connotation is that it’s worthy of hiding and that sends a mixed message that simple nudity needs to be hushed and hidden.
Even in our own naked adventures when people start asking us questions and when we say, “yeah there’s kids there” that’s all a few people need to recoil and say that’s horrible. We have to reply with, “what? Kids go places with their parents.”
Yes social nudity is a taboo, but people get over that, but when children aren’t included it becomes glaringly obvious they aren’t part of the mix. Even in textile society we seem to have this pedo panic that in so many situations that wouldn’t illicit a reaction now seem to raise eyebrows.
I can only assume it’s the individualization of America to the point that we no longer have communities and simply assume everyone outside our door is out to get us one way or any other instead of just being the person down the street living their life.
My answer was in a lower percentile. I understand what people are thinking, that the Moral Panic and Taboos are the biggest challenges. But the reason I believe the bigger challenge is "Low Awareness" is that I STRONGLY believe our biggest challenge is education. A HUGE number of people believe that children will be damaged mentally by seeing public nudity, especially nudity of adults. A HUGE number of people believe children are more likely to be taken advantage of by a pedophiliac at a naturist resort. A HUGE number of people think the bible teaches even simple non-sexual public nudity is a sin. (Spoiler alert: It doesn't.) A HUGE number of people think naturist clubs are places where people go to have sex. OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE is education. We need to do everything we can to educate people on the true facts. We need to be armed with studies and statistics showing these concerns of theirs are not true. We also need more of these studies to show it is still relevant. We need public media to stop denigrating us by making backhanded jokes about our lifestyle. They could never get away with that when it comes to the LGBTQ population. Why is it OK to do that to us? Our voices need to be heard.