Talking about Naturism and being open about our involvement in it helps to normalise social nudity. Many people report feeling relieved that people around them know - and can be a real confidence-booster. Bringing the subject up and knowing what to say can still sometimes be difficult and so we have created this set of suggestions to help you.
In Part 1 we identified a range of ways that you can introduce Naturism into conversation if you wish. In Part 2, we covered the sort of positive messages to include when trying to explain the appeal of Naturism to people you meet and now in Part 3 we look at how to handle the questions that people might ask.
Part 3: Dealing with challenges that might arise in conversation
Although we know that Naturism is great, people will sometimes challenge that view in conversation. The challenges often come from misunderstandings of what Naturism is really about. Although we want to talk about the positives of Naturism, it is useful to have good answers ready if challenged.
Naturism is Lawful
Simply being naked in a public place is not against the law, contrary to popular belief. To put it simply, if it is lawful to do something clothed, it is also lawful to do it naked.
Naturists do understand that people have a range of views and want everybody to enjoy a good life. For this reason, Naturists often choose to limit their activities to spaces that are private, are commonly used by Naturists, or where they will not frequently encounter others. For example, many Naturists walk naked in the open countryside but would not do so in a busy town centre. We make this choice because we are considerate and place high value on respecting the choices and feelings of others, rather than because it is not allowed.
Naturism is not about Sex
Despite what people imagine, a gathering of naked people does not make for a sexually charged environment. People pay the fashion industry large amounts of money for suggestive clothing and undergarments because it is tease and suggestion that is sexy, not simple nudity. You won’t find provocative clothing at Naturist events, making them LESS sexualised than clothed gatherings.
Naturism is not Embarrassing
Once in a Naturist place, you soon get used to being amongst naked people and forget that nobody is wearing clothes. It’s the clothed people that stand out. What you look like is irrelevant. No one stares at you or judges your appearance – it’s all about feeling good about yourself. Nudity is not normally mandatory, and people will put something on if the weather turns colder.
Children in Naturism are Happy, Well-Adjusted, and Safe
Young children don’t care if they are wearing clothes or not, it’s adults who make them get dressed. Children of Naturist families grow up with a better understanding of what people really look like and enjoy a relaxed, outdoor life. Children are safer in Naturist environments as they are never allowed to attend unaccompanied, always being supervised by parents or guardians. Many adult Naturists today grew up in Naturist families and now bring up their own families with the same values.