From talking to many textile women about it, an unexpected nude male is considered a sexual threat. A nude male that exists with a normalizing context is less so. Such a context is controlled in some fashion. There needs to be an objective nonsexual reason for the nudity other than "I just felt like being nude." Everyone understands that the Bay to Breakers Run, WNBR, Spencer Tunik photo shoots, art classes, Naked Hiking Day, and so on, involve nudity.
Group nudity is more acceptable than individual nudity. Our nude male is seen as a conforming member of a group on an activity. Collections of people are not seen as a sexual threat, particularly if they are mixed gender.
A person unexpectedly encountering a nude on the street is less likely to give the nude the benefit of the doubt. If the textile believes that nudity is inherently sexual and public nudity is exhibitionistic in nature, that's where their mind goes. Very little the person can say because words of a stranger about their state of mind are meaningless. Someone who's intent was to do evil would say the same thing.
My solution is more public events with nudity. After a while, people will get used to it. Lone males in unexpected places are viewed as potential perverts or predators so that route is not productive.
I have never seen any sort of ad featuring a woman on a leash. That doesnt mean the ad itself doesnt exisit, but it seems in today's PC times that sort of thing would be roundly criticized, and rightly so. Suggestive advertising is commonplace, tho, and in most cases they are simply using what works. The problem with featuring full nudity in advertising is that many media outlets would be reluctant to run the ads. If you simply want to see nudity (in a non-sexual context) there is no shortage of outlets for that.
To put a finer point on the subject. There are business models for monetizing sexuality online, across the full range of what that means. To date there is no viable model that has emerged for monetizing nudity that isn’t sexual. I think if we focused more on the lifestyle aspect of naturism (health, wellness, ecology, etc) as opposed to just the nudity we would be a more attract demographic group.
However very few of the leading voices in the naturist community seem to see this angle. Though the non naturist business community get its it. The example of the avocado Super Bowl commercial. The implied nudity was incidental to the main point selling a super food that enhances well being and create stronger human connections. Oh BTW naturism is meant to do that as well. Lee Baxandall founder of Naturist Society and Free Beaches Movement put it this way. "“Naturists seek a remedy .... to civilization that has turned dangerous. Naturism is a civilized characteristic” Lee Baxandall
History suggest naturism thrived and social nudity was more accepted or at least tolerated when connected to something beyond nakedness. Just a thought
I think the simple, not easy, answer here is not to personally buy into the social conditioning that’s taking place.
Even the pro-nudity lobby have bought into the taboo of nudity so deeply, too much narrative reinforces the notion that nudity is largely unacceptable.
Every individual has the ability to critically examine their thoughts and assumptions and recalibrate their thinking to the values they aspire to.
Nudity is a normal default state for humans so there is nothing to “normalise”. What people actually mean is commonplace. Public nudity isn’t commonplace, therefore, how can that be changed?
There’s one obvious way. First change our personal perspective of nudity, then act and behave accordingly.
As soon as I freed myself from the mindset and conditioning that nudity is something to be ashamed of, I have far less qualms about being seen naked in public places.
The fact I’m not bothered being seen naked translates to people not being bothered seeing me naked.
This is how it becomes commonplace.
Although social media and commercialism abruptly shapes society. Society has the ability to shape the other way. Organic and green products are two examples, as is gender equality and the backlash against body shaming.
We as individuals hold all the power we need to reshape the world. We just need to wield that power through personal action.
I believe there to be a deeper entrenched fundamental that is being vehicled in the images we see that goes beyond the basic idea of sex or being naked. I only just learned -a few days ago to be exact- that humans may have a far more primary need. The need to be DESIRED. It would make sense if we were to compare images of a woman being breastfeeding and one being led on a leash. DESIRE sells. A normal person not being desirable suddenly becomes ugly, looking at simple nudes is then like looking at oneself in a mirror. A woman breastfeeding is the least desirable image because it may just be the most familiar 🤔...I hope I make sense. Writing is a bit more complex...
yes yes
Thanks for sharing the original post! I enjoyed and appreciate the added comments
From talking to many textile women about it, an unexpected nude male is considered a sexual threat. A nude male that exists with a normalizing context is less so. Such a context is controlled in some fashion. There needs to be an objective nonsexual reason for the nudity other than "I just felt like being nude." Everyone understands that the Bay to Breakers Run, WNBR, Spencer Tunik photo shoots, art classes, Naked Hiking Day, and so on, involve nudity.
Group nudity is more acceptable than individual nudity. Our nude male is seen as a conforming member of a group on an activity. Collections of people are not seen as a sexual threat, particularly if they are mixed gender.
A person unexpectedly encountering a nude on the street is less likely to give the nude the benefit of the doubt. If the textile believes that nudity is inherently sexual and public nudity is exhibitionistic in nature, that's where their mind goes. Very little the person can say because words of a stranger about their state of mind are meaningless. Someone who's intent was to do evil would say the same thing.
My solution is more public events with nudity. After a while, people will get used to it. Lone males in unexpected places are viewed as potential perverts or predators so that route is not productive.
I have never seen any sort of ad featuring a woman on a leash. That doesnt mean the ad itself doesnt exisit, but it seems in today's PC times that sort of thing would be roundly criticized, and rightly so. Suggestive advertising is commonplace, tho, and in most cases they are simply using what works. The problem with featuring full nudity in advertising is that many media outlets would be reluctant to run the ads. If you simply want to see nudity (in a non-sexual context) there is no shortage of outlets for that.
To put a finer point on the subject. There are business models for monetizing sexuality online, across the full range of what that means. To date there is no viable model that has emerged for monetizing nudity that isn’t sexual. I think if we focused more on the lifestyle aspect of naturism (health, wellness, ecology, etc) as opposed to just the nudity we would be a more attract demographic group.
However very few of the leading voices in the naturist community seem to see this angle. Though the non naturist business community get its it. The example of the avocado Super Bowl commercial. The implied nudity was incidental to the main point selling a super food that enhances well being and create stronger human connections. Oh BTW naturism is meant to do that as well. Lee Baxandall founder of Naturist Society and Free Beaches Movement put it this way. "“Naturists seek a remedy .... to civilization that has turned dangerous. Naturism is a civilized characteristic” Lee Baxandall
History suggest naturism thrived and social nudity was more accepted or at least tolerated when connected to something beyond nakedness. Just a thought
I think the simple, not easy, answer here is not to personally buy into the social conditioning that’s taking place.
Even the pro-nudity lobby have bought into the taboo of nudity so deeply, too much narrative reinforces the notion that nudity is largely unacceptable.
Every individual has the ability to critically examine their thoughts and assumptions and recalibrate their thinking to the values they aspire to.
Nudity is a normal default state for humans so there is nothing to “normalise”. What people actually mean is commonplace. Public nudity isn’t commonplace, therefore, how can that be changed?
There’s one obvious way. First change our personal perspective of nudity, then act and behave accordingly.
As soon as I freed myself from the mindset and conditioning that nudity is something to be ashamed of, I have far less qualms about being seen naked in public places.
The fact I’m not bothered being seen naked translates to people not being bothered seeing me naked.
This is how it becomes commonplace.
Although social media and commercialism abruptly shapes society. Society has the ability to shape the other way. Organic and green products are two examples, as is gender equality and the backlash against body shaming.
We as individuals hold all the power we need to reshape the world. We just need to wield that power through personal action.
I believe there to be a deeper entrenched fundamental that is being vehicled in the images we see that goes beyond the basic idea of sex or being naked. I only just learned -a few days ago to be exact- that humans may have a far more primary need. The need to be DESIRED. It would make sense if we were to compare images of a woman being breastfeeding and one being led on a leash. DESIRE sells. A normal person not being desirable suddenly becomes ugly, looking at simple nudes is then like looking at oneself in a mirror. A woman breastfeeding is the least desirable image because it may just be the most familiar 🤔...I hope I make sense. Writing is a bit more complex...
yes
I completely agree with you. Nude gardening and simple nudity should be legal and allowed.