The Trends of Organized Nudism

- Ram Bheenaveni *

Nudism came from the reaction to taboos imposed by repressive and obscurant laws, and is evident proof of mankind’s need to live according to a moral code based on common sense and reason. To propose a doctrine that allows mankind to enjoy the benefits of nature peacefully in “reasonable well-being” (Epicurus), represents the secular balance that frees man from the hatred generated by the conflict of the two eternal antagonists, good and evil.

Most people who have considered social nudity are apprehensive about their first experience of it. One may be a person who has skinny dipped, may be at home in a private pool, or perhaps with others as a kid. Maybe one sleep as nude. We all bathe nude. The notion of not getting dressed when one get up, or leave the bathroom, it does to us! Being without clothes is truly being. One can feel alive and aware of his own environment in a way not otherwise possible – especially when outdoors. In mixed company anyone also soon realize that simply being nude with others is not of itself a sexual activity.

Nudist Philosophy:

Many naturists consider social nudity to be no more than a leisure activity. However, radical nudists see it as part of a wider philosophy of life and part of the struggle to achieve a freer society. If you want to refresh the parts that the average naturist barbecue cannot reach take a look at this essay:

Historical Accounts of Nudism:

One could have traced nudism or naturism to Adam and Eve, but their covering themselves in “shame” spoils it all. The true first votaries of nudism were really the Greeks and Romans around 1300 BC when Greek students exercised and were educated in the nude and athletes played naked in early Olympics. From here on things worsened to a wider extend that in the Victorian ear even legs of pianos and chairs were covered so they would not arouse sexual interest. In the Indian context, the Digambara sect of Jainism was practiced the nudism because of the plea of natural living. However, chronologically it has sunken in the time of decay.

In many of the alternative communities established in Britain in the early 1900′s nudism, anarchism, vegetarianism and free love were accepted as part of a politically radical way of life. In the 1920′s the inhabitants of the anarchist community at Whiteway, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, shocked the conservative residents of the area with their shameless nudity. History repeated itself during the emergence of hippie communities in the 1960′s in Europe and the USA. In every era social nudity has been seen as a challenge to the established order in society.

The events of the 1960′s and early 1970′s proved the efficacy of this strategy. From successful union struggles in the workplace to victories for personal freedom in the wider community, the strategy of direct action was seen to work. On both sides of the barricades no one doubted that personal choices of lifestyle and sexuality were political issues. A widespread re-emergence of feminist ideas forced women and men to rethink and re-negotiate their relationships.

As a part of reconciliation of the idea of naturism in the mid 1990′s several nudist clubs were started and so many people were joined the “organized” naturist movement. From participant point of view, by the radical nudism they felt it would meet some fellow spirits, or at very least a circle of intelligent, liberal, open-minded people. The general tone of CCBN literature and the fact that the organization lacked a democratic constitution should have sent alarm bells ringing. It also reveals that their first encounter with “organized” nudism was while swims of a CCBN where it found a preponderance of males but not the females.

People winced at the homophobia and range of conservative prejudices on display. There was little evidence that this weekly, clandestine, social nudity encouraged the development of any real friendships outside the confines of the leisure centre. It did little to break down the social isolation of the naturist and certainly did nothing to influence ideas in the outside community.

In principle the idea of a primitive back-to-nature, naturist commune was very attractive and fitted very well with our ideas of the organized nudist tradition. People regretted the fact that nudists had chosen to hide behind the euphemism of “naturist” but some were very happy to enjoy the nature in naturism.

Nudism as Grabbing Tool:

Now, a new wrinkle of protest has been emerged by the exhibiting of body without the clothes. Recently, a woman in Rajkot stripped to protest against dowry demands, she got instant attention. Nudity is bound to get you eyeballs – not just in India, but also anywhere in the world. What changes is the attitude towards the naked body. Most high profile, organized international groups take advantage of this attention – grabbing tool and get people to droop for causes they expose. Firstly, the PETA, which ropes in celebrities such as Pamela Anderbell, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell to pose on billboard to grab the world attention.

The northeast women protested nakedly to reveal the concern about the rape victim by the Indian army, this issues was drawn the great attention of the media in the traditional country. Nudist protests have ranged form anti Bush-in – Iraq campaigns to female prisoners in Johannersburg disrobing to show displeasure at being shifted to another prison. Mexican farmers going to topless to naked protestors in Spain against the annual ritual of bull-chasing. The Queen of England too wasn’t spared, as nude activist protested use of bearskin to make hats for her Palace guards.

Naturism and Global Warming:

Naturists have traditionally sought the sun by flying to other countries with more favorable climates. However, it is now time to consider the consequences of air travel on climate change. This growing awareness should make all of us consider the scope for naturism in Britain and, hopefully, lead to a renaissance of naturist holidays and facilities in Britain. Imagine if all those naturists who in recent years have taken their holidays in other countries suddenly stripped off on British beaches!

In the contemporary era, in the radical political community the rightward swing in politics from the last two decades has taken its toll of political imagination. Whilst proclaiming sexual liberation and a theoretical approval of social nudity many activists and participants, left high and dry by the temporary receding tide of radicalism, have confined themselves to social campaigns more acceptable to the middle ground. Social nudity has been taken off the agenda except as a “shock” tactic to persuade a cynical media to report environmental, animal welfare campaigns and protest against the rapes and sexual assaults of women.

However, just like the swim, the membership was again very conservative. The ageing old guard can generally be characterized by their middle-class snobbishness, hostility to radical nudism, paranoia about being tainted with sex, and lack of interest in changing the climate of opinion in society at large. Again we were amazed that people who enjoy something as apparently radical as social nudity should be so conservative in every other aspect of their lives.

Nudist’s Clubs:

The beach of Nudists Situated some 28 kilometres far from Heraklion at the East and very close to Limenas Chersonissou, this beach too is nothing more but an even rocky area with sand here and there. Open to the North, it is affected by the northern winds. Due to the rocky seabed it is very good for snorkelling.

The beach is not organised at all; accommodation food and drink can be found at the nearby tourist resort of Limenas Chersonissou. No facilities for swimming or sunbathing are available; here you will enjoy only the natural environment and the crystal clear sea. This beach is the only spot all over Chersonissos were nudism is allowed. However, don’t expect to be isolated; the beach is very close to the road, with several people passing by.

Conclusion:

Lately nudism, which is the phenomenon of people enjoying the liberations of being naked with each other, has a large number of takers. There is no sexuality involved in this; it is all about celebrating the human body. Exhibitionism on the other hand, has sexual connotations and derives pleasure fro an audience. An extreme form of this is flashing which is exposing oneself indecently in an is tempt to shock or traumatize someone. As opposed to this, streaking is the “non-sexual act of taking off one’s clothes and running through the public places. Interesting, how the same act arouse such different emotions in varying context.

However, deviant behaviors subsequently changes as the institutionalized behaviour. This is the best illustration for the post-modern context that people with irrational and flexible in their attitude and practice, the rejections of meta-narratives like religious and moral values, the deconstruction that is they are dismantle the existed and established norms and finally too much of liberalization of freedom is pre-requisite to the modern man, which should accomplish the tremendous amount of physical and sadist egotistical pleasure.