Naturism in the United States

Naturism in the United States is the lifestyle of practising social nudity in the country and also refers to the social movement of individuals and organizations that advocates for that lifestyle. The nudity in the country has been considered a taboo, because the society has considered nudity or nakedness as something related with sexuality, and the American society have had taboos about sexuality, what is a legacy of the Puritan and Victorian heritage. This led naturist enthusiasts to found their own closed communities where they could gather and socialize naked.[1]

History

One of the first instances of organized nudism could be traced to 1929 when three German immigrants, among them was Kurt Barthal, who were party of the German social movement nacktkultur with roots in the lebensreform movement at the end of nineteenth century, discussed the possibility of establishing nudism in the United States. Barthal later founded the American League for Physical Culture.[2] In 1932, Barthel founded Sky Farm, the first nudist camp in the United States, located in New Jersey.

Social organizations

American Gymnosophical Association
Main article: American Gymnosophical Association

American Association for Nude Recreation
Main article: American Association for Nude Recreation

The origins of this organization traces back to 1929 with the founding of the American League for Physical Culture, name changed to the American Sunbathing Association in 1931 and to the American Association for Nude Recreation (also known as by its abbreviation AANR) in 1995, and is headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida.[3]

Young Naturists America
Main article: Young Naturists America

Young Naturists America (YNA) was a naturist organization aimed to attract young adults under 35 years of age founded in 2010 and based in New York.[4]

Events

In July 14 is the National Nude Day, a day that celebrates the naturism and nudism (it is not an officially observed holiday).[5]

Nudist locations
Main article: List of social nudity places in the United States

The laws on public nudity differs depending on the state. For example, in Seattle, Washington, nudity in public is legal as long as the person is not performing something that makes anyone "uncomfortable". In New York, toplessness is legal and is not considered indecent exposure, but is not allowed to show the genitals.[6]

See also

References
  1. Hile, Jennifer (2004-07-21). "The Skinny on Nudism in the U.S." National Geographic. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. Hoffman 2015, pp. 1–17 § "Introduction: Going Naked".
  3. Woodall, Ellen E. (2002). "The American nudist movement: From cooperative to capital, the song remains the same". Journal of Popular Culture. Wiley-Blackwell. 36 (2): 264–284. doi:10.1111/1540-5931.00006.
  4. Zasky, Jason (2012-10-29). "Nudists Eye Youth Movement". Failure Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  5. Smith, Erika W. (2019-07-13). "How To (Legally) Celebrate National Nude Day". Refinery29. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  6. https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/public-nudity-laws-us

Bibliography
  • Hoffman, Brian (2015). Naked: A Cultural History of American Nudism. New York University Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-9053-3.
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