Nakedness and the Law

[wildman]

No but to question their motive, they may or may not be totally innocent but by their actions they become questionable.

They might simply just like walking around al fresco, that doesn't make them guilty of anything other than possibly be mildly insane which in itself is not a crime last time I checked

 

[tibbsey]

Their DNA will decide when that is.

In that case, whether they are "ready" to become adults or not is completely irrelevant.


When you say "sexualisation of children", which meaning are you referring to?

1. to make or become sexual or sexually aware
2. to give or acquire sexual associations

I will concede the first definition. By exposing them to nudity they may be more likely to become sexually aware. Nothing to say that this, with the appropriate education and parenting, is a bad thing.
If you mean sexualisation as in the second definition, then I would not agree. Nudity does not automatically mean a sexual association.

If anything they remain totally unaware of the issue, which is what I want for my children.

Yep, ignorance is bliss, although I'm not certain what "issue" it is you're referring to. The public display of one's danglies? It's only an "issue" because the socially accepted norms (that you're helping to propagate) say it is.

 

[dirtydog]

Sexualisation of children.

Explain?

 

[Vonhelmet]

Sexualisation of children.

Ensuring that children are never exposed to nudity is far more likely to engender a sense of mystery about nudity. If it's a normal thing, then you don't create the sense of mystery and the idea that the naked body is all about sex.

My children (5 and 2 year old girls) see my wife and I naked all the time. Partly because neither of us want to make nudity a big mystery, and partly because it's simply too much bother to not be seen naked by them. If you can think of a remotely feasible way to stop a 2 year old wandering into the bathroom while you're going to the toilet or having a shower, then I'd like to hear it.

 

[godinman]

Bolt the door?

 

[dirtydog]

My children (5 and 2 year old girls) see my wife and I naked all the time.

You vile pervert. I have just dialled 999

 

[Vonhelmet]

Bolt the door?

Good plan. Screaming insanity in 3, 2...

 

[Vonhelmet]

You vile pervert. I have just dialled 999

I'll come quietly.

 

[godinman]

Good plan. Screaming insanity in 3, 2...

Are you claustrophobic or something?

 

[wildman]

question.......

if you took your kids to an art gallery and there were paintings featuring nude men and women and possibly a replica of Venus de Milo what would you do ? Blindfold them or simply just not expose them to art culture and keep them locked away.

Thats a serious question. I used to visit my grandparents in spain when I was growing up and the beach always had blokes walking around with their tackle out and women prancing around naked (this was a bog standard public beach up in the north of spain). I was neither abused by them nor felt like I was being stalked by Paedos so I am failing to understand here

 

[Vonhelmet]

Are you claustrophobic or something?

Yes. It'll be me doing the screaming while I'm trying to take a dump in my tiny toilet.

 

[Orcish-Horde]

But showing a naked body does not in of itself have any sexual connotations. A child seeing a naked person isn't suddenly going to make them want to have sex. If anything treating nakedness as a taboo is more likely to lead to children considering nakedness as something naughty. Not to mention the self image issue they may have later when the only naked bodies they do see are thin attractive people.

Its connotation is that is raises a question and its a question which we are hardwired to figure out even as children. Which is what I and a lot of parents want to delay, as for self image thats an issue which full nudity will not deal with. People see an image which they want to be but are not, they then try to get there. In itself self image is not a bad thing, healthy and attractive or fat slob?

No, but it seems a bit of a faff to do it when there is no real need.

Need or not its what people want for their children, that want is no different to wanting to run around in the nude. But the latter can be done some where other than on a high street.

 

[dirtydog]

question.......

if you took your kids to an art gallery and there were paintings featuring nude men and women and possibly a replica of Venus de Milo what would you do ? Blindfold them or simply just not expose them to art culture and keep them locked away.

Thats a serious question. I used to visit my grandparents in spain when I was growing up and the beach always had blokes walking around with their tackle out and women prancing around naked (this was a bog standard public beach up in the north of spain). I was neither abused by them nor felt like I was being stalked by Paedos so I am failing to understand here

I guess Spaniards aren't so hung up and stuck in Victorian times.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Its connotation is that is raises a question and its a question which we are hardwired to figure out even as children.

What question is that? And if it's hardwired, why are you so afraid of it?

Which is what I and a lot of parents want to delay, as for self image thats an issue which full nudity will not deal with. People see an image which they want to be but are not, they then try to get there. In itself self image is not a bad thing, healthy and attractive or fat slob?

How is hiding your imperfect body from your children going to teach them anything about self image?

 

[tibbsey]

its a question which we are hardwired to figure out even as children. Which is what I and a lot of parents want to delay.

Hardwired by DNA?

So now you want to delay DNA from telling them when they're ready to grow up?

 

[steve-h]

all he has to do is put on some clothes and he will be free, his choice.

yeah!

wait wat

 

[Orcish-Horde]

Ensuring that children are never exposed to nudity is far more likely to engender a sense of mystery about nudity. If it's a normal thing, then you don't create the sense of mystery and the idea that the naked body is all about sex.

What wrong with it remaining a mystery?

My children (5 and 2 year old girls) see my wife and I naked all the time. Partly because neither of us want to make nudity a big mystery, and partly because it's simply too much bother to not be seen naked by them. If you can think of a remotely feasible way to stop a 2 year old wandering into the bathroom while you're going to the toilet or having a shower, then I'd like to hear it.

Lock the door, must bathrooms have one.

 

[dirtydog]

Kids aren't going to turn into a pumpkin if they see you naked. In fact wait, if kids are exposed to nudity then they are more likely to accept it as normal and not freak out about it.

 

[Vonhelmet]

What wrong with it remaining a mystery?

If nudity is a mystery, it's much more enticing for kids. If the body is a mystery, it's much more enticing for kids. If sex is a mystery, it's much more enticing for kids. As an aside, some studies say similar things are true with regard to the consumption of alcohol, but that's another story. Anyway. My kids are already fairly relaxed about nudity and their bodies, and when the time comes we'll explain about sex.

Lock the door, must bathrooms have one.

Ours doesn't. Besides, I'd rather my kids were pottering in and out of the bathroom then howling on the other side of a locked door. You know how dogs and cats are perpetually on the wrong side of a door, but as soon as you open it for them, they aren't all that arsed? My kids seem to be the same.

 

[RDM]

Its connotation is that is raises a question and its a question which we are hardwired to figure out even as children. Which is what I and a lot of parents want to delay,

Exactly what question will it raise? I guess it may get them to ask why they are different from one parent but surely that is really easy to answer? Seeing a naked body certainly isn't going to make them start asking about sex, at least not until they would be starting to think about sex anyway.

as for self image thats an issue which full nudity will not deal with. People see an image which they want to be but are not, they then try to get there. In itself self image is not a bad thing, healthy and attractive or fat slob?

If the only naked bodies they see are the toned athletic bodies of the media world then that is what they will consider to be the only way to be. If however while growing up they will have seen lots of different body shapes then maybe they will be slightly more aware of the fact that their body is perfectly natural?