August 25, 2007
Nudism and Body Acceptance, Body Diversity
One of the most compelling principles of modern nudism is the ideal of body acceptance. While crude mainstream society and mass media makes harsh judgement and discriminates against those who don’t match their unrealistic ideal, mosts nudists and naturists make you feel welcome no matter what you look like. It hasn’t always been so much this way, but over the decades nudists have developed some very positive ideas about what nudism should be about. It’s hard to criticize a group that preaches acceptance, but some haters desperately try to find a way.
At a nudist location (nude beach, resort, etc.) you will see all types, young and old, black and white, tan and pale, fat and skinny, fit and saggy. It shows a barbaric arrogance to look down on others just because your age, genetics or other luck that happens to make your appearance more acceptable to mainstream society. Thankfully, nudism tends to attract individuals with a higher level of intelligence and sophistication in this regard. Although nudists might superficially resemble primitive stone age people in their attire (or lack thereof), they are actually more mentally “civilized” than the average person. Those who have the craziest ideas of what nudism is have never tried it themselves. A nudist location or event is not a pagent, it’s a place to feel free, be comfortable, and healthy. You should not see it as getting nude for others, but getting nude for yourself. In this way, it is a dignified form of nudity in the Western world, just as nudity should not be regarded as “dirty” in medicine or art. Therefore, what you look like should not be a concern one way or another. If you are not acceptable in the mainstream, who cares? If you are found very attractive in the mainstream, who cares? Nudist activities may be one of Western society’s few escapes from worsening, narrowing and unrealistic idea of what the body should look like.
Now, as in decades past, women are put to shame by unrealistic ideals of the body. Now, many younger men are feeling insecure because they don’t match up to similarly unrealistic ideals. In addition to general body form, Hollywood and the media make people feel inferior for having the “wrong” type of breasts, hips, buttocks, stomach, penis, legs or body hair patterns. Real nudists don’t pay attention to such things anyway and accept you as you are.
Will it ever stop? Probably not before it gets worse. In the meantime, get nude more for a dose of sanity and relief!
Body Diversity Links to See:
FeminineBeauty.info - Blog promoting feminine beauty.
007b.com Normal Breasts Gallery - Website promotes breastfeeding and the non-sexualization of breasts.
The Shape of a Mother - Celebrates the beauty and diversity of what real moms look like.
Women En Large and Familiar Men Projects - Photograph books of real women and men.
