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			] naturist beach in Belgium.]]
	'''Clothes free movement''' is a general reference to a social, cultural and political movement practicing, advocating and defending social ] in private and public settings.

			:''See also ]''.
	The movement includes a range variants including ], ], ], the ] movement as well as generalized public lands/] advocacy. While there is a large amount of shared history and common themes, issues, and philosophy; differences between these separate movements are sometimes contentious. Practice of the various philosophies also varies regionally and historically. The predominant movement centers around established, family-friendly, non-sexualized variations. The inclusion of the ''']''' movement within this movement is under debate.
			:''See also ''']''' for comparison. Should not be confused with ].''

			'''Naturism''' (pronounced "nature" + "ism") is generally defined as the practice of going nude, especially in a mixed social setting.
	The movement also works in parallel to and sometimes influences and is influenced by ] as well as individuals and activists (see ]) as well as organizations (see ]).

			The term nudist is more widely familiar in North America, however within the naturist and nudist movements, people generally prefer affiliation with one label or the other. Those who practice naturism are called ''naturists''. The exact meaning and association that people have with the terms varies between organizations, localities, and time periods.
	=Terminology=

			The Naturist conversely is sometimes traditionally defined as an individual who prefers to seek a more natural setting for their clothing optional activities - such as the beach, lake, woods or mountains. They are not joiners in the sense of the traditional nudist nor do they often consider their clothing optional activity to be a remarkable thing but rather simply a part of their normal lifestyle. Some political contention exists between the traditional Nudist and the Naturist within the national organizations that represent clothing optional recreation for lobbying purposes; the former seeking a status quo while the later pushes for expansion of beaches and other outdoor facilities and their designation for clothing optional use. Naturists in America tend to be more supportive of ] than do nudists, who generally invest more focus on landed and non-landed clubs.
	*Naturists and nudists sometimes refer to people who do not practice nudity as ''']'''.
	*'''Clothing optional''' usually refers to a facility that allows and encourages ] but tolerates the wearing of clothes.
	*A '''naturist''' or '''nudist''' facility usually insists on complete nudity where practicable (to ensure that no one feels inappropriately dressed).
	*''']''' refers to the state of leaving chest and breasts uncovered, or to an area that allows uncovered female breasts (this term is generally preferred to "topless", which has a negative connotation in some parts of the world).
	*A ''']''' is not so much one without an admission cost, but one in which people can be entirely free of their clothes.
	*A '''landed''' organization is one that owns the real estate it is situated on.
	*The term ''']''' is no longer a favorable term.
	*'''Non-landed''' or travel clubs meet regularly at different locations such as nudist resorts, bowling alleys, or swimming pools rented for the purpose.
	*A '''smoothie''' is a person who shaves off much of his/her body hair. (See ]).
	*In ] the general movement is sometimes also referred to as ''']''', which translates as '''Free Body Culture'''.

			Many people operate under the general context of the formal movements without adhering to either term and without formal associations to organizations. This is common, for example on ] and ].
	=Nudist info (sort)=

	=Naturist info (sort)=

	==History of social nudity==

	====Prehistory====
	] of the human ] ''Pediculus humanus'', which feeds on the body but lives in and requires clothing, suggests that humans started wearing garments 72,000 years ago +/- 42,000 years. This estimate matches that of the first appearance of physical evidence of clothing-making ]. The ] '']'' itself has existed for 200,000 or more years, so the 'natural' condition of humans is nude.

	====Historical era====
	Informal nudism has always been practiced. Ancient cultures (the ] and the ] for example) sometimes had quite different attitudes toward the unclothed human body than is common today. In fact, the word "]" comes from the Greek word "gymnos," meaning "nude," because athletics in Greece was routinely practiced naked by its participants.

			==See also==
	Nudity taboos are often a holdover from a practical need for body covering, as with temperate or desert cultures, where people initially wear clothing in public by habit because of practical reasons, until it becomes ingrained in the culture itself that this is a requirement.
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			*Compare ].

			==References==
	Objections against being nude are often religiously motivated, even when they start out as a cultural taboo as in the previous paragraph. Some peoples have started wearing clothes only after ] argued that it is more civilized. However, there are many devout nudists who attend services regularly and argue that they do not need to shed their morals with their clothes. Also, there is a Christian sect that practiced religious nudism, the ]. Although there is no well-defined date in Western society when it became unacceptable to be seen nude in public, the era of ] certainly ended whatever remained of it, with nothing emerging until after her death in ].
			*Story, Marilyn (Sept. 1984) "Comparisons of Body Self-Concept between Social Nudists & Nonnudists" ''Journal of Psychology'' '''118'''

			*Story, Marilyn (1979) "Factors Associated w/More Positive Body Self-Concepts in Preschool children" ''Jour. of Social Psychology'' '''108''' 49-56 56
	=====Rise of formalized clothes communities and philosophy=====
	In the early 1900's, a series of philosophical papers was published in Germany that examined the negative psychological impact of self hate of the body based upon both religious and overly negative community views. The basic position that the human body in and of itself was neither sinful nor obscene was combined with a new philosophy to create the nudist movement. The proposition was advanced that combining physical fitness, sunlight, and fresh air bathing with the nudist philosophy contributed to mental and psychological fitness, good health, and an improved moral-life view. The wide publication of these papers contributed to an explosive worldwide growth of nudism, whereas nudists participated in various social, recreational, and physical fitness activities in the nude.

			*Robin Lewis & Louis Janda (1988) "The Relationship Between Adult Sexual Adjustment & Childhood Experiences Regarding Exposure to Nudity, Sleeping in the Parental Bed, Parental Attitudes Toward Sexuality" ''Arch. of Sexual Behavior'' '''17''' No.4
	The first known organized club for nudists, ''Freilichtpark'' (Free-Light Park), was opened near ] in ] by Paul Zimmerman. At about the same time, another German, Dr. Heinrich Pudor, wrote a book titled ''Nacktcultur'', which discussed the benefits of nudity in co-education and advocated participating in sports while being free of cumbersome clothing. The nudist movement gained prominence in Germany in the ], but was suppressed during the early ] '']'' after ] came to power. However, it was later discovered that ] (Air Force) head ] had single-handedly written his own strict anti-nudity views into the ''Gleichschaltung''. He has been one of its main authors and, in effect, this imposed Göring's views on everyone. Many in the Nazi party though he had gone too far, so the rules were eventually softened a bit. Nevertheless, all naturism clubs had to exclude ] and ] and keep all activities well out in the countryside. After the war, ] enjoyed nudism as one the few freedoms they had under the communist government. It quickly rebounded in the ] also, and today, united ] has many clubs, parks and beaches for nudism. Vacationing in ] ] at the ] resort also became popular for Germans when it opened in the late ].

			*Story, Marilyn (May 1987) "A Comparison of Social Nudists & Non-nudists on Experience w/Various Sexual Outlets" ''Journ. of Sex Research'' '''23''' No. 2 p197-211,
	In the ], German immigrant ] organized the first nudist event in ], just outside of ] (NYC), and founded the American League for Physical Culture (ALPC). Social nudism in the form of private clubs and campgrounds began appearing in the ]. In ], according to a history , a ] minister named ] was elected as vice president of the ALPC and gained a nickname as "The Dictator." He also began the American Sunbathing Association (ASA), which according to a decision in Roberts v. Clement, posted on the Naturist Education Foundation site , was organized in ] as a successor to the ALPC. Boone led a family atmosphere by prohibiting ] at all member clubs. According to the Federation of Canadian Naturists history and the Lupin Naturist Club history , Boone was toppled in ] by members dissatisfied with his autocratic style. This, together with Boone's desire to open a new club closer to NYC than others had wanted, led him to form the National Nudist Council.

			*Mary S. Calderone, M.D. (1981) in "The Family Book About Sexuality" ISBN 0397013779
	Elsewhere in the USA, a ] advertisement claims Sea Island Sanctuary, ], was the "largest and oldest" year round ] where nudism could be practiced. ], located in Stockholm, New Jersey, about 40 miles (65 km) from New York City started in ] and is still in operation today. Nudism first began appearing on the US and ] west coast about 1939. ] Ranch, about 45 miles (70 km) north of ], opened the same year and is still in operation. In ], the ASA renamed itself, becoming the ] (AANR).

	In ], individuals around the country became interested in nudism, skinny dipping, or physical culture in the early part of the 20th century. After ] they had their own Canadian magazine, Sunbathing & Health, which occasionally carried local news. Canadians had scattered groups in several cities during the ] and ], and some of these groups attracted enough interest to form clubs on private land; the most significant clubs were the Van Tans in Vancouver and the Sun Air Club in Ontario. Canadians who served in the military during the war met like-minded souls from across the country, and often visited clubs while in Europe. They formed a ready pool of recruits for postwar organizers. A few years later the wave of postwar immigration brought many Europeans with their own extensive experience, and they not only swelled the ranks of membership, but often formed their own clubs, helping to expand nudism from coast to coast. Most of these clubs were united under the Canadian Sunbathing Association, which affiliated with the American Sunbathing Association in ]. Several disagreements between eastern and western members of CSA resulted in the breakup of CSA into the Western Canadian Sunbathing Association (WCSA) and Eastern Canadian Sunbathing Association (ECSA) in ]. The ECSA endured much in fighting over the next decade and a half leading to its official demise in ]. The WCSA continues to exist today as the Western Canadian Association for Nude Recreation (WCANR), a region of the ] (AANR) which itself was formerly known as the ASA.

	In ] the Fédération québécoise de naturisme (FQN) was founded in Québec. In ] the Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN) was formed with the support of the FQN. The FQN and FCN joined together to be the official Canadian representatives in the International Naturist Federation (INF).

	==Issues==
	====Sexuality====
	Many non-naturists believe that nudity in a social setting is sexually stimulating and arousing. Some Naturists disagree, claiming that there is more sexual tension in the near-nude environment of a ] or a ] than at a naturist or nudist site.

	Naturist and nudist organizations widely maintain and enforce a policy prohibiting ] in public, and many naturist sites describe themselves as ]-oriented.

	The possibility of getting an ] is a concern often cited by males who are apprehensive of naturism, but naturism do not generally consider this to be a reason for avoiding participation. Erections are not very common because the naturist environment is generally non-sexualized. Some naturists suggest that fear of getting an erection is itself a factor that can prevent spontaneous erections. Should an erection occur one can cover up, go swimming, or take a shower until it subsides. Overtly flaunting an erection is considered by many to be lewd behavior.

	Involvement in naturism has not been shown to be harmful to childhood psychological development.
	Parents always need to be vigilant to guard their children from sexual predators and other concerns. This applies equally to naturists as it does for non-naturists.

	====Manners====
	Nudists will wear clothes if the ] demands it. Naturists generally consider themselves to be accepting people, the general idea being simply doing things nude that one would normally do clothed. However, the traditional nudist culture has its own rules of etiquette.

	Some Nudists consider it essential to sit on a ] whenever sitting on a chair, bench, or anything else where others might sit, and they consider it very poor etiquette to do otherwise. Likewise, sitting on someone else's towel is also a breach of etiquette. For ] reasons, there is a prohibition on photography without consent at the majority of nudist ]. Other rules may include a prohibition on pets, weapons, loud music, etc. These policies vary between nudist sites, and nudists recommend that new visitors make themselves aware of the specific rules prior to a visit.

	Some nudist organizations do not allow people with ]s on their premises. (Presumably this rule refers to the foreign objects in the piercings, not to the piercings themselves.) Most, however, accept people of all sizes, shapes and types including those with surgical ]s, ]s or interestingly trimmed (or absence of) ]. Recently some nudist organisations have expressed a preference for members to completely shave or remove all pubic hair as some believe that having pubic hair does not leave that body completety nude. But this is usually left to the members to decide and facial and head hair are acceptable. Many nudist organizations do not allow unaccompanied men,, whereas most nudist organizations not only allow but encourage unaccompanied women to join them. Whether this is hypocritical of a subculture which promotes acceptance is a topic often debated. Some nudist organizations, to avoid discriminating based on gender, enforce a policy of gender balance, meaning that they will allow neither a high male-to-female ratio nor a high female-to-male ratio.

	Some nudist resorts, clubs, or beaches have the "]" of requiring full nudity at all times (with exceptions, such as when a woman is experiencing ], or certain days/hours for new visitors and cold weather). Most have this policy only for the ], ], ], hot tub bath, etc., with clothing optional elsewhere. Recently, to avoid any possible litigation, some privately owned resorts and clubs in the ] forbid bringing any minor children from other families without written permission in advance. A few even exclude children of ] parents without the written consent of the other ex-spouse (unless they can prove full custody). Of course, this does not apply to public beaches. If a visitor encourages another visitor to be nude, this may give rise to suspicion that nudity is desired for visual satisfaction, which may be considered inappropriate.

	Many nudists feel it is inappropriate for males to openly display a spontaneous ]. However, some believe it should be included as a part of "body acceptance" — a key philosophy of nudists. This has been the subject of endless debate on nudist/naturist ]. If an erection does occur, nudists recommend covering up with a ], turning over (if lying down), sitting down, going for a ], or otherwise minimizing the erection's presence until the ] is no longer erect. For some ] (e.g. ] or dancing) this may not be immediately practical or even possible, and typical nudist ] suggests it then be ignored by everyone. Public nude beaches tend to be less strict on this issue than private nudist ] and adult only ] clubs would not be bothered at all. Also, nudists are generally more ] of spontaneous erection in pre and post-] ] than in older ] and men.

	Sexual stimulation whether direct or indirect is not acceptable, ] in public or in the view of others usually strictly forbibben. The direct touching, massaging of another's genitals which could cause sexual stimulation is also usually strictly forbidden. It is usually acceptable to apply suntan lotion to another's body including woman's ] and buttocks as long as the intent is not of any sexual gratifaction. Organised ] does occur at some private nudist establishments, but mainstream organisations tend to distance themselves from these establishments. Usually established registered clubs have very strict codes of conduct, values and decency.

	==Politics==
	The ] (Canada) would pass legislation requiring all public parks and beaches larger than one hectare to designate areas reserved for nudists.

	==References==
	*Story, Marilyn (Sept. 1984) "Comparisons of Body Self-Concept between Social Nudists & Nonnudists" ''Journal of Psychology'' '''118'''
	*Story, Marilyn (1979) "Factors Associated w/More Positive Body Self-Concepts in Preschool children" ''Jour. of Social Psychology'' '''108''' 49-56 56
	*Story, Marilyn (May 1987) "A Comparison of Social Nudists & Non-nudists on Experience w/Various Sexual Outlets" ''Journ. of Sex Research'' '''23''' No. 2 p197-211,
	*Robin Lewis & Louis Janda (1988) "The Relationship Between Adult Sexual Adjustment & Childhood Experiences Regarding Exposure to Nudity, Sleeping in the Parental Bed, Parental Attitudes Toward Sexuality" ''Arch. of Sexual Behavior'' '''17''' No.4
	*Mary S. Calderone, M.D. (1981) in "The Family Book About Sexuality" ISBN 0397013779

	==External links==		==External links==
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	* - includes US and Canadian laws and legislative bill texts related to nudism, and a newsletter		* - includes US and Canadian laws and legislative bill texts related to nudism, and a newsletter
	* - documents the connections between the nudist/naturist movement, child pornography and pedophiles		* - documents the connections between the nudist/naturist movement, child pornography and pedophiles
	*
	* - General naturist information, links directory, naturist blog		* - General naturist information, links directory, naturist blog
	* - news on nude beaches worldwide, in the form of updates to a book		* - news on nude beaches worldwide, in the form of updates to a book
	* - A Map-based Guide to Nudist Beaches around the World.
	* an online naturist magazine		* an online naturist magazine
	* - on the harm of ] from a Christian perspective		* - on the harm of ] from a Christian perspective

	*
	* - On how decent naturists should avoid problems with cyber cops carrying out ]s.		* - On how decent naturists should avoid problems with cyber cops carrying out ]s.

	====Regional Sites====		====Regional Sites====
			* - An extensive list of naturist campsites worldwide
	* - a Canadian Based, Supportive, Informative, Non-Sexual set of Resources Including Very Active Forums		* - a Canadian Based, Supportive, Informative, Non-Sexual set of Resources Including Very Active Forums
	* - nude beaches in the UK and Ireland		* - nude beaches in the UK and Ireland
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Revision as of 07:57, 13 March 2006

See also Clothes free movement.

See also Nudism for comparison. Should not be confused with naturalism.

Naturism (pronounced "nature" + "ism") is generally defined as the practice of going nude, especially in a mixed social setting.

The term nudist is more widely familiar in North America, however within the naturist and nudist movements, people generally prefer affiliation with one label or the other. Those who practice naturism are called naturists. The exact meaning and association that people have with the terms varies between organizations, localities, and time periods.

The Naturist conversely is sometimes traditionally defined as an individual who prefers to seek a more natural setting for their clothing optional activities - such as the beach, lake, woods or mountains. They are not joiners in the sense of the traditional nudist nor do they often consider their clothing optional activity to be a remarkable thing but rather simply a part of their normal lifestyle. Some political contention exists between the traditional Nudist and the Naturist within the national organizations that represent clothing optional recreation for lobbying purposes; the former seeking a status quo while the later pushes for expansion of beaches and other outdoor facilities and their designation for clothing optional use. Naturists in America tend to be more supportive of public nudity than do nudists, who generally invest more focus on landed and non-landed clubs.

Many people operate under the general context of the formal movements without adhering to either term and without formal associations to organizations. This is common, for example on clothing-optional beaches and clothing-optional activities on public lands.

References

Story, Marilyn (Sept. 1984) "Comparisons of Body Self-Concept between Social Nudists & Nonnudists" Journal of Psychology 118

Story, Marilyn (1979) "Factors Associated w/More Positive Body Self-Concepts in Preschool children" Jour. of Social Psychology 108 49-56 56

Robin Lewis & Louis Janda (1988) "The Relationship Between Adult Sexual Adjustment & Childhood Experiences Regarding Exposure to Nudity, Sleeping in the Parental Bed, Parental Attitudes Toward Sexuality" Arch. of Sexual Behavior 17 No.4

Story, Marilyn (May 1987) "A Comparison of Social Nudists & Non-nudists on Experience w/Various Sexual Outlets" Journ. of Sex Research 23 No. 2 p197-211,

Mary S. Calderone, M.D. (1981) in "The Family Book About Sexuality" ISBN 0397013779

External links

General Sites

The Naturist Campingguide - An extensive list of naturist campsites worldwide
205 Arguments in Support of Naturism
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - includes US and Canadian laws and legislative bill texts related to nudism, and a newsletter
Nudist Naturist Hall of Shame - documents the connections between the nudist/naturist movement, child pornography and pedophiles
Naturist Place - General naturist information, links directory, naturist blog
Bare Beaches - news on nude beaches worldwide, in the form of updates to a book
Naturismo.org an online naturist magazine
Reject Shame - on the harm of body shame from a Christian perspective

Sunclad.com - On how decent naturists should avoid problems with cyber cops carrying out sting operations.

Regional Sites

The Naturist Campingguide - An extensive list of naturist campsites worldwide
NudeCanadian.com - a Canadian Based, Supportive, Informative, Non-Sexual set of Resources Including Very Active Forums
Bare Britain - nude beaches in the UK and Ireland

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