A
nude beach (British English:
naturist or
nudist beach) is a
beachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of a body of water. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, or cobblestones...
where users are legally at liberty to be
nudeNudity is the state of wearing no clothing.It is related to the concept of modesty and is sometimes 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...
. Sometimes the terms
clothing-optional beach or
free beach are used. Nude bathing is one of the most common forms of
nudity in publicPublic nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place...
. As beaches are usually on public lands, any member of the public is entitled to use the facilities without membership of any movement or subscription to any philosophy. The use of the beach facilities is normally anonymous. Unlike a naturist resort or facility, there is normally no membership or vetting requirement for the use of a nude beach. The use of nude beach facilities are usually casual, not requiring pre-booking. Nude beaches may be official (legally-sanctioned), unofficial (tolerated by residents and law enforcement), or illegal.
A nude beach should not be confused with a
topfree beach or
topless beach, where upper body clothing is not required for women or men, although a swimming costume covering the genital area is required for both men and women.
Nude beaches first became popular in the 1950s along the French coast and have since spread around the world, though they are still few and far between. Some nude beaches are part of a larger nude area, such as the
Cap d'AgdeCap d'Agde is the seaside resort of the town of Agde, France, on the Mediterranean sea in the département of Hérault, within the région of Languedoc-Roussillon. Agde can be reached by TGV SNCF train direct from Paris or Lille whilst the closest airports are Béziers-Cap d'Agde en Languedoc, with...
area. Most beaches in Denmark and all beaches in Norway are clothing optional.
Nude beaches tend to be segregated or isolated physically from the non-nude areas. In other instances people maintain a comfortable space between beach users. Signage is often used to warn beach users about what to encounter and/or to segregate different areas on the beach. This accommodates people who are not comfortable with nudity (see
gymnophobiaGymnophobia is a fear of nudity. Gymnophobics experience anxiety from nudity, even if they realize their fear is irrational. They may worry about seeing others naked or being seen naked, or both. Their fear may stem from a general anxiety about sexuality, from a fear that they are physically...
). This also accommodates beach users who do not like to be watched too much, especially by clothed individuals (see
voyeurismIn clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature...
).
On an officially sanctioned nude beach beach goers of both sexes have an option to remove their clothing without fearing legal prosecution or official harassment.
Clothes free organizations such as the
Naturist Action CommitteeThe Naturist Action Committee is a nine-member volunteer committee that functions as the political adjunct to The Naturist Society , based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin...
have lobbied against laws banning nude swimming and sunbathing.
Motivation
People visit a nude beach for any of a number of reasons. These range from people who see no reason to wear
clothingA feature of nearly all modern human societies is the wearing of clothing or clothes, a category encompassing a wide variety of materials that cover the body....
when taking part in water activities or sunning, or who enjoy being nude or partially nude (see
naturismNaturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
and nudism). Some people visit a nude beach because they enjoy looking at people who are nude, or because of curiosity. Some people sunbathe on a nude beach to get a more even suntan, and to eliminate tan lines.
Types of nude beaches
Most nude beaches had become accepted after many years of use as nude beaches. Many are "unmanaged" beach areas that have been adopted by the local users in an effort to maintain the beach's "quality". Others' right to existence has been recognized as such by the appropriate local authority, and are termed "official" (although not necessarily legitimate).
There are several categories of nude beaches:
- Beaches where nudity may be compulsory, subject to weather conditions. This is common in dedicated nudist resorts.
- Beaches where nudity is encouraged but not mandatory. This is more common when the beach is part of a private resort or other private property. On such beaches most people go nude but not all.
- Clothing is optional (i.e., nudity is permitted but not required). Most beaches in Denmark and all in Norway are clothing optional. The most popular U.S. clothing optional beach may be Haulover Beach
Haulover Beach, Florida, is a mile-and-one-half long beach in Haulover Park a Miami-Dade County Regional Park located between the cities of Sunny Isles Beach and Bal Harbour, in the United States. The northern 0.4 mile of the shoreline is a nude beach that is officially recognized and approved...
in Miami, FloridaMiami is a major coastal city in southeastern Florida, in the United States. Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida. With an estimated population of 424,662 in 2007, Miami is the largest city within the Miami metropolitan area, which is the...
, which has a clothing optional section officially designated by Miami-Dade County, with lifeguards and concessions. On such beaches there may be a mixture of nude, clothed and everything in between. For some clothed people the clothing-optional status only makes them less reluctant to expose themselves briefly when changing clothes.
- Unofficially sanctioned public nude beaches - places where nudity is tolerated by the "authorities", mostly by turning a blind eye, or not enforcing the local laws.
- Illegal nude beaches - which may result in requests to cover up, uncomfortable glares, a fine or arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the investigation and prevention of crime. The term is Anglo-Norman in origin and is related to the French word arrêt, meaning "stop".-United States:...
. Places where people dare to go nude, but try to keep a low profile because they could well get in trouble.
Legal position
Most beaches around the world, including nude beaches, are on public lands. That means that though private resorts and hotels that adjoin a beach may enclose their property behind fences with controlled access, most countries do not allow private ownership of the actual beach area. Thus, while a resort can control access and set clothing standards on its property, these standards would not necessarily apply to the beach itself, which remains subject to local laws or customs, and public access to the beach itself usually remains unrestricted. This applies, for example, to the islands in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida. On the Seven Mile Beach in
NegrilNegril is a large beach resort town located across parts of two Jamaican parishes of Westmoreland and Hanover. Westmoreland is the westernmost parish in Jamaica, located on the south side of the island. Downtown Negril, the West End cliff resorts to the south of downtown, and the southern portion...
, Jamaica, for example, though the beach is lined with private resorts with fences down to the sand/waterline, the beach itself is open to the public. Though actual clothing standards vary from resort to resort, the beach area is officially designated as "topfree", and public access is unrestricted.
The
International Naturist FederationThe International Naturist Federation or Federation Naturiste Internationale is the global umbrella organisation representing official national naturist societies.-Direct membership:...
has developed a code of conduct, or
etiquetteEtiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
, for use by member organizations. The INF nude beach etiquette requires the avoidance of all forms of
sexual harassmentSexual harassment is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment may be illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
and sexual activity, such as
masturbationMasturbation refers to sexual stimulation, especially of one's own genitals , often to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by other types of bodily contact , by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods...
or
sexual intercourseSexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which the male reproductive organ enters the female reproductive tract. The two entities may be of opposite sexes or not, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
. Predatory behavior is not permitted, nor is unauthorized photography. In general, the standards call for the respecting of the privacy of other visitors. Staring is frowned upon by rule and social pressure.
However, unlike nudist resorts and hotels, which can enforce standards of conduct on their properties promptly and effectively, most nude beach are on public lands making the enforcement of standards of nude beach etiquette a more personal matter, subject to the deterrence of local laws. The standards of conduct take different forms in different countries. Other than the fact that people using a nude beach expect to find naked people on the beach, most other local laws and customs continue to apply. One should note especially that nude beaches are usually family beaches with children being present.
Nude beaches around the world
There are numerous nude beaches around the world, some of which are legally recognised as such and others which are unofficially tolerated. There are also numerous other venues, such as swimming pools, where nude bathing is accepted.
The first nude beach of the United States was established in
San GregorioSan Gregorio nude beach is two miles of soft sand and tide pools, plus a lagoon, a lava tube, and the remains of a railroad on the cliffs. It is adjacent to San Gregorio State Beach. Beach-goers are predominantly gay men but also include clothed and unclothed straight couples and families...
in Northern California in 1967, as a private "free beach". The number of official nude beaches in the United States has recently increased because of the stewardship of national and local nudist organizations and the establishment of working relationships with—or lobbying of—local municipalities and law enforcement agencies. The tourist potential of clothing-free and topless events and facilities is increasingly being recognized.
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