"I continue to hope that we as a society evolve to the point where nudity can be seen as something other than sexual, perverse, and immoral. "
Sadly, I think since the internet, mixed with Americans using it to export their media to other countries, it is only gotten worst. Norman Rockwell first Saturday Evening Post cover famously showed boys skinny dipping, today that would be a big scandal. As I said in my comment not too long ago, showering nude in communal showers after PE class was common, now even in athletic gym locker rooms that one would be a member of, the communal shower has almost disappeared. I read a study recently about how Dutch (whom have always been more liberal than Americans on non-sexual nudity) students are no longer showering after PE class. The reason given; a) fear that someone is going to record them on a camera phone, b) The students feel as if they don't have the "perfect body" that they see on Instagram, and being influenced by American teens when it comes to culture and nudity over social media.
When it comes to the story of the Nude Bike Ride and similar news stories involving children being exposed to adult nudity as a form of 'sexual abuse', like the nude swim in Canada a few years ago, I've noticed that the majority of those condemning these actions are Millennials. As a Millennial myself (I'm 36), I believe this is linked to the unfortunate way my generation was raised with an unhealthy view of the human body. Innocent, non-sexual nudity in school showers was already phased out, and incidents of summer camp nudity were becoming rarer (although I do remember having communal showers at two of the overnight camps I attended, and a moment of skinny dipping at one). During our formative years in the late 90s and mid-00s, we were bombarded with the over-sexualization of the human body, from Britney Spears selling Pepsi in a thong during the Super Bowl to the explosion of online pornography and sensationalistic shows like 'Dateline, Pedophile, Chris Hansen.' These influences led my generation to view the human body as "gross" and, something to be hidden unless being sexual. Consequently, as adults in our 30s, when we see an adult nude in front of a child, we perceive it as a form of 'abuse.' However, until the 90s, such occurrences were common in public pools or sports club locker rooms."
Thank you for providing some insight. FWIW, I agree. It seems to me that the last 5 or so years of Gen X and the first half(ish) of Millenials seem to be leading the wave of hysteria regarding nudity (and other issues as well). You're the first person I've read who's actually provided some concrete info as to the 'why?'. So thank you.
Have you any thoughts as to what might help calm things down?
I think it already started to change slowly. Social changes, just not nudity, but have it be consumer trends, parenting styles, eating habits, etc come in waves. For example, Gen-Z trends to shop for quality of a product and how environmentally friendly it is brand names, how Gen X and Boomers tend to be, The Silent Generation was much the same way. Younger Millennial parents are starting to be more free-range again. So, culture is always changing.
As for the nudity I noticed how a lot of the Gen-Z and younger Millennials are starting the push for de-sexualizing nudity - anti-fatshaming and the Me2 campaign of "my body is not an object" might have something to do with it. At the resort, I frequent I am seeing more groups of college kids, of both genders show up for a weekend of camping. There are also more first-time families showing up. In these families the parents tend to by under 35, with kids under 7. So, it's changing, slowly, but it's changing.
In past LA WNBRs there were often a small number of children participating with their parents. This year LAPD suggested that any participating children wear something outside of the registration and formation area, which was the Museum of Contemporary Art parking lot. I think they got complaints but didn't see anything wrong. Still, they didn't want to get those kinds of complaints.
I have never seen any constitutional "right" not to see something. Freedom is under threat as long as governing officials are more afraid of the far right than they are of nudists.
I am the founder and organizer of the Madison, Wisconsin instantiation of the World Naked Bike Ride. I very much appreciate the support of the News of the Nude curator, as well as the sympathy of the commenters.
It has always been our policy that children are welcome to participate in our event, provided they are accompanied by parent or legal guardian. I suppose it says something about changing attitudes that this year's ride was the first that gave rise to the indignation reflected in the press.
I am a little puzzled that after those who got upset were frustrated in their appeal to local authorities, they decided to take it up with the federal government, bypassing Wisconsin legislators. Anyway, I am hoping that the response from the United States Attorney General, the country's top prosecutor, will definitively put an end to the discussion; he is certain to agree with county and city law enforcement that there was no impropriety.
Thank you for the comment! I believe you’re right that the Garland will interpret the law correctly, if he even bothers to address it (he has some bigger fish to fry at the moment). Still, scary how far the ignorance of a few other elected officials can escalate.
Yeah, I'm pretty certain that if one wants to appeal a ruling (ex. No laws were broken) there's a set procedure that must be followed. I'd not be surprised if the AG just sends it back.
I don't think there is any question of appealing anything. Local authorities have said there was no violation of Wisconsin law, so I believe Supervisor Weigand and Congressman Tiffany are claiming the relevance of United States law instead, pursuing a completely different avenue of redress. There are indeed federal laws against child abuse and endangerment, and they believe they apply since a child was exposed to, and even made a party to, what they imagine to be an indecent act.
I suspect whenever the AG receives official correspondence from a federal legislator, he is obliged to respond. I fully expect Merrick Garland to have some subordinate draft a polite letter to Tom Tiffany saying that the facts would not seem to indicate any need for an investigation. As Evan pointed out, the United States Attorney General actually has important matters to be concerned about. This case amounts to a gnat buzzing around his face, in need of a summary swatting.
"I continue to hope that we as a society evolve to the point where nudity can be seen as something other than sexual, perverse, and immoral. "
Sadly, I think since the internet, mixed with Americans using it to export their media to other countries, it is only gotten worst. Norman Rockwell first Saturday Evening Post cover famously showed boys skinny dipping, today that would be a big scandal. As I said in my comment not too long ago, showering nude in communal showers after PE class was common, now even in athletic gym locker rooms that one would be a member of, the communal shower has almost disappeared. I read a study recently about how Dutch (whom have always been more liberal than Americans on non-sexual nudity) students are no longer showering after PE class. The reason given; a) fear that someone is going to record them on a camera phone, b) The students feel as if they don't have the "perfect body" that they see on Instagram, and being influenced by American teens when it comes to culture and nudity over social media.
Thanks Evan, hopefully we can avoid having comments referring to the mythical “Trans agenda”.
When it comes to the story of the Nude Bike Ride and similar news stories involving children being exposed to adult nudity as a form of 'sexual abuse', like the nude swim in Canada a few years ago, I've noticed that the majority of those condemning these actions are Millennials. As a Millennial myself (I'm 36), I believe this is linked to the unfortunate way my generation was raised with an unhealthy view of the human body. Innocent, non-sexual nudity in school showers was already phased out, and incidents of summer camp nudity were becoming rarer (although I do remember having communal showers at two of the overnight camps I attended, and a moment of skinny dipping at one). During our formative years in the late 90s and mid-00s, we were bombarded with the over-sexualization of the human body, from Britney Spears selling Pepsi in a thong during the Super Bowl to the explosion of online pornography and sensationalistic shows like 'Dateline, Pedophile, Chris Hansen.' These influences led my generation to view the human body as "gross" and, something to be hidden unless being sexual. Consequently, as adults in our 30s, when we see an adult nude in front of a child, we perceive it as a form of 'abuse.' However, until the 90s, such occurrences were common in public pools or sports club locker rooms."
Thank you for providing some insight. FWIW, I agree. It seems to me that the last 5 or so years of Gen X and the first half(ish) of Millenials seem to be leading the wave of hysteria regarding nudity (and other issues as well). You're the first person I've read who's actually provided some concrete info as to the 'why?'. So thank you.
Have you any thoughts as to what might help calm things down?
I think it already started to change slowly. Social changes, just not nudity, but have it be consumer trends, parenting styles, eating habits, etc come in waves. For example, Gen-Z trends to shop for quality of a product and how environmentally friendly it is brand names, how Gen X and Boomers tend to be, The Silent Generation was much the same way. Younger Millennial parents are starting to be more free-range again. So, culture is always changing.
As for the nudity I noticed how a lot of the Gen-Z and younger Millennials are starting the push for de-sexualizing nudity - anti-fatshaming and the Me2 campaign of "my body is not an object" might have something to do with it. At the resort, I frequent I am seeing more groups of college kids, of both genders show up for a weekend of camping. There are also more first-time families showing up. In these families the parents tend to by under 35, with kids under 7. So, it's changing, slowly, but it's changing.
In past LA WNBRs there were often a small number of children participating with their parents. This year LAPD suggested that any participating children wear something outside of the registration and formation area, which was the Museum of Contemporary Art parking lot. I think they got complaints but didn't see anything wrong. Still, they didn't want to get those kinds of complaints.
I have never seen any constitutional "right" not to see something. Freedom is under threat as long as governing officials are more afraid of the far right than they are of nudists.
I am the founder and organizer of the Madison, Wisconsin instantiation of the World Naked Bike Ride. I very much appreciate the support of the News of the Nude curator, as well as the sympathy of the commenters.
It has always been our policy that children are welcome to participate in our event, provided they are accompanied by parent or legal guardian. I suppose it says something about changing attitudes that this year's ride was the first that gave rise to the indignation reflected in the press.
I am a little puzzled that after those who got upset were frustrated in their appeal to local authorities, they decided to take it up with the federal government, bypassing Wisconsin legislators. Anyway, I am hoping that the response from the United States Attorney General, the country's top prosecutor, will definitively put an end to the discussion; he is certain to agree with county and city law enforcement that there was no impropriety.
Thank you for the comment! I believe you’re right that the Garland will interpret the law correctly, if he even bothers to address it (he has some bigger fish to fry at the moment). Still, scary how far the ignorance of a few other elected officials can escalate.
Yeah, I'm pretty certain that if one wants to appeal a ruling (ex. No laws were broken) there's a set procedure that must be followed. I'd not be surprised if the AG just sends it back.
I don't think there is any question of appealing anything. Local authorities have said there was no violation of Wisconsin law, so I believe Supervisor Weigand and Congressman Tiffany are claiming the relevance of United States law instead, pursuing a completely different avenue of redress. There are indeed federal laws against child abuse and endangerment, and they believe they apply since a child was exposed to, and even made a party to, what they imagine to be an indecent act.
I suspect whenever the AG receives official correspondence from a federal legislator, he is obliged to respond. I fully expect Merrick Garland to have some subordinate draft a polite letter to Tom Tiffany saying that the facts would not seem to indicate any need for an investigation. As Evan pointed out, the United States Attorney General actually has important matters to be concerned about. This case amounts to a gnat buzzing around his face, in need of a summary swatting.
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