There is a lot of truth in your post Anna, it is a myth that only women feel under pressure to look and act a certain way. As parents, and within the therapy world, we have seen the huge pressures that are applied to men, not only via their peer groups, but also through mainstream messages and advertising. We are also well aware of the trend that followed Metoo, to feminise men, to remove what for better words would be their manliness, in order to make them more feminine, and more emotionally open to women. It is simply an unachievable goal, as it goes against nature, but that does not make them predators, just masculine.
Both men and women in this modern world are constantly targeted, and yet it appears the pressure on men matters little. We never thought that all these trends and new notions would filter into naturism, and we have been led to believe that how we look is not important within naturist circles, and yet even we have seen and heard with own eyes and ears, men criticised, and women glorified at events in naturist circles.
We feel it is immensely damaging to naturism, but rather than look at this issue and deal with it, things just carry on as normal, or at least what is the normal of today. Naturism started over 100 years ago in the UK with men only, but it very quickly opened up to women and families, because it was understood that everyone matters in naturism, and we very strongly feel, it is time we stopped labelling and segregating single groups, and returned to the original norm of naturism, which was all inclusive.
at July 21, 2024 6:58 AM BST 
As I have mentioned several times before I don't like sites like MeToo and what they represent. There is too much encouragement of antagonism in the world today and a want for people to attract attention in any way possible. Wild accusations become gospel, and when they are ever shown to be false they are never given any publicity. I think it is time that people who make false claims against others are given high profile prison sentences to stop it happening. It destroys the careers of celebrities, but the copycats even in school playgrounds can do so much hurt. Our oldest is still suffering 2 and 1/2 years on and wants nothing more than to move away from our home to get away from continued nastiness. One of our nephews had a girl friend make fake accusations against him when they split up, he dealt with it in a legal fashion because it could have damaged his career and she was told off for making up lies that she admitted were lies, but did she really suffer? She should have been fined or locked up.
There is no doubt that some women are mistreated and abused by some men but attitudes in the MeToo world make it seem attractive to women to have such complaints to make and that it is all men that are evil, and we know that neither of these things are true. Someone who has been abused either as an adult or a child does not see it as something to gain a level of celebrity from and enter into a media circus about. It is getting to a point that no celebrity can feel they have a story to tell if it doesn't include some sort of abuse, and youngsters are feeling that if they are not some sort of victim then they really don't count as important.
What we are failing to consider is that in all of it there are millions of victims. Men around the world that are actually kind, genuine and respectful who are being treated like they are women hating predators.
What is really worrying is that the more this continues the more we will see men and women who have no need to hate each other, learn to hate each other. We will see the same with sexual orientation and skin colour too. And for that matter parents and their children against strangers. The human race is actively being encouraged to hate each other and see mistrust and misuse everywhere, and positive discrimination is incredibly harmful.
The irony is that the protests against naturism and families in naturism are a sign of how this mistrust and hate can work. So why in the world is naturism allowing these attitudes in? We have seen the damage it can cause. We know from decades of experience that naturism is misjudged simply because it is assumed that nudity cannot be innocent. As a life choice it seems completely logical that we should not buy into the whole movement of mistrust in society and that we should actually be actively fighting it. Yet instead we embrace it. We hide families, we lift women up high and kick men down low. We are so desperate to encourage naturism to be seen to appeal to a handful of women who are hurting that we fail to see the huge harm we are doing to the credibility of naturism as a life choice for all.
Women who need there confidence building can find solace in naturism, I 100% see that, but they are much more likely to find that in a life choice that doesn't encourage mistrust, segregation and hiding, and in a life choice that is also actively sold to everyone. People of all ages, all genders, of all levels of confidence and strength.
Organised naturism needs to stamp all this divison out, the problem there is though, they started it, and are the biggest purveyors of it, and there in lies the problem. Only grass roots naturism can effect change now, and they can only do it with strong voices via independent means, which means speaking out regardless of the challenges.
The question is... Will they?
The problem with naturism, is naturists?
at July 21, 2024 2:24 PM BST
I think all naturist bodies around the world need to present things much more clearly.
How many members they have - men, women, couples and families.
Their working relationship with the venue under their umbrella - if such relationships exist. What they do, how they support, what they expect from them, what they don't expect.
Where subscription money and other money is spent If people are volunteers or on the payroll or elected. How these elections take place.
What they are doing to promote naturism in their country and worldwide. What sort of figures they have for those that enjoy naturism in their country.
If they offer legal support what that support actually is. Do they help support clubs etc financially, or do the clubs have to pay to them. If they organise events are these profit lead and who makes profit from them.
These are after all bodies that are paid into by people who wish to support naturism in their country, they are not private ventures or businesses, they should be clear about what they are doing and how they do it. To encourage faith and trust and present naturism with the honesty of naturists. And ensure they stay true to their promise. It is no point having thousands of members and not considering what those members want from naturism. These bodies have the power to be listened to by the national press, have a voice that we cannot have as individuals, but if they do not voice what we want to hear said then they may as well stay quiet, in fact it may be better if they do. When they present naturism they need to present it for the common good of all naturists in their country. Never just a select and special few.
They ought to listen to the wants and needs of the people they represent, maybe run surveys that actually allow disappointments to be voiced and issues to then be addressed.
If the problem with naturism is naturists then it is also naturists that can put it right.
After five visits to the landed club in which I now have an official membership, I can attest that the women members and visitors seem entirely comfortable in conversation, behavior, appearances etc. They seem to have adopted to the behaviors within nudism that we all embrace. A few carry around a sarong, or some short of large scarf or semi transparent wrap, which goes on and comes off whenever the user feels the need. Other than that, I really see no differences in attitudes or behaviors between the genders. To me, this is simply wonderful and an endorsement of nudism.
All that said, the above refers to those who are already "in" or at least experiencing nudism initially. While my club is officially "no clothing", off the record the member women there tell me the club is tolerant of females who need a little coverup now and then. That's a smart attitude.
I tend to blame the American feminist movement for the demonizing of men. As just one example, consider their term "toxic masculinity". My adult daughter also blames the feminist movement for screwing up relationships between men and women.
Consequently I think the nudism community, internationally, needs to embrace and celebrate the beauty and natural differences between men and women, and we'll find that to be a welcome attitude.
