There’s a bit of a baseline assumption here that people want structured organised activities as opposed to better freedom to just do what they want within a space and context that allows it.
This could be where generational disconnect really shows itself and explains why historic naturism is falling off a cliff.
The social structure that existed some 50-60 years ago just doesn’t exist anymore.
As a GenX IT professional I’ve volunteered my time and professional expertise a number of times only to get nowhere because the previous generation just want to maintain status quo.
Ancient websites with 90s functionality and design with information that dates back to the 70s and 80s. That era just doesn’t exist anymore so younger people view it as totally irrelevant.
With this as a context consider what can be seen at a typical clothing optional beach.
People of all generations come and go. People of different ethnicities and cultural background. People of different sexual orientation.
On any given day you really don’t know what you’re going to encounter.
If all you want to do is chill out naked at the beach and go for a swim it’s absolutely perfect.
People don’t necessarily want to interact.
This is the void of understanding that exists between generations. Gen X aren’t the bridge. Nor are any others.
Each generation invents or reinvents what has gone before anew. This is what needs to happen to nude recreation. A generational rebirth. A rediscovery if not a complete reinvention that suits the modern world.
"There’s a bit of a baseline assumption here that people want structured organized activities as opposed to better freedom to just do what they want"
Everyone's different, especially for how much they enjoy socializing with others, and under what circumstances. So the "baseline" assumption that some people want structure more than others varies widely. Many people still enjoy socializing in groups, while others just want to "do their own thing". In the latter case, most of what's discussed here is irrelevant.
However, there's strength in numbers. If people want to be naked at the beach, they're probably not going to be happy being in a tiny minority - and will be a lot less likely to be allowed on the beach at all. Why do people join unions at work? Because that's proven to be the best way to get desired results in many situations. Hey, even Hollywood actors and screenwriters belong to unions.
"I’ve volunteered my time and professional expertise a number of times only to get nowhere because the previous generation just want to maintain status quo."
You know, that's what results when you try to do things on your own. Not surprising if you don't get very far. Does the "previous generation" of naturists actively try to discourage younger people from participating? I doubt that. Older people will continue enjoying naturism in the way that satisfies them. But discouraging younger people from joining is a great way to cause a naturist place - either a beach or a club - to go textile. Have you noticed that's what is happening? There's a loss of freedom every time a naturist place closes - or even worse if laws are passed to discourage nudity where previously it was possible.
"People don’t necessarily want to interact." Some do, some don't. So what? Humans are basically a social species. Why, after all, do people gather in largish groups - either rock concerts or churches? Take your pick. There are many other examples. Choose some interest or identity group. People gravitate to others like themselves in one or more ways.
Newcomers often find they can benefit from socializing with people having more experience. Want to know a good skinny-dipping place or somewhere to hike naked where you won't be harassed or arrested? Betcha there are older naturists who know and can recommend good places.
"Does the "previous generation" of naturists actively try to discourage younger people from participating?"
Sometimes that's a yes. Every time I hear "You're not a true nudist unless..." I want to reach though the monitor and choke someone. I think what happens more often is a passive discouragement.
Let's say you have a park or an organization. You're members are all boomers and GenXers. Unless you make an effort, there is no reason why GenY or GenZ would have the slightest reason to join. Different interests and values.
Your existing clientele might not be happy with the energy and rowdiness of youth. There is - and has always been -a generation gap.
Kids generally do not like to hang out with their parents and grandparents. Never mind that today's kids simply don't join ANYTHING like they used to. Social clubs of all types have suffered greatly over the last couple decades.
"Among the college-educated, the average number of group memberships per person fell from 2.8 to 2.0 (a 26-percent decline); among high-school graduates, the number fell from 1.6 to 1.2 (32 percent); and among those with fewer than 12 years of education, the number fell from 1.4 to 1.1 (25 percent)."
With a majority of young adults under 30 living at home and many of them un- and underemployed, the traditional club model doesn't work for them.
Naturism isn't the only industry struggling with it. It is a society wide pattern. Everything from bowling clubs and churches to political parties are struggling to figure out what to do next. Demographic shifts and online activities replacing IRL activities make things harder. The Boomers was a huge generation proportionally and that's why youth culture dominated the 60s. Each successive generation has been smaller. GenZ is the smallest we've ever had.
A whole new paradigm is called for. I'm not sure what that will be.
My generation championed open sexuality, environmentalism, feminism, gay liberation, and the civil rights movement. And as soon as we got old enough to hold any power, most of us turned into our parents. Heavy sigh!
Well said. Also Gen X here, and also IT. Concur that many websites are in need of repair.
The magnitude of this ask needs to be discussed. It feels mildly like now that there's a lot of problems, an older generation would like to pass it off to the next one to repair. Quintessential buck-passing.
I believe that's not the case for everyone and that there are some regrets that this took so long. But don't forget that the largest upcoming intergenerational transfer of wealth ever seen will be between boomers and millenials. Job vacancies as boomers retire will also likely be filled with millenials, organizations eager to have people who will stay longer. Gen X knows this and plans for it, staying out of the power dynamics, holding out for our own peace in our little nook, and raising our cynical Gen Z kids.
What I see here in the comments so far is that most seem to think that helping naturism to survive and grow is someone ELSE's responsibility - definitely not MINE, because reasons. Or else nothing at all can be done. Is it any wonder that naturism in the U.S. is so anemic? It doesn't need to be like this. I'd recommend that every serious U.S. naturist join British Naturism. A yearly membership costs less than either AANR or TNSF - about the price of one decent restaurant meal for two. The BN magazine is at least as good as TNSF's, and the focus is on what's going on in naturism right now, not 50 or 70 years ago.
Obviously, only a few have the time and money to visit England very often, if at all. However, there are actually various BN things people anywhere can participate in - active discussion forums, online yoga and exercise lessons, special interest groups, etc. Although not perfect, naturism in Britain is much healthier than in the U.S.
The point is to realize what can be done when naturists of all ages work together to enjoy and promote naturism. British society in general is pretty similar to that of the U.S. - including many stupid mistakes (i. e. Brexit). But not only are there naturist clubs, resorts, and beaches all over the country. Public nonsexual nudity is actually not illegal in most places, as long as it's not meant to cause alarm or distress.
An interesting article. My biggest question is why is it up to one group to save naturism? Surely if naturism is to survive beyond being an obscure philosophy practiced by a few enthusiasts, it is incumbent on all naturists to do what they can to support and promote it.
Why must we all divide and fragment ourselves into increasingly isolated groups of gen X, Y and Z. We are all people and we all enjoy being naked.
As long as we insist on arbitrary fractionalising of our numbers, there will likely be no unified support.
It certainly isn't up to just one group. My point was that Gen-X naturists in the U.S. may have the best opportunity in this country to promote naturism - if they choose to use it. I absolutely agree that anyone who enjoys nonsexual nudity, even home naturists, should help in any way they are willing to.
Unfortunately, most U.S. naturists are very secretive. That's not surprising, due to the generally very warped attitude towards nudity in this country. It's a terrible but prevalent cultural illness here. There's one state in this country (Utah) where even being naked at home is illegal if your own children can see you. That was an actual court case several years ago - and the woman only had her top off. See https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/23/being-naked-around-your-own-kids-good-for-them-consent
I'm definitely part of the baby boomer generation. I have occasionally been to naturist resorts and organised swims at pools but I prefer free range nudity on beaches, sunbathing on the back lawn and free hiking. My children, all millennials, are generally very anti-nudity, although we did nothing to encourage this view. I know that in the UK public nudity is not illegal unless you are intending to cause alarm or distress but the message has not got around and a lot of people seem to think that even women being topless is against the law.
These ingrained social attitudes are hard to change when most people will put on special clothing for swimming and sunbathing without stopping for a moment to think that it's a odd thing to do.
Humans, unfortunately, are mostly very conformist. There's so much monkey-see, monkey-do. Often it's deliberate: wanting to mimic closely what others who're most important to them (usually others near their own age) are doing. And at other times it's reflexive and automatic. Naturism became popular among Boomers when many others of that generation took it up. Now that social nudity is shunned by later generations the same principle applies.
As far as bathing attire is concerned, swimming naked (at the Y or swimming holes) was completely normal for young males in various time periods. But older males at public beaches in certain periods often wore stuff that even covered their chests. And women at the beaches wore stuff that covered themselves from their ankles to their necks.
Herd behavior is very hard to change. And besides that, whatever the crowd tends to be doing frequently becomes codified into law - because those that make the laws want to appeal to what the herd prefers.
There’s a bit of a baseline assumption here that people want structured organised activities as opposed to better freedom to just do what they want within a space and context that allows it.
This could be where generational disconnect really shows itself and explains why historic naturism is falling off a cliff.
The social structure that existed some 50-60 years ago just doesn’t exist anymore.
As a GenX IT professional I’ve volunteered my time and professional expertise a number of times only to get nowhere because the previous generation just want to maintain status quo.
Ancient websites with 90s functionality and design with information that dates back to the 70s and 80s. That era just doesn’t exist anymore so younger people view it as totally irrelevant.
With this as a context consider what can be seen at a typical clothing optional beach.
People of all generations come and go. People of different ethnicities and cultural background. People of different sexual orientation.
On any given day you really don’t know what you’re going to encounter.
If all you want to do is chill out naked at the beach and go for a swim it’s absolutely perfect.
People don’t necessarily want to interact.
This is the void of understanding that exists between generations. Gen X aren’t the bridge. Nor are any others.
Each generation invents or reinvents what has gone before anew. This is what needs to happen to nude recreation. A generational rebirth. A rediscovery if not a complete reinvention that suits the modern world.
"There’s a bit of a baseline assumption here that people want structured organized activities as opposed to better freedom to just do what they want"
Everyone's different, especially for how much they enjoy socializing with others, and under what circumstances. So the "baseline" assumption that some people want structure more than others varies widely. Many people still enjoy socializing in groups, while others just want to "do their own thing". In the latter case, most of what's discussed here is irrelevant.
However, there's strength in numbers. If people want to be naked at the beach, they're probably not going to be happy being in a tiny minority - and will be a lot less likely to be allowed on the beach at all. Why do people join unions at work? Because that's proven to be the best way to get desired results in many situations. Hey, even Hollywood actors and screenwriters belong to unions.
"I’ve volunteered my time and professional expertise a number of times only to get nowhere because the previous generation just want to maintain status quo."
You know, that's what results when you try to do things on your own. Not surprising if you don't get very far. Does the "previous generation" of naturists actively try to discourage younger people from participating? I doubt that. Older people will continue enjoying naturism in the way that satisfies them. But discouraging younger people from joining is a great way to cause a naturist place - either a beach or a club - to go textile. Have you noticed that's what is happening? There's a loss of freedom every time a naturist place closes - or even worse if laws are passed to discourage nudity where previously it was possible.
"People don’t necessarily want to interact." Some do, some don't. So what? Humans are basically a social species. Why, after all, do people gather in largish groups - either rock concerts or churches? Take your pick. There are many other examples. Choose some interest or identity group. People gravitate to others like themselves in one or more ways.
Newcomers often find they can benefit from socializing with people having more experience. Want to know a good skinny-dipping place or somewhere to hike naked where you won't be harassed or arrested? Betcha there are older naturists who know and can recommend good places.
"Does the "previous generation" of naturists actively try to discourage younger people from participating?"
Sometimes that's a yes. Every time I hear "You're not a true nudist unless..." I want to reach though the monitor and choke someone. I think what happens more often is a passive discouragement.
Let's say you have a park or an organization. You're members are all boomers and GenXers. Unless you make an effort, there is no reason why GenY or GenZ would have the slightest reason to join. Different interests and values.
Your existing clientele might not be happy with the energy and rowdiness of youth. There is - and has always been -a generation gap.
Kids generally do not like to hang out with their parents and grandparents. Never mind that today's kids simply don't join ANYTHING like they used to. Social clubs of all types have suffered greatly over the last couple decades.
"Among the college-educated, the average number of group memberships per person fell from 2.8 to 2.0 (a 26-percent decline); among high-school graduates, the number fell from 1.6 to 1.2 (32 percent); and among those with fewer than 12 years of education, the number fell from 1.4 to 1.1 (25 percent)."
https://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alone-Collapse-American-Community/dp/0743203046
With a majority of young adults under 30 living at home and many of them un- and underemployed, the traditional club model doesn't work for them.
Naturism isn't the only industry struggling with it. It is a society wide pattern. Everything from bowling clubs and churches to political parties are struggling to figure out what to do next. Demographic shifts and online activities replacing IRL activities make things harder. The Boomers was a huge generation proportionally and that's why youth culture dominated the 60s. Each successive generation has been smaller. GenZ is the smallest we've ever had.
A whole new paradigm is called for. I'm not sure what that will be.
My generation championed open sexuality, environmentalism, feminism, gay liberation, and the civil rights movement. And as soon as we got old enough to hold any power, most of us turned into our parents. Heavy sigh!
Well said. Also Gen X here, and also IT. Concur that many websites are in need of repair.
The magnitude of this ask needs to be discussed. It feels mildly like now that there's a lot of problems, an older generation would like to pass it off to the next one to repair. Quintessential buck-passing.
I believe that's not the case for everyone and that there are some regrets that this took so long. But don't forget that the largest upcoming intergenerational transfer of wealth ever seen will be between boomers and millenials. Job vacancies as boomers retire will also likely be filled with millenials, organizations eager to have people who will stay longer. Gen X knows this and plans for it, staying out of the power dynamics, holding out for our own peace in our little nook, and raising our cynical Gen Z kids.
Interesting article having good suggestions for Gen-X to take initiatives which will popularise naturism especially in young people.
As you said rightly, Gen- X is well poised because of their age band to really work for many a young people to adopt the naturism lifestyle.
What I see here in the comments so far is that most seem to think that helping naturism to survive and grow is someone ELSE's responsibility - definitely not MINE, because reasons. Or else nothing at all can be done. Is it any wonder that naturism in the U.S. is so anemic? It doesn't need to be like this. I'd recommend that every serious U.S. naturist join British Naturism. A yearly membership costs less than either AANR or TNSF - about the price of one decent restaurant meal for two. The BN magazine is at least as good as TNSF's, and the focus is on what's going on in naturism right now, not 50 or 70 years ago.
Obviously, only a few have the time and money to visit England very often, if at all. However, there are actually various BN things people anywhere can participate in - active discussion forums, online yoga and exercise lessons, special interest groups, etc. Although not perfect, naturism in Britain is much healthier than in the U.S.
The point is to realize what can be done when naturists of all ages work together to enjoy and promote naturism. British society in general is pretty similar to that of the U.S. - including many stupid mistakes (i. e. Brexit). But not only are there naturist clubs, resorts, and beaches all over the country. Public nonsexual nudity is actually not illegal in most places, as long as it's not meant to cause alarm or distress.
An interesting article. My biggest question is why is it up to one group to save naturism? Surely if naturism is to survive beyond being an obscure philosophy practiced by a few enthusiasts, it is incumbent on all naturists to do what they can to support and promote it.
Why must we all divide and fragment ourselves into increasingly isolated groups of gen X, Y and Z. We are all people and we all enjoy being naked.
As long as we insist on arbitrary fractionalising of our numbers, there will likely be no unified support.
It certainly isn't up to just one group. My point was that Gen-X naturists in the U.S. may have the best opportunity in this country to promote naturism - if they choose to use it. I absolutely agree that anyone who enjoys nonsexual nudity, even home naturists, should help in any way they are willing to.
Unfortunately, most U.S. naturists are very secretive. That's not surprising, due to the generally very warped attitude towards nudity in this country. It's a terrible but prevalent cultural illness here. There's one state in this country (Utah) where even being naked at home is illegal if your own children can see you. That was an actual court case several years ago - and the woman only had her top off. See https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/23/being-naked-around-your-own-kids-good-for-them-consent
Sheesh.
So much for the land of the free.
I'm definitely part of the baby boomer generation. I have occasionally been to naturist resorts and organised swims at pools but I prefer free range nudity on beaches, sunbathing on the back lawn and free hiking. My children, all millennials, are generally very anti-nudity, although we did nothing to encourage this view. I know that in the UK public nudity is not illegal unless you are intending to cause alarm or distress but the message has not got around and a lot of people seem to think that even women being topless is against the law.
These ingrained social attitudes are hard to change when most people will put on special clothing for swimming and sunbathing without stopping for a moment to think that it's a odd thing to do.
Humans, unfortunately, are mostly very conformist. There's so much monkey-see, monkey-do. Often it's deliberate: wanting to mimic closely what others who're most important to them (usually others near their own age) are doing. And at other times it's reflexive and automatic. Naturism became popular among Boomers when many others of that generation took it up. Now that social nudity is shunned by later generations the same principle applies.
As far as bathing attire is concerned, swimming naked (at the Y or swimming holes) was completely normal for young males in various time periods. But older males at public beaches in certain periods often wore stuff that even covered their chests. And women at the beaches wore stuff that covered themselves from their ankles to their necks.
Herd behavior is very hard to change. And besides that, whatever the crowd tends to be doing frequently becomes codified into law - because those that make the laws want to appeal to what the herd prefers.