Naturism in the United States is the practice of social nudity as a lifestyle that seeks an alternative to the majority of American society that consider nakedness and sexuality to be taboo based upon the legacy of Puritan and Victorian attitudes. Naturist enthusiasts began in the late 1920s with the establishment of members-only communities where they could gather to socialize and enjoy recreation without clothing in an environment that was no more sexual than while clothed. In later decades some groups began advocating for more general acceptance, and the opening up of public land to clothing-optional recreation.[1]

The mainstream American view of nude recreation (more often referred to as nudism than naturism) is that it is "tolerable deviant leisure activity" classified with moderate drinking and gambling.[2]: 45 

History

Organized nudism in American could be traced to 1929 when three German immigrants, part of the German social movement freikörperkultur, discussed the possibility of establishing nudism in the United States. One of them, Kurt Barthal later founded the American League for Physical Culture (LPC).[3]: 1–17  In 1932, Barthel founded Sky Farm, the first nudist camp in the United States, located in New Jersey. LPC changed its name to American Sunbathing Association (ASA) in 1931 and to the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) in 1995, and is now headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida.[4]

Two members of LPC, Katherine and Herman Soshinki, founded the American Gymnosophical Association,[5] and later started the Rock Lodge Club also in New Jersey.

Public opinion

A New York Times article in the summer of 1974 noted the number of nude beaches and other signs that American attitudes and behaviors regarding nudity were approaching the openness associated with Europeans. In addition to public nudity, some people stated that they are more likely to be nude in and around their homes. Psychologists interviewed thought this was part of a general trend away from prudishness that would continue.[6] By the 1990s, although public opinions regarding sexuality continued to be liberal, attitutes toward public nudity were generally negative.[7]

National naturist organizations

American Association for Nude Recreation

The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is a non-profit membership organization promoting the benefits of naturism. In 2001 it had grown to the world's largest naturist organization, with over 50,000 individual members and more than 230 affiliated clubs, resorts, and campgrounds. Headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida, AANR has regional branches responsible for local clubs and political activities. Although descending from the original social activist organizations of the 1930s, AANR has become more integrated with the mainstream American tourism and travel industries while retaining the language promoting naturism as healthy, family-oriented, and a "return to nature". However, many naturist resorts have the amenities, including beauty salons, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, that upper-class patrons have come to expect. And although clothing, a universal indicator of status is absent, other status symbols including jewelry and cars are on display.[8]

The Naturist Society

The Naturist Society (TNS) is an American naturist membership organization (LLC) founded in 1980 and based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States by Lee Baxandall. Membership includes individuals, groups and recreational businesses. Its stated purpose is to provide "communication and coordination for the clothes-optional recreation movement as a natural solution to many problems of modern living. Believes that 'body acceptance is the idea, nude recreation is the way'. Conducts research programs, speakers' bureau, and specialized education."[9]

In the 1990s, TNS established two nonprofit adjunct organizations, governed by a board of directors elected by the TNS membership: The Naturist Action Committee (NAC), its political and legislative lobbying adjunct, and the Naturist Education Foundation (NEF). NAC advocates for the acceptance of skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing at designated clothing-optional public beaches. A 2006 Roper Poll commissioned by the NEF found that 74% of Americans accept this idea.[10]

TNS publishes a quarterly magazine Nude & Natural (also called N magazine) which contains articles on naturist activities and issues related to naturism. Photographs in the magazine seek to represent a full range of naturist participants. NAC publishes a newsletter and NEF publishes books on particular naturist topics.[11]

Events

In July 14 is the National Nude Day, a day that celebrates the naturism and nudism (it is not an officially observed holiday).[12]

Nudist locations

The laws on public nudity differs depending on the state. For example, in Seattle, Washington, nudity in public is legal as long as the person is not performing something that makes anyone "uncomfortable". In New York, toplessness is legal and is not considered indecent exposure, but is not allowed to show the genitals.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hile, Jennifer (2004-07-21). "The Skinny on Nudism in the U.S." National Geographic. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. ↑ Jenkins, John; Pigram, John (2004). Encyclopedia of Leisure and Outdoor Recreation. Florence, UNITED STATES: Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-0-203-64739-4.
  3. ↑ Hoffman, Brian (2015). Naked: A Cultural History of American Nudism. New York University Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-9053-3.
  4. ↑ Woodall, Ellen E. (2002). "The American nudist movement: From cooperative to capital, the song remains the same". Journal of Popular Culture. Wiley-Blackwell. 36 (2): 264–284. doi:10.1111/1540-5931.00006.
  5. ↑ Harrison, Paul (July 15, 1933). "Nudists Exercise in Secret Gyms Between Outdoor Meets". Miami Daily News. p. 2, col. 1. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ Sterbas, James (1974-09-03). "Nudity Increases in America". The New York Times. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  7. ↑ Layng, Anthony (1998). "Confronting the Public Nudity Taboo". USA Today Magazine. Vol. 126, no. 2634. p. 24.
  8. ↑ Woodall, Ellen (2002). "The American Nudist Movement: From Cooperative to Capital, the Song Remains the Same". Journal of Popular Culture. 36 (2): 264–284. doi:10.1111/1540-5931.00006. ISSN 0022-3840. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  9. ↑ Attenberry, T.E., ed. (2017). "The Naturist Society, LLC (TNS)". Encyclopedia of Associations: National Organizations of the U.S. (56 ed.). Gale.
  10. ↑ "2006 Roper Poll". Naturist Education Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 January 2007.
  11. ↑ "Mark Storey :: Philosophy Department @ Bellevue College". Bellevue College. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  12. ↑ Smith, Erika W. (2019-07-13). "How To (Legally) Celebrate National Nude Day". Refinery29. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  13. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/public-nudity-laws-us
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