At its core, nudism can be seen as the practice of engaging in everyday activities without clothing, a lifestyle choice for those who prefer the freedom and comfort it brings. To some, this preference is devoid of any political connotations, representing merely a personal or recreational choice rather than a statement. Yet, others argue that nudism is inherently political. Naturist beach activist and author Cec Cinder, in his 1998 book The Nudist Idea, says, “the nudist idea is the foundation of a distinct, entire and wholesome philosophy, one much, much larger in scope than simple collective nakedness, one that embraces sexual sanity, anti-militarism, good health, robust conditioning, inter-gender respect, political libertarianism, religious tolerance, animal rights, First Amendment political freedoms, population reduction and shrinking government and bureaucracies.[…] That is to say that the nudist movement is a political as well as social one—and will certainly remain so as long as the practice itself is criminalized.” While that quote might be a mouthful, it also says a lot, and suggests that nudism carries a deeper significance, touching on issues of freedom, privacy, and the very way societies govern the human body.
In today’s #UndressedThread we want to know, is nudism political? What do you think?
Do you view nudism as a political statement or simply a personal choice? Why?
Loading...
Share your views and experiences. Let's dive into the layers of what nudism represents in our lives and society. 🪐
for me being a nudist means I live a life free of clothing for my own happiness as well as with my friends who are also nudists. apolitical I think until my choices are no longer respected. When this occurs it is necessary to organize to protect us from those who want to take away our freedom.
I for one totally agree with Cec Cinder’s statement.
I see nudism as much larger than simply collective social nudity. It touches on several topics that are inherently political in this time. Also, when you have forces using the political process to keep you down, you yourself must also become politically engaged rather you want to or not.
The fact that legislators of a particular political bent believe that laws against nude activity are a good idea illustrates that politics is central to any discussion of nudism. Witness the recent Wisconsin attempts to outlaw the WNBR there.
Nudism while a simple choice to be comfortable in our own skin, is political because the vast majority want to impose their prudery on us, using every means possible including fines and imprisonment. Even charges of child endangerment for simple familial comfort.
In my experience there are nudists of every political persuasion. The wonderful thing is for the most part we set those differences aside when we are together. I observe similarly, there are "anti-nudist" textiles of every political persuasion. So, I conclude that nudism itself is not political and it may be more powerful than politics in bringing together people with a common interest despite other differences.
I would agree with this assessment! Although I wonder if maybe it confuses “political” for “partisan”—can something be political without being partisan? For instance, women’s suffrage was highly political, yet you cannot assign a single political affiliation to all women…
Being a man or a woman is not exactly a choice for most people so that analogy doesn't work for me Evan. I mean, many (most) nudists keep it a secret and don't want even close family members to know they are nudists. Thus, nudists are more "marginalized" politically than perhaps any other group. Maybe that's what brings us together in a way that overcomes our political differences?
I think there’s a lot of truth to that. Most nudists I know are very open minded to people who have different ideas because you can just get closer to people when the barriers we wear are off
This is a very good point. It’s almost as if we trust each other so much, even though we’ve never really met until that day, we’re more apt listen and be open minded to things we hadn’t thought about or understand and are willing to hear another’s opinion or thoughts on the subject.
I also agree with John S about how we’re more marginalized because of the majority of human beings who don’t understand nudism, so speaking out for it “brings us out of the closet” so to speak to those who don’t understand who we really are. (I really don’t like that analogy I used, but couldn’t think of a better more clear way to say it.)
My thinking is that you cannot marginalize something politically unless it is political to start with. It doesn't have to have any bearing on any other issues you believe in.
One also needs to consider whether being a nudist is a choice. Creating an effective blanket prohibition would not suddenly make me a not-nudist, just one who has been forced into a closet.
I went with "depends on the context" because nudism is a personal choice, but it has become a political football for politicians who have no clue on how to run a government.
Thanks for your response! I like this answer, but the only thing I’d maybe point out as sort of a historian of nudism is that this political football isn’t new. It goes back on some level to the very early days of the movement. Case in point: https://www.planetnude.co/p/ring-reverberates
Nudism is absolutely political, although many of its practitioners don’t always realize it. Too often people think “politics” just means elections, political parties, voting, and corrupt candidates. But so many of our relationships and activities in society are political when looked at through a wider lens. Nudism, even if only in the context of recreation, challenges the conformist norms and restrictions of our society. It confronts the rules that say we all should behave and interact in certain “proper” or “moral” ways. Of course, like all dissent, nudism’s political purpose can also be co-opted to reinforce other aspects of the social laws that control our society, particularly the economic ones—nudism as product or profit-maker, for instance. I don’t agree that nudism implies all the values that Cinder attributes to it; that’s HIS version of political nudism, not mine and not many other people’s. But within contemporary society, going naked outside of a sexual context is certainly an act of rebellion and an implied call for autonomy and free choice. Again, that’s political even if the participants don’t see themselves as participating in politics. Until there is a radical overhaul in our social norms, that will remain the case.
Of course it's political, but it isn't necessarily nudists that cause it to be... As long as there are people out there (and that's, we'll, forever) that view nudity and nudism as a negative or illegal thing, it's political. Anyone that tries to ignore this basic fact has their head in the sand and walks around with fingers in their ears going 'LALALALALALALA'.
What's even more upsetting are organizations that refuse to accept it. That refuse to fight for the betterment of the lifestyle because they are too lazy, frightened or comfortable with being complacent.
While I don't fully agree with ALL the titles the author you mentioned tried to stick nudism with, many ring true.
We don't get to have our cake and eat it too folks. We are under attack and we can't sit back and just pretend it's a 'personal choice devoid of politicism'. Not unless you're perfectly happy only ever spending time nude in private, closed off, secret places.
Our most Basic Freedom is the FREEDOM of BODY. All HUEbeings have the right to decide what WE do with OUR OWN BODIES! Each person should have the right to decide what WE put on or don't put on OUR OWN BODIES. WE should have the FREEDOM to decide What WE put into or don't put into OUR OWN BODIES through OUR OWN mouths, noses and or needle injections. BODY FREEDOM gives the right to each HUEbeing to decided what transformations, or medical and surgery procedures WE desire that can be done to alter OUR OWN BODIES including what WE abort form OUR OWN BODIES! BODY FREEDOM is the BASIC FREEDOM for All of HUEmanity
Is it political to me personally? No. Has nothing to do with my political beliefs or leanings. I also feel in the early days of nudism it wasn’t a political issue either. But even back then, it was and continues to be used in a political way. Many examples are given in the comments here already. Much like many things in our lives that shouldn’t be used by politics or more specifically, politicians, but are literally dragged into the hall of our political arenas.
Nudism is simply enjoying life the way we were all born. Without clothes. We all have different reasons we tried it, and continue to be who we are. To most of us here, we enjoy the lifestyle we’ve chosen. Does it harm you or me? Or anyone else? No. If it did, we most likely wouldn’t continue. I personally feel I became a better person overall when I finally embraced nudism. I not only felt better about myself, but those around me. My wife certainly noticed the change in me.
But it’s plain to see by anyone who pays attention, it has and has always been a political issue. There will always be those who are against our way of living our lives. Religious reasons, or moral reasons, ignorance reasons, or political reasons. Pick a side, and almost always the other side will go the opposite way.
Nudism is almost always thought of as a liberal philosophy. And usually it’s the conservatives who are supposedly against simple human public nudity. But as others have pointed out, that’s not always true. People who actually understand real nudism get along with everyone who is there with them. Why? Because we see each other as fellow human beings that are happy to be there, be with us, and we’re not judging each other. But there are two sides to nudism. For and against. So of course it’s going to be used in a political way. And it shouldn’t.
I personally could care less about how you all are politically. You be you, I’ll be me. And when we’re all together, we’re just a bunch of happy, smiling, naked, human beings. Just way we all want to be.
I don't see nudism as political. Too often many aspects of life are seen through a political lens, but they don't have to be. When we peel all of our clothes and inhibitions away, we are quite similar. I like to look for our similarities rather than our differences.
My naturist friends embrace the gamut of human politics, Brexit voting Anglophiles, Irish Republicans (Sh*t, even American ones!) French socialists, aging hippies who only believe in woo and good weed, tattooed lesbians who despise the patriarchy … and everything in between. Naturism seems positively apolitical - unless there’s a specific issue e.g. a beach closure, repressive local laws, to bring us together.
For me nudity is my singly most blatant expression of my personal freedom and liberty. It becomes a political/societal issue when I am told my freedom is illegal, immoral, sinful or perverse. My nakedness harms no one, I do not force others to embrace nudity and it is not used as a cudgel to change the world.
I unfortunately see it as political, especially since this is an election year. Living here in Northern California, we are more "liberal" about it but we clothes free freedom lovers are still a minority.
I am glad that I live close enough to a Club that welcomes all, no matter your size, shape, or political persuasion.
The act of being unclothed is a personal choice just as forced disrobing is deliberate abuse. I have done WNBRs deliberately to make a public political point that nakedness is a basic human right. Those wishing to stop me point the finger at my obvious nakedness but they are not required to PROVE their offendedness - they are claiming a freedom for themselves by denying another person the right to their freedom. To me, that disparity is inherently political and must be challenged.
When with our brothers and sisters who share our concept of freedom to go the Naturist Way, it is definitely a personal choice. When attacked by the textile extremists, and there are many, political activism is crucial. Giving in to unreasonable legal limitations is not an option!
Nudity can be political/social like Free the Nipple or WNBR. My motivation is purely personal but I appreciate the political aspects because anything that puts non-sexual nudity in the public eye is a step toward de-stigmatizing nudity... which benefits nudists because we can then be nude in more places.
As a woman, I had to press for equality. I wanted to be seen as equal to the men I worked with. As nudist I feel I must again press my right to “BE” without scrutiny, punishment. Or suppression. As much as it feels like I should not have to, I will and have stood in front of politicians and said “ I have a human right to exist as I choose.”
Nudism is inherently political because it is controversial. Can't be any other way. Politics are how rights and privileges are defined, expanded, or restricted.
Politics is what makes nudism legal, illegal, or merely grey zone tolerated. If Hawaii or Australia shut down a nude beach, that's political. If a woman is prosecuted in Utah because she allowed a neighbor's kid to see her topless while she did the laundry indoors, that's political. If the Wisconsin legislature debates whether a WNBR is allowed, that's political. If a British court decides nudity is allowable in public areas, that's political too.
If you sit comfortable and secure in your landed club it is because some time in the past someone fought a political battle to allow it. Politics can take that away in an instant.
In the UK and many other countries nudity is not criminalized as such. You only commit an offence if you expose yourself intending to cause alarm or distress. But of course social convention is often strongly opposed to simple nudity in spite of the law. I don't see nudity as a political issue but I think it does raise a political issue if women can be arrested for being topless in situations where men can take their shirts off with impunity. Why are women's nipples surrounded by such a strong taboo? One glance will not turn you to stone.
I'll take Cec Cinder's quote and raise him with "The personal is political." This is the title of an essay by Carol Hanisch and theory used as rallying cries in various movements. I'm adapt one of the themes and say that naturists are not messed up, but messed over. And the groups which are perceived to be apolitical are still political to a large extent because they address the themes and oppressions that exist in the broader world.
Much of my life is political. I vote. (Est. ~100 years ago.) I have my own mortgage and bank accounts. (Est ~50 years ago.) I can get divorced without having to prove why it's needed. (Est ~50 years ago.) These are all political actions because of the recency of them and also because, despite their legality, they are still stigmatized and oppressed in many ways within systems.
So even if your enjoyment and reason to practice nudity is not to oppose a law or practice, your very action is political because of the framework we live in.
I wish it didn't have to be political, but unfortunately because of other people's bigotry we do have to fight to protect and expand our rights, and that makes it political whether we like it or not.
Hard to comment on this without writing a book! I think this is both/and rather than either/or.
Politics are the processes by which people negotiate and prosecute power relations. Power is about getting bodies and minds to do or not do necessary or desired things. How we adorn ourselves, whether it is in a uniform, a tuxedo, a bikini or a burka, is in a context of power relations. We are either conforming to or straying from a power assertion. There are inherent political qualities to clothing which renders nudism, by the absence of clothing, political too.
On the other hand, much has been written about the leveling effects of nudism. By removing our clothes, we remove class distinctions and all the other symbolic meanings of what we are wearing. It is equalizing by way of a balance of vulnerability rather than a balance of power. Thus, under the right circumstances, it is a shedding of politics in order to simply be.
Like most of life, and for that matter nudity, it depends on what you are looking for. If I don't care what other people think, and stay within the lines to avoid arrest, it isn't political. Granted, in a perfect world I wouldn't need clothing to walk into a grocery store. But, as a member of society, I feel I have a responsibility to not impinge on others, so choose to comply with their norms, when it is required.
To me, it's a personal choice that I've found fits my fierce opposition to authoritarianism, Christian hegemony (though naturists can be Christians), and priggish patriarchy. Nudity is always the last resort of those defying dress codes, fusty rules and overbearing laws. It's a non-violent protest of the individual against the state, the vulnerable against the armed, and nature against technology and human regimentation.
A personal choice that requires active participation in politics that affect my options practice nudism.
for me being a nudist means I live a life free of clothing for my own happiness as well as with my friends who are also nudists. apolitical I think until my choices are no longer respected. When this occurs it is necessary to organize to protect us from those who want to take away our freedom.
I for one totally agree with Cec Cinder’s statement.
I see nudism as much larger than simply collective social nudity. It touches on several topics that are inherently political in this time. Also, when you have forces using the political process to keep you down, you yourself must also become politically engaged rather you want to or not.
The fact that legislators of a particular political bent believe that laws against nude activity are a good idea illustrates that politics is central to any discussion of nudism. Witness the recent Wisconsin attempts to outlaw the WNBR there.
Nudism while a simple choice to be comfortable in our own skin, is political because the vast majority want to impose their prudery on us, using every means possible including fines and imprisonment. Even charges of child endangerment for simple familial comfort.
In my experience there are nudists of every political persuasion. The wonderful thing is for the most part we set those differences aside when we are together. I observe similarly, there are "anti-nudist" textiles of every political persuasion. So, I conclude that nudism itself is not political and it may be more powerful than politics in bringing together people with a common interest despite other differences.
I would agree with this assessment! Although I wonder if maybe it confuses “political” for “partisan”—can something be political without being partisan? For instance, women’s suffrage was highly political, yet you cannot assign a single political affiliation to all women…
Being a man or a woman is not exactly a choice for most people so that analogy doesn't work for me Evan. I mean, many (most) nudists keep it a secret and don't want even close family members to know they are nudists. Thus, nudists are more "marginalized" politically than perhaps any other group. Maybe that's what brings us together in a way that overcomes our political differences?
I think there’s a lot of truth to that. Most nudists I know are very open minded to people who have different ideas because you can just get closer to people when the barriers we wear are off
This is a very good point. It’s almost as if we trust each other so much, even though we’ve never really met until that day, we’re more apt listen and be open minded to things we hadn’t thought about or understand and are willing to hear another’s opinion or thoughts on the subject.
I also agree with John S about how we’re more marginalized because of the majority of human beings who don’t understand nudism, so speaking out for it “brings us out of the closet” so to speak to those who don’t understand who we really are. (I really don’t like that analogy I used, but couldn’t think of a better more clear way to say it.)
Sadly, many people are negative about things they know nothing about or haven't even tried. True about nakedness, too.
My thinking is that you cannot marginalize something politically unless it is political to start with. It doesn't have to have any bearing on any other issues you believe in.
One also needs to consider whether being a nudist is a choice. Creating an effective blanket prohibition would not suddenly make me a not-nudist, just one who has been forced into a closet.
I went with "depends on the context" because nudism is a personal choice, but it has become a political football for politicians who have no clue on how to run a government.
Thanks for your response! I like this answer, but the only thing I’d maybe point out as sort of a historian of nudism is that this political football isn’t new. It goes back on some level to the very early days of the movement. Case in point: https://www.planetnude.co/p/ring-reverberates
Nudism is absolutely political, although many of its practitioners don’t always realize it. Too often people think “politics” just means elections, political parties, voting, and corrupt candidates. But so many of our relationships and activities in society are political when looked at through a wider lens. Nudism, even if only in the context of recreation, challenges the conformist norms and restrictions of our society. It confronts the rules that say we all should behave and interact in certain “proper” or “moral” ways. Of course, like all dissent, nudism’s political purpose can also be co-opted to reinforce other aspects of the social laws that control our society, particularly the economic ones—nudism as product or profit-maker, for instance. I don’t agree that nudism implies all the values that Cinder attributes to it; that’s HIS version of political nudism, not mine and not many other people’s. But within contemporary society, going naked outside of a sexual context is certainly an act of rebellion and an implied call for autonomy and free choice. Again, that’s political even if the participants don’t see themselves as participating in politics. Until there is a radical overhaul in our social norms, that will remain the case.
Of course it's political, but it isn't necessarily nudists that cause it to be... As long as there are people out there (and that's, we'll, forever) that view nudity and nudism as a negative or illegal thing, it's political. Anyone that tries to ignore this basic fact has their head in the sand and walks around with fingers in their ears going 'LALALALALALALA'.
What's even more upsetting are organizations that refuse to accept it. That refuse to fight for the betterment of the lifestyle because they are too lazy, frightened or comfortable with being complacent.
While I don't fully agree with ALL the titles the author you mentioned tried to stick nudism with, many ring true.
We don't get to have our cake and eat it too folks. We are under attack and we can't sit back and just pretend it's a 'personal choice devoid of politicism'. Not unless you're perfectly happy only ever spending time nude in private, closed off, secret places.
I'm not.
Our most Basic Freedom is the FREEDOM of BODY. All HUEbeings have the right to decide what WE do with OUR OWN BODIES! Each person should have the right to decide what WE put on or don't put on OUR OWN BODIES. WE should have the FREEDOM to decide What WE put into or don't put into OUR OWN BODIES through OUR OWN mouths, noses and or needle injections. BODY FREEDOM gives the right to each HUEbeing to decided what transformations, or medical and surgery procedures WE desire that can be done to alter OUR OWN BODIES including what WE abort form OUR OWN BODIES! BODY FREEDOM is the BASIC FREEDOM for All of HUEmanity
A personal choice, that, like all my personal choices, can have political overtones or determine my politics.
Is it political to me personally? No. Has nothing to do with my political beliefs or leanings. I also feel in the early days of nudism it wasn’t a political issue either. But even back then, it was and continues to be used in a political way. Many examples are given in the comments here already. Much like many things in our lives that shouldn’t be used by politics or more specifically, politicians, but are literally dragged into the hall of our political arenas.
Nudism is simply enjoying life the way we were all born. Without clothes. We all have different reasons we tried it, and continue to be who we are. To most of us here, we enjoy the lifestyle we’ve chosen. Does it harm you or me? Or anyone else? No. If it did, we most likely wouldn’t continue. I personally feel I became a better person overall when I finally embraced nudism. I not only felt better about myself, but those around me. My wife certainly noticed the change in me.
But it’s plain to see by anyone who pays attention, it has and has always been a political issue. There will always be those who are against our way of living our lives. Religious reasons, or moral reasons, ignorance reasons, or political reasons. Pick a side, and almost always the other side will go the opposite way.
Nudism is almost always thought of as a liberal philosophy. And usually it’s the conservatives who are supposedly against simple human public nudity. But as others have pointed out, that’s not always true. People who actually understand real nudism get along with everyone who is there with them. Why? Because we see each other as fellow human beings that are happy to be there, be with us, and we’re not judging each other. But there are two sides to nudism. For and against. So of course it’s going to be used in a political way. And it shouldn’t.
I personally could care less about how you all are politically. You be you, I’ll be me. And when we’re all together, we’re just a bunch of happy, smiling, naked, human beings. Just way we all want to be.
Great way of looking at it!
I don't see nudism as political. Too often many aspects of life are seen through a political lens, but they don't have to be. When we peel all of our clothes and inhibitions away, we are quite similar. I like to look for our similarities rather than our differences.
My naturist friends embrace the gamut of human politics, Brexit voting Anglophiles, Irish Republicans (Sh*t, even American ones!) French socialists, aging hippies who only believe in woo and good weed, tattooed lesbians who despise the patriarchy … and everything in between. Naturism seems positively apolitical - unless there’s a specific issue e.g. a beach closure, repressive local laws, to bring us together.
I’ve never considered my choice to go without clothes a political statement. I simply prefer living naked whenever and wherever possible.
For me nudity is my singly most blatant expression of my personal freedom and liberty. It becomes a political/societal issue when I am told my freedom is illegal, immoral, sinful or perverse. My nakedness harms no one, I do not force others to embrace nudity and it is not used as a cudgel to change the world.
I unfortunately see it as political, especially since this is an election year. Living here in Northern California, we are more "liberal" about it but we clothes free freedom lovers are still a minority.
I am glad that I live close enough to a Club that welcomes all, no matter your size, shape, or political persuasion.
The act of being unclothed is a personal choice just as forced disrobing is deliberate abuse. I have done WNBRs deliberately to make a public political point that nakedness is a basic human right. Those wishing to stop me point the finger at my obvious nakedness but they are not required to PROVE their offendedness - they are claiming a freedom for themselves by denying another person the right to their freedom. To me, that disparity is inherently political and must be challenged.
When with our brothers and sisters who share our concept of freedom to go the Naturist Way, it is definitely a personal choice. When attacked by the textile extremists, and there are many, political activism is crucial. Giving in to unreasonable legal limitations is not an option!
Represents the way I was born, and freedom of choice
It's a personal choice for me, but others will try to make that choice a political statement.
Nudity can be political/social like Free the Nipple or WNBR. My motivation is purely personal but I appreciate the political aspects because anything that puts non-sexual nudity in the public eye is a step toward de-stigmatizing nudity... which benefits nudists because we can then be nude in more places.
As a woman, I had to press for equality. I wanted to be seen as equal to the men I worked with. As nudist I feel I must again press my right to “BE” without scrutiny, punishment. Or suppression. As much as it feels like I should not have to, I will and have stood in front of politicians and said “ I have a human right to exist as I choose.”
Whilst prudery is reinforced by government, nudism must be political.
Nudism is inherently political because it is controversial. Can't be any other way. Politics are how rights and privileges are defined, expanded, or restricted.
Politics is what makes nudism legal, illegal, or merely grey zone tolerated. If Hawaii or Australia shut down a nude beach, that's political. If a woman is prosecuted in Utah because she allowed a neighbor's kid to see her topless while she did the laundry indoors, that's political. If the Wisconsin legislature debates whether a WNBR is allowed, that's political. If a British court decides nudity is allowable in public areas, that's political too.
If you sit comfortable and secure in your landed club it is because some time in the past someone fought a political battle to allow it. Politics can take that away in an instant.
In the UK and many other countries nudity is not criminalized as such. You only commit an offence if you expose yourself intending to cause alarm or distress. But of course social convention is often strongly opposed to simple nudity in spite of the law. I don't see nudity as a political issue but I think it does raise a political issue if women can be arrested for being topless in situations where men can take their shirts off with impunity. Why are women's nipples surrounded by such a strong taboo? One glance will not turn you to stone.
I'll take Cec Cinder's quote and raise him with "The personal is political." This is the title of an essay by Carol Hanisch and theory used as rallying cries in various movements. I'm adapt one of the themes and say that naturists are not messed up, but messed over. And the groups which are perceived to be apolitical are still political to a large extent because they address the themes and oppressions that exist in the broader world.
Much of my life is political. I vote. (Est. ~100 years ago.) I have my own mortgage and bank accounts. (Est ~50 years ago.) I can get divorced without having to prove why it's needed. (Est ~50 years ago.) These are all political actions because of the recency of them and also because, despite their legality, they are still stigmatized and oppressed in many ways within systems.
So even if your enjoyment and reason to practice nudity is not to oppose a law or practice, your very action is political because of the framework we live in.
Body autonomy is still a long way from a reality.
I wish it didn't have to be political, but unfortunately because of other people's bigotry we do have to fight to protect and expand our rights, and that makes it political whether we like it or not.
Hard to comment on this without writing a book! I think this is both/and rather than either/or.
Politics are the processes by which people negotiate and prosecute power relations. Power is about getting bodies and minds to do or not do necessary or desired things. How we adorn ourselves, whether it is in a uniform, a tuxedo, a bikini or a burka, is in a context of power relations. We are either conforming to or straying from a power assertion. There are inherent political qualities to clothing which renders nudism, by the absence of clothing, political too.
On the other hand, much has been written about the leveling effects of nudism. By removing our clothes, we remove class distinctions and all the other symbolic meanings of what we are wearing. It is equalizing by way of a balance of vulnerability rather than a balance of power. Thus, under the right circumstances, it is a shedding of politics in order to simply be.
Like most of life, and for that matter nudity, it depends on what you are looking for. If I don't care what other people think, and stay within the lines to avoid arrest, it isn't political. Granted, in a perfect world I wouldn't need clothing to walk into a grocery store. But, as a member of society, I feel I have a responsibility to not impinge on others, so choose to comply with their norms, when it is required.
To me, it's a personal choice that I've found fits my fierce opposition to authoritarianism, Christian hegemony (though naturists can be Christians), and priggish patriarchy. Nudity is always the last resort of those defying dress codes, fusty rules and overbearing laws. It's a non-violent protest of the individual against the state, the vulnerable against the armed, and nature against technology and human regimentation.
Is Naturism Political? Hell Yes.
The final result of this poll genuinely tells me that
A: Very few people know what 'political' really means
B: It is beginning to make huge sense why naturism is dying.