Buff culture: the shock of public nudity

Well, I guess I could say it has gotten a little easier, but only in that I now know what to expect and so I'm not completely taken off-guard when it happens. Undressing in front of someone who is basically a complete stranger will never be easy for me. Not only do I have a modest Midwest background, but I'm also a woman of size, with all the body consciousness issues that entails. It doesn't help when European doctors tell me things like, “Are you aware how overweight you are?” with such a look of urgency and frank panic, even though there are plenty of heavy people around these parts. I generally tell them something along the lines of “No sh*t Sherlock” and go on about my business, but it still bothers me.

As for general personal space, I don't have as large of a bubble as most Americans I know. My family is Italian, though, and so I think that accounts for my comfortable attitude towards touchy-feely-huggy times. I only have a problem with personal space when it's someone I don't like, but I think anyone would feel that way. I do know that a lot of my American friends complain of Europeans having small personal bubbles, so I feel lucky to live here and not have a problem with it.

Do you enjoy living in Czech, overall? Prague is my favorite city in Europe, but I haven't had a chance to go there in ages. Drink some Velvet beer for me!

Thanks, but I certainly don't feel very brave. Actually, I feel a bit naked in sharing my experiences with nudity in Europe!

I don't get the paper robe thing, either, and I'm American. I've never considered myself “prudish”; however during my first short visit to Istanbul, I went to a hamam recommended by my hotel. I undressed and wrapped my little plaid tea towel around my bottom and much to my surprise when I arrived inside, there were men customers along with women! Ok, I accepted it. What I cringed at was being bathed and massaged by a male. I laid on my stomach for the first part and the attendant told me to turn over and I just laid there like I didn't hear him. He said, “Burjet! Over please.” Reluctantly I rolled over. I just shut my eyes and tried to block out the image of this man-stranger rubbing his hands all over me. For the European women here, that wouldn't bother you? I wouldn't do it again I'd make sure a woman was on staff to take care of me!

I agree. I've had pleasant conversations with some people while in the US, only to watch their eyes glaze over when I mention I live in Turkey. The concept that anyone would choose to live abroad is unfathomable (especially in such a “conservative Islamic” country), so they tune out. They'd be shocked to find a vibrant cosmopolitan life here, somehow co-existing with those women in chador. Yes, I admit, it is rather mind-blowing…so better not to think about it, right?

Sounds like a great idea. I'm ready to read your 4-woman post!

You're right, Yazarc. We need to remember each place is truly a mix and we shouldn't get caught up in generalizations.

Here, in the Czech Republic, most of my Czech friends find American prudishness strange and amusing. They don't understand how embarrassing and even shameful nudity can feel for some of us. I'm working on finding the best way to be comfortable here, and still maintain my beliefs.

Speaking of beliefs, I don't condemn those who choose to practice nudity in parks, on beaches, etc. They can do what they want. I'm the one who is uncomfortable with the situation. I'm uncomfortable around the nudity of others and don't want anyone to see me. I don't want to change Europe–that's impossible and not the right way to do things. I just want to find a way to live here and be comfortable without pushing my ways and thoughts on others.

I agree with you. Spitting, drinking in parks (men), wearing high heels any time, any place, any age (women)… It disturbs me because it complies with all cliches we have in Germany about Russians, including this unfriendliness, that makes living in Russia sometimes very hard.

Agree, cobblestones and beachwear don't mix.

Last time I was in Rome (….in August when only “dogs and Americans” are in town — from the Italian expression i cani ed i americani) I found out why. It's not because of the unbearable heat on the streets and the 2,000 year tradition of Romans escaping it to the coasts and country. It's the British in their infernal beachwear. Maybe they were Americans. I didn't know where to look.

There's a corollary to this as well, which I feel as an overheated American woman sometimes and it grates particularly for me in the Muslim countries I've lived in. Casual and revealing outfits (or nudity) only work where everyone is dressed like that. Otherwise, you can be uncomfortable wearing it or uncomfortable being subjected to it.

BTW, Californian nude beaches have an inordinately high amount of old dudes “beachcombing”, I find. Strolling/parading up and down and up and down along the water. This behavior alone makes me wonder how natural the environment really is even for 'out-there' Cali.

More to say, but a storm is coming and might lose power…

That's a great point, Catherine. It would be really interesting to read all of our takes on this topic and could really highlight all of the issues of identity, culture and personal experience we talk about here. What do you say Judith and Anastasia? A four-woman piece? Nice symmetry there.

Perhaps we should all co-write a piece, since my perception of CA is a mix yet different than both of yours, and Anastasia's would cast yet another light as well.

Wow, where to jump in on this great convo, everyone! Very well done, Sherry – you've got us all worked up on this subject. Being another of those weird, wacky, non-average (God forbid!) Californians, I completely agree that state is far more provincial than progressive, and important to note, far more conservative in the last couple decades than it was in the 60's and 70's when I was growing up.

Our 'normal' beach town (not Venice, a world unto its own) had several nude beaches if you knew where to find them (and locals were always happy to share the info) and no one was ticketed, though I remember the police standing on the cliffs and 'patroling' ! Men wore those tiny Speedos on public beaches and at family pools. As I recall, it was always the teenaged boys that were most freaked out to see them.

The comments about beach attire in town made me laugh, since in both Selcuk and Santa Barbara you could always tell who the tourists were – locals knew better. And why is it always those who have far too many kilos to be flaunting all that sunburned flesh?

Here in Turkey, I must admit I was freaked out the first time I went in for a breast ultrasound. I was asked to strip to the waist and lie back on the table in a room with several male doctors and technicians along with other waiting women, and the door to the crowded hallway open. My husband thought I was acting like a child to ask the doctor for some privacy. “What's the big deal? Everyone's seen breasts before…” Guess that turned my opinion of what's conservative in a Muslim country on its head.

As far as your question about overturned belief systems, I'd have to say that I realized just how insular the US is, that it has very little consciousness of the world beyond, and that a state that I thought is progressive is disappointingly anything but. And that a country like Turkey is not a monolithic scary Islamic place, but is just as fragmented across the political and social spectrum as any country in the so-called West. (But a much heralded nudist hotel in Datca on the Aegean coast here was just closed due to “licensing problems” (Turkish lingo for “not in our backyard”). I guess that breasts are okay, but all those other bits are not?

Hi Sezin,
It is disturbing when the nudity is only one-sided–whether on this side of the ocean or on the other side. It might be more acceptable if there was equity in the matter of public nudity. I've never seen a guy here naked swimming, etc. However, they do where very, very tiny bikini briefs for swimming. When my husband goes to the US he has to be sure to have a “proper” swim suit with him. He can't understand why he can't wear his tiny bikini in a family pool in the US.

Yes–many Americans don't have the urge to travel beyond their borders. This is sad, as if more people tried to experience the rest of the world, they would so much about how our country affects others, plus they would learn more about themselves and broaden their horizons in other ways.

Thanks for the great insights!

Hi dustchessabroad,
What a great turn around! You have caught exactly what I feel here. At times there is utter dismay at the contradiction faced in our cultures and experiences. I completely understand what you mean about the peeping tom reporting their neighbor. Completely ridiculous, even in my “prudish” eyes. And I have never been able to understand why they leave out the KY gel and condoms in plain sight. These are my reactions to my own culture.

And yes, the places considered to be more open minded are usually a bit more on the conservative side.

Your comments are very insightful, and I couldn't agree with you more about the complexity of nude and prude ideas in the US and here, in Europe. Its always a great experience to view our own cultures through others' eyes. We all learn from this dialogue.