The meanings of naturism and nudism are very similar, and refer to a cultural and political movement practicing, advocating and defending social nudity in private and public spaces. Several other terms (”social nudity” as well as “public nudity”, and recently: “clothes-free”) have been proposed as a replacement of these terms, but none has yet found the same wide-spread acceptance as the older terms naturism and nudism.
The movement includes a large range of variants including “naturism”, “nudism”, “Freikörperkultur (FKK)”, the “free beach movement” as well as generalized “public lands/public nudity” advocacy. While there is a large amount of shared history and common themes, issues and philosophy, differences between these separate movements are sometimes contentious. The usage of these terms varies geographically; people in the US often prefer the term nudism, while people in Europe more often than not refer to themselves as naturists. The predominant movement centers on established, family-friendly, non-sexualized variations. The inclusion of the “topfree equality” movement within this movement is under debate. Use of the word “clothes free” has also been used when preceding other words as a descriptive term, some arguing that it allows more inclusion of both the naturist and nudist philosophy, which are arguably similar in many regards.
The movement also works in parallel to and sometimes influences and is influenced by popular culture as well as individuals and activists (see clothes free people) as well as organizations (see clothes free organizations).
The entry Issues in Social Nudity, under its “Labels, associations and terminology” heading, makes an attempt at defining the differences between “nudism” and “naturism”.

Terminology of Naturism

The terms naturism, nudism and social nudity are generally defined as the practice of going nude, especially in a mixed social setting. The terms naturism and nudism generally also mean that the activities are done in non-sexualized, family-friendly contexts. The usage and definition of these terms varies geographically and historically. Those who practice naturism are called naturists, those who practice nudism are called nudists. See also: labels, associations and terminology for an extended discussion and disambiguation.
The word “naturist” should not be confused with the word “naturalist” (likewise “naturism” with naturalism).
A naturist or nudist community (club, resort or facility) is a place where nudity is openly permitted. Some “clothing optional” facilities tolerate the wearing of clothes, perhaps for a shy newcomer, while others insist on complete nudity (when practical — often to ensure that no one feels inappropriately undressed). This distinction is a source of controversy among naturists with some arguing that a clothing optional resort fails to enforce naturist values, while others insist that a “mandatory unclothed” resort is as restrictive as the outside world (where nudity is generally forbidden).

More specialized nudist terms include:

  • Canuding is the practice of nude canoing.
  • Clothes minded or clothing compulsory Disallowing or discouraging nudity, thus requiring the wearing of clothes, especially swimsuits, e.g. on beaches, as opposed to toleration of nudity.
  • Clothes free/clothes-free and clothing free/clothing-free used when preceding other words as a descriptive term is used sometimes by some arguing that it allows more inclusion of both the naturist and nudist philosophy without showing preference or bias to either labels or philosophy. It is also used by others who do not like labels.
  • Clothing optional and nude optional can describe a policy or a venue that allows or encourages nudity but tolerates the wearing of clothes.
  • A cottontail is someone whose buttocks are paler than his or her legs and back, caused by sun tanning while wearing a swimsuit. (US specific)
  • A free beach or nude beach is not so much one without an admission cost, but one in which people can be entirely free of wearing their clothes.
  • Freehiking or free hiking is the practice of hiking in the wilderness while nude.
  • Freikörperkultur (FKK) literally translated as Free Body Culture is the name for the general movement in Germany. The abbreviation is widely recognized all over Europe and often found on informal signs indicating the direction to a remote naturist beach.
  • Gymnophobia is an irrational fear or anxiety about being seen naked, or about seeing others naked.
  • A landed nudist organization is one that owns the real estate for its facilities. Non-landed (or travel) clubs meet at various locations, such as private residences, hot springs, landed resorts and rented facilities.
  • A shaved or smoothie individual is one who shaves off much of his/her body hair, often including the pubic hair.
  • Textile is a nickname for a person who does not practice social nudity. A clothist.
  • Topfree means bare-chested (leaving chest and breasts uncovered), or a place that allows uncovered female and male chests. The term was coined by activists to use instead of the term “topless”, which has a negative connotation to some, in part because it is used by strip clubs.
  • Nudist colony is no longer a favored term.

Philosophy and practice of naturism

Naturism Nudism

Some people believe that the naked human body is to be accepted, respected, cherished, and enjoyed. They believe it is not inherently shameful, corrupting, degrading, or dangerous. Many of them enjoy clothes free activities. They reject views that being naked with other people is morally wrong (indecent), sexual per se (erotic or pornographic). They argue that nakedness is a healthy, natural state, that being nude is to be in the purest form, since everyone was born nude. They generally find that they quickly become so accustomed to being nude among nudes that it no longer seems very remarkable. It is, rather, simply one part of their lifestyle.
Modern social nudity is mostly a revival of ancient customs and mores, when it was more pervasive throughout the world. Even the Inuit of the Arctic went nude in their igloos. The indians of Tierra del Fuego went almost naked under conditions of snow and bitingly cold wind (In Chapter 10 of The Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin commented on the hardiness of these people). Only a few small, isolated examples today survive of societies which have retained from ancient times a customary life with little or no clothing ever. They are mostly in the Amazon basin, sub-Saharan Africa, and New Guinea. They endure continuing political, economic, and cultural forces which are assimilating some and killing others, often destroying their traditional habitat. See cultural assimilation.
Social nudity in less extreme forms is practiced in many cultures, especially in the contexts of social bathing or swimming, sometimes with mixed sexes. Nude activities can be indoors and outdoors. Typical activities are relaxation, sunbathing and recreation (including many sports). Some also prefer to work nude, etc., when the temperature and the social situation allows it (including when one is alone). A nude party (not to be confused with a sex party) may be public (e.g. Starkers Nightclub) or private. Some clothing-optional communities do exist for those who wish to live in a supportive environment. In fact there are communities under development that even cater specifically to Christians that desire to practice Christian naturism.

Practitioners say that they are not pruriently interested in seeing others naked (which, if for sexual pleasure, is called voyeurism) or in being seen naked by others (likewise: exhibitionism). People participate in clothes free activities for various reasons. Many are convinced that increased exposure to the natural environment, made easier through nudity, can result in numerous health benefits. Sunlight has been shown to be beneficial in some skin conditions and enables the body to make vitamin D, a necessary nutrient.
However, with the increased awareness of skin cancer, wearing of sunscreen is now part of the culture, and recently more education has been carried out to warn of the risk. Whereas nudist parents do not require their children to put on clothes before going outside at a clothes free area, most do require them to put on sunscreen lotion. Overall, those who enjoy clothes free activities often claim that they are more relaxed and in a better state of mind when they shed their clothes.
Many people say that being nude in groups makes them feel more accepted for their entire being — physical, intellectual and emotional. They say that they tend to be more accepted, in spite of differences in age, body shape, fitness, and health. Without clothing, one’s social rank is generally obscured. They report feeling more united with humanity, with less regard to a person’s wealth, position, nationality, race, and sex.

Those inexperienced in social nudity often say that they fear that it contributes to an imbalance of power between men and women.[citation needed] They say that women and children are more vulnerable when nude, and can be exploited. While that might be true in a situation of commercial nudity, such as a strip club, women advocates of social nudity assert the opposite, especially in an established nude group. The men are nude there as well, no money is changing hands, nor is anyone in any sense giving a “performance”.
Many pro-nudity organizations promote frequent social activities. Some of the clubs have stricter entrance requirements than some traditional up-scale ‘country clubs’, including the requirement to supply references, a sponsoring member, a trial membership, committee approval and/or, due to fears of sex offenders, criminal background checks. At the other end of the spectrum are ‘unorganized’ clothes free events and activities on public lands where there is nothing to join, no one to pay, and only law to serve as rules of etiquette. Many people get their first exposure to the clothes free movement through that kind of informal approach (e.g. a clothing optional beach, a friend’s place in the woods, a party on the shore or skinny dipping).

Issues in social nudity

Social nudity is nudity in private and public spaces. It is sometimes controversial for addressing, challenging and exploring a myriad of sometimes taboo subjects, stereotypes and mores relating to the nude appearance of the human body, mixed gender nudity, personal space, human sexuality, gymnophobia, modesty, physical attractiveness, vanity, objectification, exploitation and consent.

Politics and naturalism

The Sex Party of British Columbia (Canada) promotes normalization of all parts of the human body and destigmatizing human sexual organs. It would pass legislation requiring all public parks and beaches larger than one hectare to designate areas reserved for nudists.
The Dutch party Naastenliefde, Vrijheid en Diversiteit would pass legislation to make public nudity legal everywhere, provided that a towel is used when sitting on a public bench.
The short-lived Naturist Lifestyle Party in New South Wales, Australia aimed “to bring naturism fully into the public eye, with view to getting an equitable allocation of public resources to those who support the naturist lifestyle.”[10]
Arkansas has made it illegal for people to advocate nudism under code 5-68-204 section C which states:
“It is unlawful for any:

  1. Person, club, camp, corporation, partnership, association, or organization to advocate, demonstrate, or promote nudism; or
  2. Person to rent, lease, or otherwise permit his or her land, premises, or buildings to be used for the purpose of advocating, demonstrating, or promoting nudism.”

Source: wikipedia

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