Bare and Bold: Embracing Nudism

Editor's note: Some of the sources for this article requested their full names and locations not be used.

When I get dressed, it always feels like I'm figuring out a strategy to exaggerate certain features while hiding others. I used to feel self-conscious when I got naked in sexual situations, worried people would be disappointed or feel swindled when they saw the real me, like my clothes acted as a filter hiding my actual body, which I was not happy with at times.

When I first got naked in public, it was part of a body painting day in Brooklyn hosted by New York-based artist Andy Golub. When I signed in, there was already a crowd of more than 100 sweaty people watching and taking photos of the artists and the human canvases, the naked people who were slowly getting painted.

When my artist was ready to start, he kindly told me to take off my clothes so he could begin. However, as I took off my pants, cameras began to flash as the supposed art aficionados tried to get a pre-painted vulva shot. I felt a pang of discomfort and imagined my naked body being on the internet forever. But once my artist started painting, I allowed myself to relax and enjoy it.

When the painting was complete, I confidently posed in front of the cameras in all my naked glory. I ended the day by washing the paint off myself in one of those fire hydrants that run all summer. However, as the neighbors stared, I realized the world was not ready for such casual nudity, at least not in my part of Brooklyn.

What is nudism?

Although nudism can mean different things to different people, most nudists choose to be naked in designated spaces for health, comfort or confidence-building reasons, and do not associate their practice with sexuality. Nudists often assert there are more nonsexual than sexual nude activities. We may sleep naked, breastfeed naked and or help aging parents shower naked. Many people in this community believe nudity is the most natural human form and they work to create spaces where they feel comfortable hanging out in their birthday suit.

Understanding the differentiation between sexuality and nudism is critical, because boundaries will be crossed when you assume a nude person is there to express themselves sexually. Research indicates that engaging in nude activities improves body image, self-esteem and overall life satisfaction. A 2020 study by the University of London used nudity-based intervention with folks who had low levels of positive body image. People who went to a retreat where they painted, did yoga and engaged in other activities in the nude experienced significant, long-lasting improvements in their body image, self-esteem and life satisfaction. A survey also showed that people who sleep naked report higher relationship satisfaction than folks who wear pajamas, nighties or onesies (the worst off).

Nudism and self-esteem

Thel Eonard, a 59-year-old from Syracuse, New York, and the founder of Sentient, a clothing-optional camping retreat, experienced a transformation.

"I, like many people, suffered from body dysmorphia—the person in the mirror was ugly, damaged and never good enough," Eonard said.

After 40 years of dealing with self-esteem issues, he said he was walking naked, alone in the dark, when he suddenly felt his woes disappear.

"I chose to listen, I chose to accept it and I've never looked back," he said. "Gray hair, round belly, big nose, flappy ears, small penis seemed to evaporate and graduate in a life still being lived and navigated with much less self-berating."

A survey also showed that people who sleep naked report higher relationship satisfaction than folks who wear pajamas, nighties or onesies (the worst off).

The power of nudity to transform the way we feel about our body is also shared by Lindsey, a 24-year-old trans woman from Ithaca, New York.

"I feel more connected and accepting of my body as a trans person, and that's because I get to be around other people of all walks of life who, while clothed, may be told their body is flawed for whatever reason, but when we are all naked as a group, it's plain to see there are no flawed bodies, only flawed people," she said.

Indeed, nudism can help folks with varying identities and experiences find a place to be free of any judgment or societal criticism and just be.

Sara Dee Hardy, a 60-year-old woman from Ottawa, Canada, shared similar sentiments.

"My first visit to a nude lake was an epiphany for me," she said. "I was a chronic dieter for 35 years, hating and loathing my body, always believing the diet culture and media that I needed to change my body to be accepted. My first reaction to the nude lake was, 'OMG, there's nothing wrong with me. There's nothing wrong with my body.'"

Can we create a nude world?

Embracing a culture of nudity could do wonders for folks from all walks of life. However, it isn't easy to jump into this lifestyle because of our cultural association between nudity and sexuality. Instead, strong codes of conduct and structure are imperative when creating and entering nudist spaces to ensure people stay safe.

Vigorous vetting processes, consent skills training and a basic understanding of nudism is essential in creating these spaces. Is nudity for everyone? Maybe not. However, if you are intrigued, you can start slowly by shedding your clothes and dancing around your apartment before taking the leap and getting naked in the park with protesters and flashing cameras.