Southern Nudist Colonies – Turner South, July 8, 2004
Southerners do enjoy stepping out in a great hat or nice suit, but there are still others in our region who are more content in nothing at all! Naturists are people who believe the human body is naturaly dignified and worthy of respect, making clothing essentially unnecessary. There is a whole society who encourages and fights for the right to public and privately be clothes-free.
Naturists enjoy spending time in their natural state - without clothing - and believe people should have the right to be nude at appropriate times and places, public and private. For them, the benefits of a clothes-free lifestyle include stress relief, improved body image and self-esteem, comfort, the ability to form relationships basked on character rather than appearance, and a deeper connectivity with the body, the earth, and other natural creatures. To gain these rights, The Naturist Society is a national organization created to protect the freedoms of those who this philosophy of body acceptance.
Despite its seemingly New Age approach to living, Naturism is not a new idea, nor is it that different a way of life from those who choose clothing. The philosophy is thousands of years old and in Japanese, Roman, Hawaiian, and Greek cultures, non-sexual social nudism was common. In this century, families around the world have embraced naturism as a healthy way of living are not very different in their day-to-day lives than you or me. There are naturists in every profession and economic background; some are married, some are single, some are parents with children. Naturists tend to be well-educated. They are often politically minded and vote across the spectrum. Many have strong religious convictions-virtually every major denomination is represented.
As most who consider themselves Naturist in day-to-day living, chances are, you already are acquainted with those who have been socially nude at one time or another. Some of your friends, neighbors and co-workers probably enjoy skinny-dipping from time to time. Perhaps you yourself have visited a nude beach or resort, either close to home or while traveling in Europe or the Caribbean.
Contrary to popular opinion, Naturism and nudity has been associated with lewd or sexual behavior or activity hence legislation has been created to control and prevent it. To the contrary, naturists believe it is our cultural heritage of body shame that leads to an unhealthy obsession with sex. Naturists believe sex is a normal, healthy part of life, but one that should be enjoyed by consenting adults in private. They believe clothes-optional beaches, resorts, or social gatherings are inappropriate places for sexual activity. They recognize that while nude is not lewd, public sex is offensive to many people, and almost always illegal. Naturists are not exhibitionists. They do not wish to offend those who fear nakedness, and therefore work for designated public and private areas at which people have the option to wear clothes or not. They prefer such areas to be well-marked so people who may be offended can easily avoid them. As in all social situations, there is an etiquette to clothes-free gatherings that's based on common sense and respect for others.
All 50 states have laws addressing public nudity, and there are Canadian and territorial laws addressing the topic, too. But laws are not uniform across North America. In some places, nudity is only restricted under certain circumstances, such as being reckless in your disregard for the presence of someone who would be offended. In other places, a top-free woman is not considered nude, while in other places, a man wearing trousers could be considered nude in some circumstances. Enlightened jurisdictions are making a distinction between lewd activity and simple non-sexual nudity (e.g., skinny-dipping or nude sunbathing).
With any legislation, Naturists view such laws as attempts to perpetuate contempt for our bodies. They impose shame and disgrace and contribute to a feeling of poor body image and lack of self-acceptance. In addition to reinforcing a sense of body shame, anti-nudity laws conflict with many of our most cherished beliefs. Free expression, freedom of association, and the right to privacy, all essential tenets of the naturist philosophy, are jeopardized by anti-nudity laws.
Many think the laws should exist for the protection of children. There's no doubt that naturism is for all ages, and naturist beaches and resorts in general are family-friendly places. Parents may wonder whether their children will want to participate in nude activities, and the answer depends a great deal upon the child and what messages he or she has received about the body while growing up. Still others are concerned that to create this idealized world for a child whose peer and her parents may not share these ideals, is essentially damaging to a child. How parents react to these differing values is subjective, but a child's fears and feelings should be respected. Discretion is the watchword here. While introducing one's children to naturism is a matter of parental choice studies have shown that in cultures where nudity in common, children grow up to be less critical of their bodies. Other studies have shown similar, positive benefits for children who are raised in a nudity-friendly environment.
On the same note, a single interested in a Nudist or Natural lifestyle should not stray from family-oriented groups. In the early days of American club nudism, well before The Naturist Society existed, rules of "propriety" demanded that all visitors be male-female couples. A lot has changed, and today single persons are welcomed much more widely than they once were at nudist clubs and resorts. Vestiges of that old-fashioned policy linger, however, and many clubs do have some restrictions on the number of non-member single male visitors they will allow on a given day, ostensibly to provide gender balance and prevent women from feeling outnumbered and uncomfortable.
The Naturist Society believes that individuals should be granted or denied access to naturist venues based solely on their behavior, and encourages its affiliated clubs and groups to set up non-discriminatory admission policies. The Naturist Society has an affiliated singles' group that exists both to educate the naturist public about issues facing the single naturist, as well as to provide social interaction for single members of TNS.
If you are interested in a Naturist or nudist lifestyle, you may want to call a naturist group or club in your area and speak to a representative about clothes-optional activities they might be sponsoring where you can disrobe at your own pace. Many group members are willing to meet with new naturists in a clothed setting to discuss concerns. Many private clubs will offer clothed tours of their facilities, or open houses several times a year. To find a group or club near you, go to the Naturist Network.