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| '''Nudism''', or '''naturism''', is the practice of going nude or unclothed in social and usually mixed gender groups. It sometimes occurs furtively in secluded places in countries where appearing naked in public is illegal, but enjoys widespread acceptance in other areas of the world. Those who practice nudism are called '''nudists''' or '''naturists'''. | '''Nudism''', or '''naturism''', is the practice of going nude or unclothed in social and usually mixed gender groups. It sometimes occurs furtively in secluded places in countries where appearing naked in public is illegal, but enjoys widespread acceptance in other areas of the world. Those who practice nudism are called '''nudists''' or '''naturists''' and they refer to those that don't as '''textiles'''.. | ||
| Naturism should not be confused with ], the study of nature. | Naturism should not be confused with ], the study of nature. | ||
Revision as of 04:09, 28 October 2002
Nudism, or naturism, is the practice of going nude or unclothed in social and usually mixed gender groups. It sometimes occurs furtively in secluded places in countries where appearing naked in public is illegal, but enjoys widespread acceptance in other areas of the world. Those who practice nudism are called nudists or naturists and they refer to those that don't as textiles..
Naturism should not be confused with naturalism, the study of nature.
Nudists believe that the human body is nothing to be ashamed of, being something that we all possess and ought to cherish.
Note that some draw a distinction between the terms nudism and naturism. In this view a nudist is one who sometimes chooses to go without clothes. A naturist is one who embraces a philosophy that includes more then occasional nudity. A visit to a nude beach may entitle someone to be called a nudist, but does not make one a naturist. Changing and showering in a locker room probably does not qualify for either. Doing housework in the nude might. It might be noted that there is no requirement to be nude all the time. A common thought of nudists is being "always naked under my clothes."
Most nudists and nudist organizations maintain and try to enforce a no sex in public policy, (nude, not lewd) and it is rare to see obvious signs of sexual behaviour at most sites. These are the stereotypical family oriented clubs and beaches. Other more fringe groups are little more than sex clubs and are not considered by most to be examples of true nudism.
Major nudist organizations
World Wide: International Naturist Federation/Federation Naturiste Internationale (INF/FNI) with member regional organizations in 30 countries.
Canada: the Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN) and La Fédération Québécoise de Naturisme (FQN) are the two national nudist organizations.
Netherlands: Naturisten Federatie Nederland (NFN)
United States: the American Association of Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS) are the two major nudist organizations.
Public outdoor nudist areas:
- Bredene, tram stop Bredene Renbaan (Hippodroom): sandy beach.
- Hanlans Point, a sandy beach and a 15 minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto, Ontario.
- Wreck Beach, with over 10,000 visitors each year in Vancouver, British Columbia on the north arm of the Fraser River.
- Scheveningen, The Hague, sandy beach 1 km to the north.
- Zandvoort, sandy beach 2 km to the south.
- Gunnison Beach, at Sandy Hook National Park, New Jersey. Biggest legal nude beach on the East Coast.
Nudist area with entrance fee:
- Cap d'Agde, Quartier Naturiste (Nudist Quarter): sandy beach, several swimming pools, but also nude shopping, etc.