Nudity 22119 226106802 2008-07-16T21:13:48Z 67.240.121.177 /* Nudity and sexuality */ {{articleissues | article=y | cleanup=March 2008 | OR=March 2008 | refimprove=March 2008 | tone=March 2008 }} {{Redirect|Nude}} {{Redirect3|Clothes free|For the preference for nudity in non-sexualized social settings, see [[naturism]] and [[nudism]]}} [[Image:Nude protest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Demonstration against the killing of animals for leather in [[Barcelona]] in 2006.]] '''Nudity''' is the state of wearing no [[clothing]].<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nudity nudity - Definitions from Dictionary.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The term "nudity" can also occasionally be used to refer to wearing significantly less clothing than expected by the conventions of a particular [[culture]] and situation, and in particular exposing the bare [[skin]] or [[intimate part]]s, and has analogous uses. In this sense it is related to the concept of [[modesty]]. ==Terminology== [[Image:DSC 0240.JPG (1054784342).jpg|thumb|right|Swimmers enter water at Spanish beach.]] There are many terms used to describe a state of nudity. These vary between cultures, contexts and time. Sometimes such terms are used as [[euphemism]]s, sometimes as [[poetic]] terms or humorously. '''Full nudity''' is used to describe a state of total nudity, with no garments whatsoever, while '''full frontal nudity''' refers to wearing no clothing and facing the observer showing the [[Sex organ|pubic area]], as opposed to showing bare [[breasts]] or [[buttocks]]. The term '''partial nudity''' is sometimes used to refer to exposure by a person of [[skin]] beyond what the person using the expression considers within the limits of [[modesty]]. If the exposure is within the standards of modesty (eg wearing a [[bikini]] on a [[beach]]), a term such as nudity, partial or otherwise, is not appropriately used. ==Modesty== {{seealso|Modesty}} Revealing bare [[skin]] or even removing clothes in front of others, even when there is another layer of clothing underneath, are at times regarded by some to be [[erotic]] or offensive, or as immodest under some people's standards of [[modesty]]. Clothing which follow the contours of the body, or clothing using transparent materials, or clothing which sticks to the skin or become transparent when wet (as in [[wet t-shirt contest]]s), is regarded by some to be erotic, immodest and simulating nudity. ==Public nudity== {{main|Public nudity}} [[Image:Sierra Exif.jpg|thumb|right|150 px|Woman with fairy wings at [[Burning Man]] 2006. Nudity is common at this six-day annual event <!-- don't change to festival without reading discussion on talk page --> that takes place in Black Rock City, a temporary city on the [[playa]] of the [[Black Rock Desert]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Nevada]]]] Society's response to public nudity varies on the culture, time, location and context of the activities. There are many exceptions and particular circumstances in which nudity is tolerated, accepted or even encouraged in [[public spaces]]. Such examples would include [[nude beaches]], within some [[intentional communities]] (such as [[naturist]] resorts or clubs) and at special events. In general and across cultures, more restrictions are found for exposure of those parts of the human body that display evidence of [[sexual arousal]]. Therefore, [[sex organ]]s and often women's breasts are covered, even when other parts of the body may be freely uncovered. Yet the nudity taboo may have meanings deeper than the immediate possibility of sexual arousal, for example, in the cumulative weight of tradition and habit. Clothing also expresses and symbolizes authority, and more general norms and values besides those of a sexual nature. It is thus not clear what society and people's spiritual beliefs would have to be like, were nudity to be regarded as universally normal. Similar to religious traditions in which nudity symbolizes a non-recoverable state of primal innocence, there also exist secular, cynical attitudes, accusing nudism of hypocrisy and repression. Such views are rarely taken seriously, however. Not all naturists frequently contemplate a society that would accept nudity in all situations, but when the question is put to them they do not tend to shun such a possibility. Still, their own social nudity might be viewed by some as merely an agreement of trust with others who share a rare degree of confidence and comfort in being nude. Another common distinction, also considered by censoring authorities, is that ''gratuitous'' nudity is perceived as more offensive than the same degree of physical exposure in a ''functional'' context, where the action could not conveniently be performed dressed, either in reality or in a fictitious scene in art. The intent can also be invoked: whether the nudity is meant to affect observers; e.g., [[streaking]] can be considered unacceptably provocative, nude [[sun tanning]] viewed mildly as rather inoffensive. ==Non-sexual public nudity== [[Image:Streaking 2.jpg|thumb|left|275 px|Casual nudity in [[Barcelona]].]] Some people enjoy [[public nudity]] in a non-sexual context. Common variants of the [[clothes free movement]] are [[nudism]] and [[naturism]], and are often practised in reserved places that used to be called "nudist camps" but are now more commonly referred to as naturist resorts, [[nude beach]]es, or clubs. Such facilities may be designated topfree, clothing-optional, or fully nude-only. Public nude recreation is most common in rural areas and outdoors, although it is limited to warm weather. Even in countries with inclement weather much of the year and where public nudity is not restricted, such as the [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]] and [[Denmark]], public nude recreation indoors remains rare. One example is [[Starkers Nightclub]] in [[London]], a monthly nude-only disco party. Others practise public nudity more casually. [[Topfree]] [[Sunlight#Sunbathing|sunbathing]] is considered acceptable by many on the beaches of [[France]], [[Spain]] and most of the rest of Europe (and even in some outdoor [[swimming pool]]s); however, exposure of the [[genitals]] is restricted to nudist areas in most regions. In the United States, [[topfree sunbathing]] and [[Thong (garment)|thong]]s are common in many areas, with a number of [[nude beach]]es in various locations. Where the social acceptability of nudity in certain places may be well understood, the legal position is often less clear cut. In England, for example, the law does not actually prohibit simple public nudity, but does forbid indecent exposure. In practice, this means that successful prosecution hangs on whether there is a demonstrable intention to shock others, rather than simply a desire to be naked in a public place. Occasional attempts to prove this point by walking naked around the country therefore often result in periods of arrest, followed by release without charge, and inconsistencies in the approach between different police jurisdictions. Differences in the law between England and Scotland appear to make the position harder for naked ramblers once they reach Scotland. Even where the general public is fairly tolerant of public nudity, it is still notorious enough to be used as a deliberate, often successful means to attract publicity, either by naturists promoting their way of life or by others for various purposes, such as commercial [[nudity in advertising]] or staging [[Timeline of significant non-sexualized public nudity activities|nude events]] as a forum for a usually unrelated messages, such as various nude biker tours demonstrating for different causes or celebrities revealing their natural state by removing a fur coat to support a campaign against fur sales. == Nudity and children == ===Nudity in the home=== {{articleissues|pov = May 2008|or=May 2008|section=y}} Parental nudity is a controversial issue.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} There are differences of opinion as to whether, and if so to what extent, parents should appear naked in front of their children. Gordon and Schroeder<ref> {{cite book |title=Sexuality: A Developmental Approach to Problems |author=Betty N. Gordon and Carolyn S. Schroeder |date=1995 |publisher=Springer |id=ISBN 0306450402 |pages=16}} </ref> report that there is a wide variation on parental nudity from family to family. They opine that "there is nothing inherently wrong with bathing with children or otherwise appearing naked in front of them", noting that doing so may provide an opportunity for parents to provide important information. They note that by ages 5 to 6 children begin to develop a sense of modesty, and recommend to parents who wish to be sensitive to their children's wishes that they limit such activities from that age onwards. Bonner<ref>{{cite book|title=Handbook for Child Protection Practice|editor=Howard Dubowitz and Diane Depanfilis|date=1999|publisher=Sage Publications|id=ISBN 0761913718|author=Barbara L. Bonner|chapter=When does sexual play suggest a problem?|pages=211}}</ref> recommends against nudity in the home where children are exhibiting sexual behaviour considered problematic. A United States study by [[Alfred Kinsey]] found that 75% of the participants stated that there was never nudity in the home when they were growing up, 5% of the participants said that there was "seldom" nudity in the home, 3% said "often", and 17% said that it was "usual". The study found that there was no significant difference between what was reported by men and by women with respect to frequency of nudity in the home.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sexual Development in Childhood|author=John Bancroft|pages=146&ndash;147|date=2003|publisher=Indiana University Press|id=ISBN 0253342430}}</ref> In a 1995 review of the literature, Paul Okami concluded that there was no reliable evidence linking exposure to parental nudity to any negative effect.<ref>Okami. P. (1995) ." Childhood exposure to parental nudity‚ parent-child co-sleeping‚ and 'primal scenes': A review of clinical opinion and empirical evidence," ''Journal of Sex Research'', 32: 51-64.</ref> Three years later, his team finished an 18-year longitudal study that showed that, if anything, such exposure was associated with slight beneficial effects, particularly for boys.<ref>Okami, P., Olmstead, R., Abramson, P. & Pendleton, L. (1998). "Early childhood exposure to parental nudity and scenes of parental sexuality ('primal scenes'): An 18-year longitudinal study of outcome," ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'', 27(4), 361-384.</ref> ===Nudity of children=== {{globalize}} {{seealso|Depictions of nudity}} [[Image:KidsBathingInASmallMetalTub.jpg|thumb|[[Bathing]] in a small metal [[bathtub]]]] [[Depictions of nudity#Children|Depictions of child nudity]] or children with nude adults appear in [[works of art]] in various cultures and historical periods. These attitudes have changed over time and have become increasingly frowned upon particularly in recent years<ref name = "Higonnet">{{cite book | last = Higonnet | first = Anne | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Pictures of Innocence - The History and Crissi of Ideal Childhood | publisher = Thames & Hudson | date = 1998 | location = London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-500-28048-7}}</ref>, and especially in the case of photography. In recent years there have been a few incidents in which snapshots taken by parents of their infant or toddler children bathing or otherwise naked were challenged as [[child pornography]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Kincaid | first = James R. | title = Is this child pornography? | url = http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/01/31/kincaid/index.html | accessdate = 2007-04-28 }} </ref> In May 2008, police in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], raided an exhibition by the photographer [[Bill Henson]] featuring images of naked children on allegations of child pornography.[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/henson-exhibition-shut-down/2008/05/22/1211183043937.html]<ref>See also [[Jock Sturges]] and [[Julia Somerville]].</ref> Though these incidents were not proceeded with, they sent a strong psychological message to the community of the embarrassment that can be caused in this ambiguous but sensitive area. ===Children seeing nudity=== Attitudes toward children seeing nude people, other than their parents, vary substantially, depending on the child's [[culture]], age and the context of the nudity. British TV is required to avoid displaying scenes of sex from 5:30am to 9pm (the so-called "[[Watershed (television)|watershed]]") to avoid viewing by children. The Broadcasting Code requires that "Nudity before the watershed must be justified by the context."<ref> {{cite web | title = The Ofcom Broadcasting Code | publisher = Ofcom (Office of Communications, UK) | date = 2005-07-25 | url = http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/bcode/protectingu18/ | accessdate = 2008-01-01 }} </ref> <ref> {{cite web | title = House of Commons Hansard debate transcription (part 31) | publisher = UK Parliament Publications & Records | date = 1996-07-01 | url = http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199596/cmhansrd/vo960701/debtext/60701-31.htm Hansard | accessdate = 2008-01-01 }} </ref> Attitudes to nudity vary substantially throughout Europe, with [[Scandinavia]] in the north being the most relaxed about it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mapes|first=Terri|url=http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/specialinterestadult/qt/sexualityinscan.htm|title=Sexuality in Scandinavia: How Scandinavia Looks at Sexuality|accessdate=2007-10-17}}</ref> ===Communal showering=== Another issue has been the nudity of children in front of other children. [[Europe]]ans have generally been more insistent that all students shower communally after [[physical education]] classes.<ref>{{cite web | last = Chaudhry | first = Rashid | title = Ahmadi Muslim Boy Expelled for Not Bathing Nude | url = http://www.alislam.org/library/links/nudity2.html | date = [[1988]] | accessdate = 2007-04-28 }}</ref> <!-- preceeding link alone does not support claim that Europe is MORE insistent than the United States that all students shower communally. It may also not reflect current policy. -dfpc 04/28/2007 --> In the [[United States]] and some of English-speaking [[Canada]], students at tax funded schools have historically been required to [[shower]] communally with classmates of the same sex after physical education classes. In the United States, public objections and the threat of lawsuits have resulted in a number of school districts in recent years changing policy to make showers optional.<ref>{{cite web | last = ACLU of Washington | first = | title = ACLU-WA's Work for Student Rights | url = http://www.aclu-wa.org/detail.cfm?id=180 | accessdate = 2007-04-28 }} </ref> A court case in the State of [[Colorado]] noted that students have a reduced expectation of personal privacy in regards to "communal undress" while showering after physical education classes.<ref name="Trinidadvlopez">{{cite web | last = | first = | title = TRINIDAD SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 v. CARLOS R. LOPEZ | url = http://lw.bna.com/lw/19980721/97sc124.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-28 }}</ref><!-- Trinidad link contradicts article text, need to remove it -dfpc 4/28/07 -->. According to an interview with a middle school principal, most objections to school showers that he had heard were actually from the student's parents rather than from the student.<ref name="PleacherIntervew1987">{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Interview with John Pleacher 2/16/87 | url = http://www.unlv.edu/projects/ohpsp/p/133pleacher.html | accessdate = 2007-04-28 }}</ref> ==Nudity in photography== [[Image:A Study in bronze I.jpg|thumb|''A Study in Bronze'', by Frederick I. Monsen of New York: A nude Indian youth sits on large rock on top of mountain.|right]] {{main|Nude photography}} Nudity has been used in photography since the invention of photography itself. [[Nudity in photography]] does not necessarily claim any artistic merit, while [[nude photography]] typically does. Unlike nudity in photography generally, nude photography is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. As an art form, nude photography is a stylised depiction of the nude body with the line and form of the human figure as the primary objective. Similarly, [[erotic photography|erotic]] and [[pornography]] is typically stylized photography using nude or semi-nude models. Photography of [[installation]]s of massed nude people in public places, as made repeatedly around the world by [[Spencer Tunick]], claim artistic merit. ==Sex segregation== {{main|Sex segregation}} Nudity in front of strangers of the same sex is often more accepted than in front of those of the other or both sexes. Gender-specific public facilities (such as [[toilet]]s, [[changing room]]s etc) are used to meet community standards of acceptable nudity. In some cultures, nudity, even before people of the same sex, is considered inappropriate and embarrassing. In [[Japan]], for example, it is not acceptable to have "open" [[urinals]] in men's toilets, nor "open" showers in change rooms. On the other hand, mixed-gender public saunas are normally acceptable. ==Nudity in Western culture== ===Functional nudity=== [[Image:Shanti.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A [[topfree]] woman.]] Functional nudity for a short time, such as when changing clothes on a beach, is sometimes acceptable when staying nude on the beach is not. However, even this is often avoided or minimized by a towel.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} [[Breastfeeding]] in public may involve partial nudity and sometimes creates controversy. Most courts in western countries would not consider breastfeeding as [[indecent exposure]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} ===Topfree=== {{main|Topfreedom}} {{seealso|Toplessness}} The exposure of women's [[breast]]s is not, of itself, normally regarded as indecent exposure in most western countries, at least in appropriate settings, such as while suntanning. In the [[United States of America]] exposure of female nipples is a criminal offence in many states and not usually allowed in public (see [[Public_indecency#Legal_status_in_the_United_States|Public indecency]]). Prosecutions of cases has given raise to a movement advocating "[[topfree equality]]," promoting equal rights for women to have no clothing above the waist, on the same basis that would apply to men in the same circumstances. The term "topfree" rather than "topless" is advocated to avoid the latter term's perceived sexual connotations. However, there was still a public outcry to the exposure by [[Janet Jackson]] of her breast during the [[2004]] [[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Super Bowl half-time show]]. ===Naturism and nudism=== {{See also|Naturism|List of social nudity places}} ''Naturism'' (or ''nudism'') is a [[cultural]] and [[political]] movement practising, advocating and defending nudity in private and in [[public nudity|public]]. It is also a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudity.<ref name="inf"> See 2002-2003 World Naturist Handbook, pub International Naturist Federation INF-FNI, Sint Hubertusstraat, B-2600 Berchem(Antwerpen) ISBN 9055838330 The Agde definition. The INF is made up of representative of the Naturist Organisations in 32 countries, with 7 more having correspondent status. The current edition is * ''Naturisme, The INF World Handbook'' (2006) [http://inf-fni.org/guide.html] ISBN 90-5062-080-9</ref><ref name="infsite">http://www.inf-fni.org/index_e.htm| INF web page </ref> [[Naturism|Naturists]] reject contemporary standards of [[modesty]] which discourage personal, family and social nudity, and seek to create a [[social]] environment where people feel comfortable in the company of nude people, and being seen nude, either just by other nudists, or also by the general public.<ref name="inf"/><ref name="infsite"/> ===Nude bathing=== [[Image:Vintage photo nude woman 1.jpg|thumb|left|150 px|Woman bathing]] The trend in some [[Europe]]an countries (for instance [[Germany]], [[Finland]] and the [[Netherlands]]) is to allow both sexes to bathe together naked.Most German spas allow mixed nude bathing. For example the Friedrichsbad in Baden Baden has designated times when mixed nude bathing is permitted. There may be some older German [[bathhouse]]s, such as Bad Burg, which remain segregated by sex, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Most German (not to mention French, Spanish and Greek) beaches and swimming pools offer FKK...Clothing optional,areas. In general continental Europeans have a far more relaxed attitude about nudity than is seen in the Anglo-Saxon world. Some have attributed this difference to ihe influence of Queen Victoria's husband Albert, who was raised in a very restricting religious sect. ("Victorian Morality"). [[Image:Example of a Man.jpg|thumb|right|170px|A Man with trimmed pubic and body hair, a moderate amount of musculature, and an uncurcumcised penis in a flaccid state]] ===Nudity and sexuality=== {{main|Nudity and sexuality}} Nudity in front of a [[human sexuality|sexual]] partner is widely accepted, but there may be restrictions — for example, only at the time and place of [[Sexual intercourse|sex]], or with subdued lighting, during bathing with the partner or afterward, covered by a sheet or blanket, or while sleeping. Nudity is closely associated with [[Human sexual behavior|sexuality]] in most cultures where some level of body [[modesty]] is expected. This is evidenced by the existence of [[striptease]] in these cultures. [[Sexual dimorphism]] when depicted in the [[mass media|main stream media]] of these cultures is often seen as sexually related. In Latin cultures the common definition of modesty does not generally admit genital nudity, but the definition of what is lewd has changed and women's breasts are now commonly exposed or depicted without scandal. ==Non-Western attitudes== Attitudes in [[Western culture]]s are not all the same as explained above, and likewise attitudes in non-western cultures are many and variant. In almost all cultures, acceptability of nudity depends on the situation. Cultural and/or religious traditions usually dictate what is proper and what is not socially acceptable. Many non-western cultures allow women to breastfeed in public, while some have very strict laws about showing any bare skin. ===Nudity in [[Africa]]=== [[Image:Junge Hamer in Südäthiopien.jpg|thumb|right|A woman wearing traditional clothing in Southern Ethiopia - many cultures do not stigmatise toplessness among women]] Still very different traditions exist among, for example, sub-Saharan Africans, partly persisting in the post-colonial era. Whereas some tribes and family-groups including some Togolose and Nilo-Saharan (e.g., [[Surma people]]) still commonly parade fully naked or without any covering below the waist (especially at massively attended stick fighting tournaments, where well-exposed young men can hope to catch the eye of a prospective bride), amongst Bantu people there is often a complete aversion from public nudity — thus, in Botswana when a newspaper printed a photograph (of a thief suffering lashes on the bared buttocks imposed by a traditional chief's court, there was national consternation, not about the flogging but about the 'peeping tom'. The Ugandan [[Kavirondo]] tribes, a mix of Bantu and Nilotic immigrants, traditionally went practically naked, but the men eventually adopted western dress. ===Nudity in [[Liberia]]=== In modern [[Liberia]], soldiers under [[Joshua Blahyi|"General Butt Naked" Joshua Blahyi]] fought naked in order to terrorize their opponents.<ref>[http://hrw.org/reports/2004/liberia0204/6.htm How to Fight, How to Kill: Child Soldiers in Liberia: Roles and Responsibilities of Child Soldiers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nude except for lace-up leather shoes and a gun, the general led his fierce Butt Naked Battalion into battle on behalf of the warlord Roosevelt Johnson, who hired the unclothed warrior for his fearlessness and fighting skills. Drunk and drugged teen-agers and boys composed much of the warlords' fighting forces, and in their intoxicated states they would waltz into battle wearing flowing dresses, colorful wigs and carrying dainty purses looted from civilians. As the war wound down, so too did Gen. Butt Naked's commitment to kill. Today, he is an evangelical preacher leading his Soul-Winning Evangelistic Ministry on a crusade against war and warlords. ==Historical overview== {{main|History of nudity}} Anthropologists logically presume that humans originally lived naked, without clothing, as their natural state. They postulate the adaptation of animal skins and vegetation into coverings to protect the wearer from cold, heat and rain, especially as humans migrated to new climates; alternatively, covering may have been invented first for other purposes, such as magic, decoration, cult, or prestige, and later found to be practical as well. For men and women, public nudity was at least permissible in ancient Sparta, and customary at festivals. In some [[hunter-gatherer]] cultures in warm climates, near-complete nudity has been, until the introduction of [[Western culture]], or still is, standard practice for both men and women. In some [[Africa]]n and [[Melanesian]] cultures, men going completely naked except for a string tied about the waist are considered properly dressed for hunting and other traditional group activities. In a number of tribes in the [[Oceania|South Pacific]] island of [[New Guinea]], the men use hard gourdlike pods as ''[[penis sheath]]s''. While obscuring and covering the actual [[penis]], these at a longer distance give the impression of a large, erect phallus. Yet a man without this "covering" could be considered to be in an embarrassing state of nakedness. Among the [[Chumash (tribe)|Chumash]] Native Americans of southern [[California]], men were usually naked, and women were often [[toplessness|topless]]. [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] of the [[Amazon Basin]] usually went nude or nearly nude; in many native tribes, the only clothing worn was some device worn by men to clamp the [[foreskin]] shut. However, other similar cultures have had different standards. For example, other native [[North America]]ns generally avoided total nudity, and the Native Americans of the mountains and west of [[South America]], such as the [[Quechua]], kept quite covered. In the ancient culture of Southern Asia, there is a tradition of extreme ascetism (obviously minoritarian) that includes full nudity, from the [[gymnosophists]] (philosophers in Antiquity) to certain holy men (who may however cover themselves with ashes) in present [[Hindu]] devotion. ===Nudity as punishment=== [[Image:AG-10.jpg|thumb|left|225 px|Prisoner abuse, including forced nudity and humiliation, was widely condemned at [[Abu Graib]] facility in Iraq.]] During the [[witch-hunt]]s the alleged [[witch]]es were stripped to discover the so-called [[Witches%27_mark#As_evidence_in_trials|witches' mark]]s. The discovery of witches' marks was then used as evidence in trials.<ref>[http://home.att.net/~wiccanhistorian/histories/devilsmark.html Devil's Mark]</ref> Nakedness (full or partial) can be part of a [[corporal punishment]] or as an imposed [[public humiliation|humiliation]] (especially when administered in public). In fact, [[torture]] manuals may distinguish between the male and female psychological aversion to self-exposure versus being disrobed. Nazis used forced nudity to attempt to humiliate citizens held in its concentration camp. This was depicted in the film ''[[Schindler's List]]''. In [[2003]], [[Abu Ghraib]] prison earned international notoriety for allegations of [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse|torture and abuses]] by members of the [[United States Army Reserve]] during the [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2006|post-invasion period]]. Photographic images were widely circulated and exposed practices of posing prisoners naked, sometimes bound, covered in feces and being intimidated. ==Nudity in religion== {{Main|Nudity in religion}} ===Judaism=== In some parts of Judaism and in some Jewish communities, men and women (separately) use ritual baths called ''mikvot'' for a variety of reasons, mostly religious in the present day. Immersion in a [[mikvah]] requires that water covers the entire body (including the entire head). To make sure that water literally touches every part of the body, all clothing, jewelry and even bandages must be removed. At the same time, religious Jews are very protective about their naked body. Under the laws of [[Tzniut]] (modesty), both men and women cannot reveal the body parts considered to have sexual connotation{{Fact|date=July 2008}} (including upper arms, collarbones, legs, and — for married women and all men — hair, which is covered completely or partially). It is postulated in the [[Shulchan Aruch]] that one must uncover as little body as possible when in the toilet room and even when changing before sleep (trousers are often taken off and exchanged for the pajamas under the covers).{{Fact|date=July 2008}} Although full nudity is permitted, and according to many, encouraged, during sexual intercourse, there is a law that the room should be dark.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} This ensures maximum acuteness of spiritual sensation during sex and also decreases the feeling of self-awareness and shame about one's body.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] and [[Reform Judaism]] do not share the same attitudes about nudity in private. ===Islam=== In [[Islam]] the area of the body not meant to be exposed in public is called the [[awrah]], and while referred to in the [[Qur'an]], is addressed in more detail in [[hadith]]. *For men, the [[awrah]] is from the navel well to well below the knees, which means that in public [[Muslim]] men have to cover themselves at least from the navel down below the knees. *Some Muslim women wear the [[hijab]], which covers the entire body except for the hands, the feet, and the face. *Some Islamic countries require women to observe [[purdah]], covering their entire bodies, except the face (see [[burqa]]). However, the degrees of covering vary according to local custom and/or interpretation of Islamic Law. ==See also== {{Portal|Nudity}} *[[Depictions of nudity|Nudity in art]] *[[Nudity in combat]] *[[Nudity in film]] *[[Nudity in religion]] *[[Nudity in sport]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Sources and references== *Rouche, Michel, "Private life conquers state and society," in ''A History of Private Life'' vol I, Paul Veyne, editor, Harvard University Press 1987 ISBN 0-674-39974-9 *Brandom, Robert, "Critical Notice of Blind and Worried", ''Theoria'' 70:2-3, 2005. *[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=starkers&searchmode=none Etymology OnLine- various lemmate] & [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=bare&searchmode=none] ==External links== {{wikiquote|Nudity}} {{Commonscat|Nudity}} *[http://www.memoreejoelle.org/page/page/3114154.htm ''Theory of the Nude'' - How and why we create the nude in art] *[http://www.barebrush.net/ Nudity in art Today by Art Lister] *[http://www.all-art.org/20centuri_nude/00001contents.htm 20 century Nude in the "History of Art"] *[http://www.primitivism.com/nudity.htm ''Nudity in Ancient to Modern'' Cultures by Aileen Goodson] (This chapter excerpt is from Aileen Goodson's Therapy, Nudity & Joy) ==Further reading== *[[Mark Storey|Storey, Mark]] ''Social Nudity, Sexual Attraction, and Respect'' [[Nude & Natural]] magazine, 24.3 Spring 2005. *[[Mark Storey|Storey, Mark]] ''Children, Social Nudity and Academic Research'' [[Nude & Natural]] magazine, 23.4 Summer 2004. {{Portal:Nudity/Nudity-related topics}} [[Category:nudity]] [[Category:Nudity| ]] [[af:Naaktheid]] [[ar:عري]] [[ca:Nuesa]] [[cs:Akt (výtvarné umění)]] [[da:Nøgenhed]] [[de:Nacktheit]] [[es:Desnudo]] [[eo:Nudeco]] [[fr:Nudité]] [[gd:Luime]] [[hr:Akt]] [[ilo:Kinalabus]] [[it:Nudità]] [[he:עירום]] [[hu:Meztelenség]] [[ms:Kebogelan]] [[nl:Naaktheid]] [[ja:裸]] [[no:Nakenhet]] [[pl:Akt]] [[pt:Nudez]] [[ru:Нагота]] [[simple:Nudity]] [[sk:Nahota]] [[fi:Alastomuus]] [[sv:Nakenhet]] [[tl:Hubo't hubad]] [[vi:Khỏa thân]] [[yi:נאקעט]] [[zh:裸体]]