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The future of naturism depends on maintaining a nonsexual approach. The recent cancellation of an all ages swim in Calgary for fear of pedophile activity proves as much. The events in Calgary brought the conversation into the mainstream. Opponents of the private booking of a a public facility for a naturist swim cited the potential danger to children from the possible attendance of pedophiles. The event was cancelled due to safety concerns for participants from the very people who wanted to “protect” the children.

These actions illustrate two important things which should not be ignored in any effort to bring the naturist practice to a broader audience. First, western media (television, movies and advertising) succeeded in planting the idea that nudity always leads to sexual activity. Sex and nudity sells and society has been sold on the association of sex and nudity. That brought us to a world where teachers get fired because their students catch a glimpse of nudity in art

All of us naturist or not are bombarded by a lifetime visual images that establish and reinforce the association. Some people are hypersensitive to nudity as a result. Others including some how wear the nudist/naturist label go in the opposite direction. They advocate for a more sex positive approach to naturism and nudist. These “open-minded” folks think that many of today’s nudists and naturists have become prudes, and need to relax.

https://medium.com/overthinking-naturism/a-more-sex-positive-conception-of-nudism-18ebb384e745

History suggests this is not a new idea. In the past nudist organizations tried to attach their goals to those of 60’s sex revolution. It did not end well, at least in the American context. When attached to the sexual revolution nudism got caught up in all kinds of criminalization issues. At the same time while pursuing a non sexual expression of nudity the nudist movement experienced significant legal successes.

While some commentators suggest the Calgary organizers were inept in their promotion of the event I see a much bigger issue. The problem seems to stem from the over sexualization of the naked body by people inside and outside the nudist and naturism communities. Activists advocates for simple nudity like performer TonDou works to legitimize simple nudity and bare body freedom. Others attach the term nudist to the swinger lifestyle and use it as a descriptor for those who like to be naked in public as precursor to sexual activity. Still others strongly proclaim their genuine love of nudism and not pornography while tweeting retweeting and posting porn online. Over and over I witnessed people with a voice for promoting naturist and nudism drift in the world of sex and sexuality. Sometimes simply to get more views on their sites or social media accounts. These folks at once celebrate and sexualized the human body and simple nudity. Is it any wonder the anti event folks in Calgary didn’t need to do much to generate 20,000 signatures for a petition against holding an all ages event?

https://allthenewthings.tumblr.com/post/163379871216/nudity

Why is a non sexual approach critical for the future? Everywhere one looks there are people who are dismayed that few young people are participating in naturism. Though research suggests that kids often leave naturist life behind when they reach puberty, if they are not able to take part in non sexual events when younger they may never be involved. Children are exposed to enough over sexualiaztion of the human body in general society. They don’t need to have that connection in naturist settings. A naturist setting can be a safe place for children to develop a nonsexual appreciation for their bodies.

What to do? Well, get beyond the idea that just because naturism is non sexual, naturists are asexual. Naturists are not asexual if they were they wouldn’t have children to participate in events in the first place. It is a false binary to suggest if one is not sex positive/open-minded in one’s approach to nudism then one is asexual. Genuine naturist tweeters, bloggers and social media folks should stop sharing pics of kids that aren’t their own. It just looks creepy and smacks of something seamy. What we need are real life parents sharing their stories. We should support parents who get chastised for allowing their children to experience the joy of simple no sexual nudity. Finally, we should set aside our personal opinions and predilections regarding sexuality to create safe (by that I mean non sexual because I hope we can agree children should not be involved in adult sexual activity under any circumstance.) spaces for every including children so we can teach society to distinguish nudity from sexual activity.

What do you think is the path forward a non sexual one?