Previous posts this week on the subject of closing nudism's gender gap generated some animated and lengthy comments Some folks questioned whether there is a gap. Others strongly challenged "gender balancing" admission policies in clubs. We find the discussion insightful.
We're about to wrap up the subject and move on to other things for a while, but your posts raised a couple of additional ideas which the Platypus will take a moment to explore:
- One post raised the idea of making separate male and female areas available for those who are just starting out with the whole group nudity concept. If one thinks about it, this is what the YMCA, gym class showers, camp, and the military "did for many men: gave them a chance to experience how enjoyable nudity is, within a communal setting, without more. Perhaps guys and gals areas (at least, say, during open house weekends) would be a concept to explore;
- A related idea is to have a "weekend with the girls" whether in a cabin that the girls rent, or even at ones' home. A handy pool for skinnydipping would help. This approach actually worked for one of our Platypuses and her female friend. The first time the friend tried taking off her clothes was during one of these type weekends and she now enjoys going to nudist parks and enjoys nudity with her family. It may not have happened had she not tried it "just with other ladies" first.
- Finally, there were several who answered, or hinted, that one of the best answers is in the way we raise our kids to be matter-of-fact about the human body (grandkids too where possible... although we understand that this is not always an option for some parents and grandparents).
With thanks for your comments and your reads,
- The Platypus
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Bare Platypus now offers products with Platypus artwork at the Bare Platypus Souvenir Shop . You can get a tote bag or a coffee mug, a t-shirt, or all three! Plus there's more to come.
These designs are one-of-a-kinds that you won't find elsewhere. Tasteful enough that you can show or serve them to all guests, but unusual enough (and always bare) that they can help you get a conversation going.
You're invited to visit!
There is one HUGE factor, that most men fail to realize, is just HOW image and appearance-conscious many women are. They are bombarded 24/7 with images of "perfection"...women whose make-up is perfect, their hair is done to perfection, and if necessary, the images have been Photo-shopped and airbrushed to achieve that "perfection". The message is always the same...if they try hard enough, and use all the right products, and dress just "right", they can look like a model too.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of just how bad this "image-ideal" can be until I married an older lady, who claimed to be a nudist...but isn't. She was loathe for me to even see her with her "over-night hair", and without her makeup. She would hide her mouth from me if she didn't have her dentures in. Even though I thought she was beautiful however she was, she wasn't convinced. I rarely saw her naked during the brief time we were together, and she left me for another man shortly after we got married. He probably makes her "look better"...
Until the ladies get past all that social-programming, getting them to shed their clothes, particularly in a social-nudity setting, will be extremely difficult. Hairdo and makeup go away very quickly once a woman hits the sun, the breeze and the water.