Professor Doug Booth, author of Australian Beach Cultures: the history of sun, sand, and surf, said the utopian ideas surrounding public nudity, and particularly nude bathing, held by young baby boomers have been thoroughly rejected by their offspring. Even Speedos are now considered indecent.
In the past 10 years he had noticed ''a remarkable conservatism which reveals itself in attitudes towards bathing costumes''. ''I think it's a combination of social hysteria around paedophilia and a fear of technology and what technology can do now,'' he said.
Even a statue of a naked child on the beach can cause angst and have to be covered, as happened with an entry in last year's Sculpture by the Sea exhibition.
Mr [Bob] Reed conceded in this climate, the movement was having trouble attracting new recruits.
'''Most naturists are the naturists who were nude in the 1970s and 1980s. This is who [the police are] harassing now - people in their 50s, 60s and 70s.''
One of the most sensible responses that I have heard comes from Stéphane Deschênes* owner of Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park in Canada, who reminds us that the young 20 somethings make up but a small part of the population so they may well be represented in appropriate numbers based simply on this point alone. Second it is normally when people are in their 30's with some stability that the naturist lifestyle becomes more attractive and affordable. *see link to Naturist Living Show
So don't close the lid on the coffin just yet!
From my experience at Cobblers Beach, our "clothes optional beach", I have observed a good mix of ages. On any given weekend you will see a good cross section of the population from 20 somethings to 80 year olds.
Yes the majority of people are in their 40's and 50's just like in the general population. The really great thing about our local beach is that we do have families come down regularly and the whole beach has a real family friendly atmosphere.
Are all these people naturists or are they "skinny dippers"? To me it does not matter yesterdays skinny dipper can be tomorrows naturist.
If the popular press is to be believed the younger generations are environmentally aware what better entrée to the naturist movement if only they can break the bonds of the body-image demons.
As they say in the classics time will tell.
This IS a surprise! We've come a long way, here, on the www. Good to see such a well-presented "case" for the "cause".
ReplyDeleteBob (Reed) has been made aware of the current situation re the Middle Head beaches.
As these beaches were made legal, largely because of his efforts in standing up in local court and confronting the state politicians, on behalf of NSW naturists, through the work he did with the Free Beach Association, it would, in my opinion be good to liaise with him, even if he is not quite ready or willing to come out of "retirement".
He may say that he cannot start that battle all over again but these beaches WERE his "babies".
Bob HAS always been strong on using real names. I believe that that might have been a bit easier for him to assert than others, whose livelihood would have been more affected by it.
I suspect that during his working life his customers / clients were probably rather amused by this dimension to his image and it obviously had no bearing of their business relationships.
Once again. Good to see this.
Please do acknowledge the work done by the likes of Bob (including, e.g., his photos).
Jo