Body Image: Did You Grow Up in a "Naked House"?

[Danee]

Did you ever see your parents walk around naked when you were growing up? When I was in high school, one of my friends' lived in a naked house--you know, mom, dad, kids who often walked around sans clothing like it was no big deal. I don't think they considered themselves nudists; I just don't think they liked clothes. It made me wonder about you--and the whole nudity/body image debate...

****
My old friend's clothes-optional family always kind of freaked me out. Whenever I'd drop by, I was never quite certain of the degree of nakedness in which I might find them in. I was especially worried about walking in and finding her dad nude on the couch (um, nightmare!). Fortunately that never happened.

But I hear from others that naked houses aren't too unusual, even though it's hard for me to relate to. For the record: I grew up in a home where everyone wore clothes all the time--thank goodness.

So, I was wondering: Do naked houses scar kids for life, or help them along in accepting their body? Parents magazine had an interesting excerpt on the topic of family nudity and what it may mean for body image later in life:

"You'd probably never see this question in a European magazine, muses sex therapist Dennis Sugrue, PhD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School and coauthor of Sex Matters for Women (Guilford Press). Despite our culture's constant barrage of sexy media images, 'here in the United States, we get pretty uptight when it comes to baring it all,' he observes. 'Yet, the truth is that nudity in the home, when handled in a respectful, matter-of-fact way, is perfectly natural and certainly not harmful.' In fact, research suggests that children who have seen their parents nude do not grow up to be emotionally scarred, but instead are more likely to be accepting of their own bodies and comfortable with their own sexuality."

Tell me: Did you grow up in a house where everyone kept their clothes on, or a house where clothes were optional? Did this affect your own body image in a positive or a negative way?

While we're talking...

*How did your mom shape your body image?

*How Gwyneth helped me learn to love my body.

*Do you lie about your size?


by Sarah Jio


From: http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2009/04/body-image-did-you-grow-up-in.html


Note the comment section on the article page. Feel free to post in there!

[randomer909]

I totally agree with what that is saying. I believe people how are brought up in a nudity friendly environment do have a lot more self-confidence in their body image.

I 'd at how long the guy's title was

muses sex therapist Dennis Sugrue, PhD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School and coauthor of Sex Matters for Women (Guilford Press).

It's goes and on and on and on and on.....

[dangle]

I was brought up in a clothed house where nudity was more than frowned upon.  This developed a very poor body image in my mind and scarred me in the opposite affect.  I was ashamed of my body and had issues even going to a pool or beach where I was to go shirtless.

  It was not until later in life, while in college, that I went nude with others in a social manner.  I do have to admit that alcohol initially gave me the courage to strip down.  However, once I did, and felt a sincere acceptance from those I was nude with was I able to feel comfortable.  Having fallen in love with the comfort and openness of being nude I dug deeper into the world of nudism.  Its was through exploring nudism that I began to develop a positive self image.  Not only was I comfortable in showing my body, but I was also much more out going and not as shy.

What I wonder is had I grown up in a nude friendly home, how many missed opportunities have I had due to my shyness....

[genxnaturist]

I grew up in nude friendly home, granted not exactly nudist, my family still liked clothing, but had no problem with nudity.  We often swam naked, even to conserve water showered together.

Michael

[rc]

I think it depends on person, however my family is a non nudist family which is too bad.

[Stuart]

My family home remains the most repressed and puritanical place I've ever encountered.

As you can imagine, some people got quite a fright when the papers stole our pictures 

[Nude_not_rude]

My family home remains the most repressed and puritanical place I've ever encountered.

As you can imagine, some people got quite a fright when the papers stole our pictures 

Yeah I bet that wasn't much fun. I'm guessing they got over it?

[Stuart]

My family home remains the most repressed and puritanical place I've ever encountered.

As you can imagine, some people got quite a fright when the papers stole our pictures 

Yeah I bet that wasn't much fun. I'm guessing they got over it?

There's still an uncomfortable atmosphere at any mention of climbing or photography.

[Danee]

My family home remains the most repressed and puritanical place I've ever encountered.

As you can imagine, some people got quite a fright when the papers stole our pictures 

Yeah I bet that wasn't much fun. I'm guessing they got over it?

There's still an uncomfortable atmosphere at any mention of climbing or photography.

How do they feel about skydiving?     (Its almost April, in case you hoped we forgot..)

[Stuart]

My family home remains the most repressed and puritanical place I've ever encountered.

As you can imagine, some people got quite a fright when the papers stole our pictures 

Yeah I bet that wasn't much fun. I'm guessing they got over it?

There's still an uncomfortable atmosphere at any mention of climbing or photography.

How do they feel about skydiving?     (Its almost April, in case you hoped we forgot..)

Hopefully they won't find out!

Incidentally, its still the middle of winter here, with blizzards & storms!

[mike345]

My home was definitely not a nude home. I have not seen my parents nude and also have not seen my sister nude (other than when she was a baby) to this day. I wonder if a nude home would have changed my outlook on body issues, though. I'm still not comfortable nude around people that I know or am friends with. If they're nude too, I can tolerate it. The more I can share opinions and learn from people like those on this forum, the more comfortable I get with myself and the more courage I get to branch out into social nudity. But I agree that those raised in that culture have an advantage in adapting to the lifestyle.

[ailsaman]

My home was definitely not a nude home. I have not seen my parents nude and also have not seen my sister nude (other than when she was a baby) to this day. I wonder if a nude home would have changed my outlook on body issues, though. I'm still not comfortable nude around people that I know or am friends with. If they're nude too, I can tolerate it. The more I can share opinions and learn from people like those on this forum, the more comfortable I get with myself and the more courage I get to branch out into social nudity. But I agree that those raised in that culture have an advantage in adapting to the lifestyle.

My experience was the opposite, although whether I would go so far as saying it was a "naked house"? There were times when things were covered up but otherwise nudity wasn't 'frowned' upon - so coming out of the bathroom mum might just have a towel around her head, that sort of thing. Obviously at quite a young age I was aware the differences in male and female bodies but it wasn't anything I was made to feel uncomfortable with, so made me feel more comfortable about mine.

Only as I got to about 10 or 11 did I feel a bit awkward with my mum's nudity and tended to feel a bit concious about being naked in front of her myself as i was reaching puberty.

It didn't put me off but once I got my own place I 'rediscovered' naturism and enjoyed it ever since.

[mike345]

My home was definitely not a nude home. I have not seen my parents nude and also have not seen my sister nude (other than when she was a baby) to this day. I wonder if a nude home would have changed my outlook on body issues, though. I'm still not comfortable nude around people that I know or am friends with. If they're nude too, I can tolerate it. The more I can share opinions and learn from people like those on this forum, the more comfortable I get with myself and the more courage I get to branch out into social nudity. But I agree that those raised in that culture have an advantage in adapting to the lifestyle.

My experience was the opposite, although whether I would go so far as saying it was a "naked house"? There were times when things were covered up but otherwise nudity wasn't 'frowned' upon - so coming out of the bathroom mum might just have a towel around her head, that sort of thing. Obviously at quite a young age I was aware the differences in male and female bodies but it wasn't anything I was made to feel uncomfortable with, so made me feel more comfortable about mine.

Only as I got to about 10 or 11 did I feel a bit awkward with my mum's nudity and tended to feel a bit concious about being naked in front of her myself as i was reaching puberty.

It didn't put me off but once I got my own place I 'rediscovered' naturism and enjoyed it ever since.

Interesting. Yeah, I don't think it was "frowned upon" so much as something that was never an issue. I guess it was just a learned behavior (not being nude) back then.

[Danee]

“

Augghh! The naked monster is coming!”

My four-year old daughter streaks by chasing her seven year-old brother.

We live in a naked house, appropriately naked (at least we think it is). We aren’t making breakfast with all the bits hanging out, but there are times when I am getting out of the shower and walking to my closet when I am starkers and the kids are walking around. The younger kids still shower with either me or my hubby. And, yes, doors are crashed open while I am standing in the nude or going pee and my husband has been caught with the towel at his ankles while shaving.

My sister-in-law was horrified to hear this.

 She is an analyst – the brain kind, and she feels quite strongly that kids can be “overstimulated” by seeing their parents naked. She says they can become confused by their Oedipal feelings. Her advice is that parents should be discreet and turn away and cover themselves so as not to expose themselves to their kids. She has a one-year old so it will be interesting to see what she says when her kid is old enough to shove open the closet door to ask if he can go on a playdate. My hubby and I both think family life is just too chaotic to be worrying about covering up all the time.

I think it is a good idea for kids to see a real body with all its squishy and saggy parts, especially the boys. If boys don’t see their mothers naked; the first woman they do see in the nude will probably be some pornified reality star all fake and vajazzled on the Internet. I want them to know that not all women look like they are modeled after Barbie dolls.

When it comes to  privacy issues, we take the cues from our kids. My 10-year old surprised us last year when he became extremely modest, and started locking the door when he went pee or hiding in his closet when he changed. He let us know that he was uncomfortable with us (especially me) seeing him naked and vice versa. So now when he is running up the stairs yelling at me for whatever reason, I often yell back: “I am changing and I am naked!”, and it buys me a few minutes.

I grew up in a house of women with only one bathroom,  so seeing family members naked was as common as seeing them dressed. I asked a friend about her thoughts on this subject because she tends to be a bit more shy than I am. She surprised me, saying that she too has a naked house. She never saw her parents in the nude and  grew up wondering what was wrong with a naked body. She doesn’t want her kids to have a sense of shame like she did.

Here are the moms of momversation.com talking about this subject and as usual, it’s amusing and interesting.

From: http://www.embracethechaos.ca/2010/04/are-you-a-naked-family.html
and comments and video interview follow the article

http://blip.tv/play/gew%2BgZWFGQI

[simonalexander2005]

Excellent article - another great find :-)

I'm suprised at how positive the comments are - it's really great to see and I hope I can raise any kids I get that way