Naturism is not sex

Being naked without sex, that’s not possible, is it?

In an earlier story I already talked about my first introduction to naturism. As a child, I already felt the need to be naked. Simply because it felt very pleasant and free. At home, however, that was certainly not encouraged. I did not grow up in a naturist family. Quite the opposite, actually. Nudity was truly a taboo in our home, at least that’s how I always experienced it. Looking back, I think that being naked at home was automatically associated with sex. And honestly: that image lives on in many people who have no experience with a naturist lifestyle. Naked? Then it must be about sex. Simple, black-and-white, and short-sighted, but unfortunately a reality.

A while ago I read a social media post by a naturist who is very active in promoting the naturist lifestyle. In his post he argues that nudity is sexualized because we constantly cover our bodies. I think he makes a very good point, because we are always dressed, except in the shower or… when having sex. Even when swimming, people wear clothing. Sometimes so little that it barely covers anything, but still, at least you are not naked.

When nudity is shown in films, it is never someone simply doing the dishes at home in their birthday suit, working in the garden, or taking a walk through the woods. There is almost always a passionate sex scene involved. So the conclusion is quickly drawn: Naked = Sex! And if there is also a prevailing moral belief that sex is dirty, sinful, or dangerous, then you immediately understand the taboo many people feel about naked bodies. By the way, have you ever noticed that nudity in films or on television is always filmed in a very concealed way? You know they are naked, but you actually see nothing. That is somewhat different in the series Heated Rivalry, which is currently very popular. There you see much more nudity, but again, it is directly connected to sex.

The idea that nudity is dirty, sinful, or dangerous is also maintained — even fueled — by a wide range of media. Let me give an example.
I enjoy walking naked in nature and I can deeply appreciate both the surroundings and the sense of freedom that nude hiking gives me. At such a moment I am not at all concerned with how I look or with being watched. I simply walk there in peace and freedom. Sometimes I take a photo. I may happen to be naked in it, but not as the main subject. I try to capture the moment and that feeling of freedom. When I post that photo on social media, it is immediately classified by the algorithms as sexually explicit and “unsafe.” The photo is removed, followed by a warning and possibly even a temporary block of my account. If I post the exact same photo but place blocks or bars over penis, vagina, buttocks, or nipples, then suddenly it is considered “safe” and the photo is allowed.

And what are we talking about? Just a photo of a naked man walking in the forest. Nothing more and nothing less. No sexual acts are shown. He is simply walking in the woods, like so many people do. The only difference is that he is not wearing clothes. Yet apparently humanity must be protected from this kind of “filth.” However, a few years ago when I submitted a complaint to Facebook because another profile had shared a video on my timeline in which someone was beheaded, it was dismissed as irrelevant. The video supposedly did not violate Facebook’s rules. So violence is fine, but a relaxed naked body apparently is not.

Where else do you encounter naked bodies on the internet? Exactly… in pornography! There, nudity is abundant and uncensored, and everything revolves around sex. Once again, confirmation that naked equals sex. And I haven’t even mentioned that especially younger viewers get a completely distorted image of what real naked bodies actually look like. They mainly see slim, toned models with preferably enormous genitals or breasts. It is no wonder that teenagers, who are already insecure about their changing bodies, start to question whether they are “normal” or begin to feel ashamed of their own bodies because they do not match the so-called “ideal.” How often do you hear nowadays that young people at sports clubs only shower wearing underwear because they do not dare to be seen naked by their peers? I find that development far more concerning than a naked hiker in the woods.

Can we still change this?

If you look at how our relationship with nudity has changed over the years, you can clearly see a kind of wave movement. During the flower power era, freedom could not go far enough; everything was open and loose. Now we seem to be at a peak of prudishness and closedness again. Sometimes I feel that we have not even reached the lowest point of this downward spiral yet.
Breaking that trend and working toward greater acceptance again is not easy — I know that. Sometimes it feels like fighting a losing battle. And honestly? I do not think we will ever experience a time when nudity is fully normal and socially accepted.
Still, it is worth taking small steps to build understanding. The more people dare to be themselves, the more they experience how liberating it is to be satisfied with your own body, without shame. That feeling of freedom is exactly why I continue to believe in showing that naturism can simply be normal, without any sexual intention.

Naturists do ordinary things, just like everyone else, but without clothing when the situation allows.

Naturists, make yourselves seen and heard!

That may sound contradictory, because naturists generally have no need at all to show themselves. Personally, I prefer to live naked as much as possible. I do that for myself, because it makes me feel good and comfortable. I have no problem if someone sees me naked, but that is not the purpose of my nudity. If we want nudity to become more accepted, however, we cannot remain invisible. What is unknown is unloved. That does not mean everyone should immediately run naked into the streets, but we do not have to hide either. Subtly, respectfully, and within the limits of the law, we can show and explain that naturists are ordinary people who do the same things as anyone else — just without clothing when circumstances allow, and without sexual intentions.

Join a naturist organization

There is strength in numbers. So join an organization in your area or country. Such organizations stand up for the interests of naturists and nudists, and the more members they have, the greater the influence they can exert. It is no longer just a small group of odd individuals, but a substantial part of the population that cannot simply be ignored.

Use social media with care

“With care” is truly the key phrase here. And I am mainly referring to posting photos on social media. I realize I may be treading on thin ice by writing this, but when I look at what appears under the label of naturism or nudism on the few platforms where nude photos are still allowed, I seriously wonder whether it always contributes to a positive image of a naked lifestyle. 

I personally try to share photos in which I am simply engaged in everyday activities. Doing a bit of crafting, washing the dishes, raking the garden, hanging a radiator, or working on my model railway. Ordinary daily activities — just without clothing when possible. Not sexual, not provocative, and certainly not constantly posing full frontal with the sole message: “look at me being naked.”

What I regularly see instead? Photos of men cropped in such a way that their heads are missing and all attention goes to their genitals. Of course, if you are proud of that, that is your choice. But does such imagery really contribute to the general acceptance of naturism? I do not think so. It fits more under exhibitionism, especially if you proudly show a photo of your erection. Do what makes you feel good, but do not label it naturism or nudism. That creates the impression that it is mainly about genitals and sexualizes something that is not meant to be sexual.

And then there are the recurring coffee photos: someone, completely naked, posing full frontal with a cup of coffee. Sitting, lying down, or leaning against the kitchen counter or bookcase. Almost the same image every day. It is great that you enjoy your coffee relaxed and without clothes, truly. These kinds of photos are not necessarily sexualizing, but does the tenth or twentieth nearly identical photo still add anything? I wonder.

Or take the fitting-room selfie: “look, I’m standing here naked.” While you are simply trying on clothes and happen to be without them for a moment. Then you calmly take the time to snap a photo and share it. What exactly are you trying to say with that? Does that make you a naturist? I do not think so. Again: do what you want, but do not call it naturism if it actually has nothing to do with it.

If we want naturism to be taken seriously, it helps to show what it is really about: freedom, naturalness, and everyday life. Not about drawing attention to nudity itself, and certainly not about sex. 

Talk about it openly and honestly and explain what naturism means!

This is still the best option for fostering greater acceptance: simply talking about it openly and honestly. And that is not always easy, because when do you bring something like this up? In principle, I am very open about it. If I am asked, I will always answer honestly. My partner, however, is clearly not comfortable with it. As long as no one knows, it is fine that I am without clothes at home and occasionally go for a naked walk or bike ride. But otherwise, it remains unspoken. That immediately makes it more difficult to write about it on social media or talk about it publicly. Still, whenever possible, I will continue to share and promote it. For example, here on this blog, where from time to time I post reports of my walks or share my thoughts. Note: Since English is not my native language, I asked AI to translate for me.