3 ms·

I don't think so. In the Netherlands you can still go to sauna as usual. There are plenty of nudist beaches and campings. A few months ago I went to a party in

I don't think so. In the Netherlands you can still go to sauna as usual. There are plenty of nudist beaches and campings. A few months ago I went to a party in a club where in the end it was encouraged to wear as little as you'd like. You have still plenty of nude advertisement on television after midnight. You have billboards with nudes. There are TV programs like Adam zoekt Eva (Adam searches for Eve). There are popular clip sites (bit like ridiculous, but without being prude) like dumpert.nl with weakly "vrijmibo" with nudes. Two weeks ago I was in Zierikzee. Mayor was judging nudes with bodypaint. A lot of kids run around naked as well in the backyards when it is hot in summer. No big deal. No, there is no such thing as the North American shame for genitals or being nude.

eesmith 8y ago
I believe a more relevant observation is: How many women go topless in non-nudist areas? In Florida, where I grew up, it was common in the 1980s to hear about European women visiting the beach and not realizing that women were required to cover their breasts. From what I understand, it's now uncommon in many parts of Europe where it once was common. What you describe is not casual nudity that Europe (in my American viewpoint) was known for. Compare what you wrote with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur - being nude without direct relationship to sexuality. As the Economist writes, "stripping off while gardening, playing sports or taking lunch breaks in the park." Advertisements, judging nudes, etc. are saying that being nude is not usual.
- MrQuincle 8y ago
  At times it is usual, at times it is casual, at times it is sexual. Nice perspective: http://theswaggernews.typepad.com/mothertongue/2014/10/why-the-dutch-go-topless-and-americans-dont.html http://theswaggernews.typepad.com/mothertongue/2014/10/why-t...
  - eesmith 8y ago
    That link agrees with the Economists' observation of the decline in casual nudity: "I still live in Holland, but very few women go topless anymore. Topless just isn't cool. It's not considered very classy, much less sexy or erotic in any way. Although the topless trend has subsided greatly since I first came to this country, the Dutch attitude about the human body has not." The author writes "Our Anglo-Saxon squeamishness with nudity and bodily functions started sometime between the Middle-Ages and the Victorians and it has continued ever since." and "I still get a wee bit queasy when the soccer coaches require the 9 and 10 year olds to take group showers after the games." I do not believe the author is aware of changes in US views of nudity even over the last couple of generations. For generations, children swam nude in indoor pools in the US. Quoting from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nude_swimming#Indoor_pools https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nude_swimming#Indoor_pools : "The 1937 Administration of Health and Physical Recreation training manual stated, "Nude bathing for boys is practiced universally, in a few schools girls may swim nude and this is the most sanitary method." Elsewhere on that page points out "In America, skinny dipping by boys [in the late 1800s] was common." It also suggests that the 'squeamishness with nudity' was due to the 'rise of the influence of Christian Evangelicals' during the Victorian era.

eesmith 8y ago

I believe a more relevant observation is: How many women go topless in non-nudist areas? In Florida, where I grew up, it was common in the 1980s to hear about European women visiting the beach and not realizing that women were required to cover their breasts. From what I understand, it's now uncommon in many parts of Europe where it once was common. What you describe is not casual nudity that Europe (in my American viewpoint) was known for. Compare what you wrote with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur - being nude without direct relationship to sexuality. As the Economist writes, "stripping off while gardening, playing sports or taking lunch breaks in the park." Advertisements, judging nudes, etc. are saying that being nude is not usual.

MrQuincle 8y ago
At times it is usual, at times it is casual, at times it is sexual. Nice perspective: http://theswaggernews.typepad.com/mothertongue/2014/10/why-the-dutch-go-topless-and-americans-dont.html http://theswaggernews.typepad.com/mothertongue/2014/10/why-t...
- eesmith 8y ago
  That link agrees with the Economists' observation of the decline in casual nudity: "I still live in Holland, but very few women go topless anymore. Topless just isn't cool. It's not considered very classy, much less sexy or erotic in any way. Although the topless trend has subsided greatly since I first came to this country, the Dutch attitude about the human body has not." The author writes "Our Anglo-Saxon squeamishness with nudity and bodily functions started sometime between the Middle-Ages and the Victorians and it has continued ever since." and "I still get a wee bit queasy when the soccer coaches require the 9 and 10 year olds to take group showers after the games." I do not believe the author is aware of changes in US views of nudity even over the last couple of generations. For generations, children swam nude in indoor pools in the US. Quoting from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nude_swimming#Indoor_pools https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nude_swimming#Indoor_pools : "The 1937 Administration of Health and Physical Recreation training manual stated, "Nude bathing for boys is practiced universally, in a few schools girls may swim nude and this is the most sanitary method." Elsewhere on that page points out "In America, skinny dipping by boys [in the late 1800s] was common." It also suggests that the 'squeamishness with nudity' was due to the 'rise of the influence of Christian Evangelicals' during the Victorian era.