Why Are Americans Afraid of Being Naked? (AlterNet)

[marmar]

Why Are Americans Afraid of Being Naked?

By Dara Colwell, AlterNet. Posted April 19, 2007.



In the Netherlands people can be naked in their gardens, the beach and recently the gym. But in America, even chocolate sculptures can't be without clothes. What gives?

When Catholic protesters recently shut down a New York exhibit displaying a naked, life-sized Jesus sculpted from chocolate, the outcry wasn't totally unexpected. Labeled offensive by critics, the artwork touched an angry nerve by pushing religion and nudity -- two substances that historically don't mix -- into the limelight. While the media was quick to exploit the story, it also expressed surprising modesty when it came to the naked Christ, avoiding the full frontal and opting for photos of the Lord's backside.

But in Europe, and particularly the Netherlands, where bakeries display anatomically-correct marzipan nudes in their front windows right next to chocolate bunnies and chicks, such furor over confectionary draws a complete blank. On this side of the Atlantic, when it comes to nudity, Europeans happily assert they've got absolutely nothing to hide.

"The Netherlands is a liberal country where public nakedness is allowed, and that's the way it should be -- that's why there's a law for it," says Ragna Verwer of the Dutch Naturist Federation (NFN), a 70,000-member-strong organization established to expand naturist activities.

According to Verwer, 1.9 million Dutch regularly get nude, going to nude beaches or stripping down in their own gardens, though she estimates the numbers are much higher as NFN doesn't include sauna-goers in its research. "Naked recreation is well accepted here. But we have to take care that things stay this way, which is why we often discuss these matters with local city councils and recreation areas to create more places." .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/story/50732/

[rfranklin]

1. Thank god! NInety percent of Americans should disrobe in the dark...

The horror!

[leveymg]

2. If you've seen most Americans in the nude, you'd be afraid too.

"America when will you be angelic?

When will you take off your clothes?

When will you look at yourself through the grave?"

- A. Ginzberg, Howl

[Wilber_Stool]

3. A friend of mine once told me that

the folks in Maine are so modest, that most of them have never seen themselves naked.

[Uncle Roy]

7. Too dangerous: there's frostbite for 11 months of the year, then in July there's lobstahs! (nfm)

[yurbud]

4. When I went to topless beaches in France, the attractive young women kept tops on

and the older women affected by gravity and sun damage didn't. Sex is still treated a bit like a commodity over there, and someone who's got the product doesn't give it away for free.

[yurbud]

5. one reason guys don't do it in public: shrinkage

guys are so concerned about penis size that some get that penis enlargement surgery that only affects the flaccid length, not erections--so it's just for other guys in the locker room to see.

[Demeter]

6. For One Thing, It's Too Damn Cold; Add Sunburn, Skin Cancer, and Bugs

and it's a wonder I ever go outside!