The Awareness of Social Nudism 1n Modern Society - University of ...

however, the first person freely interviewed with me while my second person agreed
initially, and then declined, stating that they felt I did not truly understand the philosophy
behind social nudism and that their job could be in jeopardy if word got out that they are a
Naturist.
To date, there is no evidence indicating that social nudism is dangerous or
destructive to society or individuals. As a matter of fact, the social nudist lifestyle includes
many benefits such as: relaxation in a non-threatening environment, stress relief, non­
judgmental attitudes from others, higher levels of self esteem, and total acceptance of one's
own body. Even children and teenagers engaging in social nudism are more prone to
developing better attitudes about themselves and their bodies, and in tum learn that the
human body is not only beautiful no matter what size or shape, but worthy of respect. The
media, on the other hand, does a fine job of emphasizing the human body from only a
physical standpoint depicting what the perfect human body should look like, when in reality,
not many people even come close to their unrealistic standards.
Although social nudism continues to attract new members, many people are still not
accepting of this lifestyle. Perhaps more awareness should be made available to the public
through such media as television, magazine articles, and higher education systems. Without
further information about the lifestyle, preconceived attitudes and prejudices will continue
to thrive. Through my studies and observations on social nudism, I find that the lifestyle can
be very wholesome and beneficial to one's mind, body, and spirit.
62