Family nudism: Why it elicits mixed reactions of approval, opprobrium across the world

Family nudism is a tricky topic, particularly in these times when everybody wants to be politically correct. It is a movement, propounded by naturists, who believe in one being in harmony with one’s environment or nature. While the concept itself raises eyebrows (imagine going around naked with your family), nudists believe that it is a great practice to develop a healthy body image and safer dating practices, especially for families that have children growing up.

There are different variations of family nudism, which this piece shall discuss later. Many people frown at the idea of families going completely naked around one another. This is why it is important to understand what the concept is all about before making any conclusions. If you want to understand more about family nudism, keep reading.

What is family nudism?

Defining family nudism is difficult. To understand the term, we must first understand what nudism means. The free dictionary defines nudism as a cultural and political movement advocating and defending social nudity in private and public.

According to dictionary.com, a nudist is a person who advocates and engages in the practice of going nude, especially in places where mixed-gender groups gather. Therefore, family nudism simply means family members choose to go naked around one another as a lifestyle.

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As earlier stated, there are different variations of family nudism. The normal perception is parents and children going naked, but that is only one variation. Family nudism also covers a wider spread consisting of grandparents, grandchildren, elderly people with adult children, children with partners, or it may be a single-parent family. This explains why it is difficult to define.

Also, family nudism can be a daily lifestyle or occasionally or both. In other words, there are two types of family nudists. The first means a family that has adopted going naked as a normal daily activity. The second type describes a family which appears nude only on important occasions like yearly family vacations at nudist venues.

Is family nudism legal?

Family nudism is legal in many countries. As long as there is no sexual activity involved, you are free to walk around naked with your family. Countries like France, Croatia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany have certain places where nudism is allowed.

However, family nudism is a foreign concept in Nigeria. A 2008 report by Vanguard revealed that the wife of the former Secretary to the Federal Government in the Obasanjo administration, Senator Eme Ekaette, proposed a bill for an act to “Prohibit and Punish Public Nudity, Sexual Intimidation and Other Related Offences in Nigeria”. Senator Ekaette proposed the bill in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Youth. The bill, which passed second reading, raised mixed reactions among Nigerians. Some supported it while others complained that it undermines the fundamental human rights of citizens. 

Is family nudism necessary?

Parent coach. Dawn Huebner, said that nudity between parents and children is fine as long as both are fully comfortable. However, she added that parents need to be on the lookout for any changes to that comfort level.

“The goal with children is to foster delight and confidence in their bodies while gradually, over time, teaching norms related to privacy and consent,” she said.

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Meanwhile, nudists believe that going nude is normal and can help your children develop a healthy body image and safer dating practices as they grow up. On the other, lines can get blurred, particularly when dealing with children of the opposite sex. For instance, a lot of nudists are still not comfortable with an adult male being naked around a girl child.

Susan Bartell, PsyD, a New York-based child and parenting psychologist, enunciated: “If you’re very clear what the boundaries are, then that child has no question whatsoever.”

She also added that children do not have the cognitive ability to understand nuance. This is, according to her, why “it is never OK to see an adult man naked — that is clear for that child”.

In other words, it is always okay for children to be naked around their same-sex parents, but when it is a different story when it comes to parents of the opposite sex.

Going naked around your family is convenient, especially when you have babies and toddlers. But be ready to answer a million questions from them regarding various parts of the body. This can get awkward because there are some biological questions you don’t want your toddler to know the answers just yet.

So, the question of whether family nudism is necessary depends on one’s family and cultural beliefs.

Bottom line

With family nudism, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. However, it is important to note that nudism is not about sex. It is not inherently sexual. It is natural and promotes body positivity. It is a great practice to teach your children that their body parts are not taboo.

On the other hand, family nudism is not for everyone. Some people, especially in Europe, were raised in nudist families while others were not. So, what happens when a nudist and a non-nudist meet? The outcome will be interesting but it is clear that both have to make some compromises to make their relationship (if there is any) work.

Family nudism is acceptable in many parts of Europe but frowned upon in countries like Nigeria, where being naked in public is usually considered sexual. Children are mostly considered because they are the most vulnerable members of the society. But if you are interested in the nudist movement and you also live in a country that allows nudism, below are the following guidelines to help you practice it with your children:

• Explain to your children that nudity is not about sexuality but a natural way of life. This means you should avoid expressing your sexuality around your children.
• Teach them to set personal boundaries.
• Teach them not to be ashamed of their bodies.
• Answer questions your children may have about nudity.
• Educate them on various cultural views about nudism so they will not feel lost when they encounter people that believe in nudity.

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