LITR 5439 Literary &
Historical Utopias
Research Posting 2009
Courtney Heintzelman
Are Naturists Part of a Utopian Society?
As an inspiring sex educator, I originally thought of researching sexuality and utopias. In narrowing down a topic, I decided that I wanted to look at naturist communities. Although most people correlate nudism with sexuality, I wanted to debunk the myth that nudists colonies were just about sex and sexuality.
The terms nudist and naturist are typically interchangeable. The practice of nudism dates back as far as the human race does. When Adam and Even were in Eden they were nude. The Bible proclaims in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 2, Verse 25 that, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” According to the Federation of Canadian Nudists (FCN), many civilizations practiced nudity when the weather conditions were favorable. The FCN website claims that it wasn’t until industrialization that people began to see the human body as an “object of shame to be hidden and shaped by clothing.” According to the FCN, “Naturism began as a self-help reform movement in reaction to the debilitating aspects of industrialization and urbanization during the nineteenth century.” Due to the restrictive clothing, over crowdedness and lack of working medical treatment, some “observers concluded that what people needed was exposure to the natural healing elements or fresh air, sunlight, and water--preferably with loose or absent clothing” (FCN). Shortly after this idea was conceived, a few private clubs opened up where people would practice nudity, vegetarianism, and calisthenics. Although some didn’t like the full regiment of this type of living, what most people did agree on was how they felt “freer and less stressed during their everyday lives,” once they shed their clothing. This idea of being freer and more relaxed became the biggest point of nudism from that time on. Nudism turned more into naturism after young people started practicing nudism in the great outdoors. Young people started hiking, canoeing, and other various naturist activities in the nude. Apparently, nudism flourished after World War I, but almost died off after the Great Depression. Interestingly, nudism had another surge in popularity after WWII. I wonder if this is because people needed a release after such trauma and stress that war ignites?
The 1960’s social trends and sexual revolution helped further the nudist movement. Hippy communities like The Farm, mentioned by Ruth Pilarte in her 2007 essay were growing out against the mainstream community. Magazines like “Playboy,” popular movies and several legal decisions about nudity helped to show young people growing up that nudity was natural. At this point, many places “dismissed the quaint restrictions of club nudism--no touching, no hand-holding, no singles. This casual, informal, unstructured form of nudism acquired the term naturism to distinguish it from more traditional club and organizational nudism, and grew rapidly, ” according to the FCN.
So naturally (no pun intended), after learning the history behind naturism, I wondered if nudism affected people’s sexuality. I found that it doesn’t, in a negative way. In fact, I strongly believe that it can help enhance a person’s sexuality. Since the theory behind nudism is that it helps relax a person and build up self esteem, I feel that both women and men could possibly become more comfortable with their bodies, and their fore relax and enjoy sex more.
One issue that does trouble me about naturists is that they allow and even encourage children to go nude. Yes, I have experience with children who love to run around in the nude, but letting strangers see them like that worries me. With a background in sexuality and in criminal justice, I know all to well about sexual predators and pedophiles. It causes great discomfort for me to see the rapidly available photos of naked toddlers, children, and teens on the various nudists’ web pages. However, the FCN website explains that nudism is healthy for children because it teaches them to be accepting of their bodies. That’s all well in good in theory, but I personally cannot condone it.
Many times have morality issues with nudists seen the inside of a courtroom. According to the Body-n-Mind website, “The depiction of adults and children nude in the visual media has enjoyed constitutional protection in the United States since 1958.” The website continues that, “In case after case, the Supreme Court and lower courts have always upheld the constitutionality of ‘nudity without more,’ specifically referring to the nudist depiction as a fully constitutional form of expression.” Apparently these images are “protected by the First Amendment and are not subject to local obscenity laws or ordinances,” (http://body-n-mind.com/faq.htm).
Although naturists and nudists vary in their degree of involvement in the movement, the common belief that unites them is that being nude relieves stress and tension, and most importantly, teaches acceptance for all people and the world (http://www.nznaturally.org.nz/). The FCN states that, “Naturism involves the practice of complete nudity in a communal setting. It promotes wholesomeness and stability of the human body, mind, and spirit, especially through contact of the body with the natural elements. The FCN’s idea system includes the following:
- To foster belief in the essential wholesomeness of the human body and the health of mind and spirit which grows in those accustomed to see and respect the human body as created.
- To promote optimum health through complete contact of the body with the natural agents of sun, air and water accompanied by a holistic approach to enlightened nutrition, physical activity, mental stimulation and social interaction in an environment kept as free as possible from the pollutants and stressful components of modern society.
- To establish a greater understanding of the ecology of our environment and of the place, role and responsibilities of the human species within this ecology.
- To share the enjoyment of naturist living with individuals and groups of like interest and together provide a united voice for the expression and extension of social naturism.
Like the FCN, the International Naturist Federation’s idea system states that:
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The purpose of naturism is to promote wholesomeness and stability of the human body, mind, and spirit. These come most easily to those who shed the psychological and social encumbrance of clothing, to see and respect the human body as created.
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Naturism also promotes optimal health through complete contact of the body with the natural elements. It is practiced as much as possible in environments free of the pollution and stress of modern society. It is therefore associated with an enlightened, holistic approach to nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and social interaction.
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Naturism is founded on family participation. Children in naturist families learn to appreciate the body as part of their natural environment. They grow up with healthful attitudes and accept the physical nature of both sexes and all ages without fear or shame.
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Nude living thus removes barriers to communication between people and fosters appreciation of the environment. It leads to healthier and more humane living: richer, simpler, and enlightened by joy and freedom.
I have to admit that I have ventured into the world of nudism. In my younger, more in-shape days, I went to Hippy Hollow, a clothing optional beach in Austin, Texas. I was very nervous being there. I was so self-conscious, but there was a freedom in being naked and being with the sun, trees, and water. Although I only went once (and kept my bottoms on), I can understand the ideals behind the naturist community. My experience there was another reason I decided to look at this community in the context of utopias.
When I began my research, it was difficult to find valid, useful information on the subject. Many websites, about 5/6 of the ones I tried to look at, were not working. Several times, pornographic websites would appear in the search engine results. It was very discouraging. But as I pressed on, I was able to find some useful resources, especially the FCN website. I’m glad that I kept searching because the ideas behind the community are very inspirational. I feel that the FCN says it best: “Naturism is a way of life in harmony with nature, characterized by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging respect for oneself, respect for others and for the environment."
In agreement with my previous writing on utopias, I don’t believe that a utopia is necessarily a physical place, but a state of mind. I further believe that for the nudists and naturists of the world, they have the possibility of living in a utopian mindset. In fact, for the die-hard naturists, I believe that they do physically live in their own ecotopia. The theory and beliefs behind naturism is truly inspirational.
Works Cited
The Bible
http://body-n-mind.com/faq.htm
http://www.nznaturally.org.nz/
Pilarte, Ruth. “60s Utopian Movements.” 2007 (In class research posting found on course website: http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5439utopia).
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