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84-549: Bare literally means fully or partially naked , or figuratively used it means minimal. Bare may also refer to: Nudity Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing . While estimates vary, for the first 90,000 years of pre-history, anatomically modern humans were naked, having lost their body hair and living in hospitable climates. As humans became behaviorally modern , body adornments such as jewelry, tattoos, body paint and scarification became part of non-verbal communications, indicating

168-439: A 1980 law requiring the admission of women. For younger boys, lack of modesty might include public behavior as in 1909 when The New York Times reported that at an elementary school public swimming competition the youngest boys competed in the nude. Hygiene was given as the reason for official guidelines requiring nudity in indoor pools used only by men. Swimmers were also required to take nude showers with soap prior to entering

252-515: A basin attached to every cathedral. Both men and women were baptized naked, deaconesses performing the rite for women to maintain modesty. Until the fifth century CE, pagan nudity was associated with sex, Christian nudity with grace . Jesus was originally depicted nude as would have been the case in Roman crucifixions, but the Christian adoption of the pagan association of the body with sex prompted

336-420: A belt with a piece of string attached holding their foreskin shut over their glans penis . There was no shame or modesty attached to women's breasts, and therefore no garments devoted to concealing them; however, women did cover their pubic area in the presence of men, as exposing it was a cultural expression of anger and contempt. Pre-pubescent children wore no clothes at all. European colonists cited nudity as

420-465: A female will be created prior to birth, and that the final stages of ova production will then not resume until puberty. However, recent scientific research has challenged that hypothesis. This new research indicates that in at least some species of mammal, oocytes continue to be replenished in females well after birth. In male germ cells and spermatozoa , and also in female oocytes , special DNA repair mechanism are present that function to maintain

504-713: A form of protest, and those with power may impose nakedness on others as a form of punishment. While the majority of contemporary societies require clothing in public, some recognize non-sexual nudity as being appropriate for some recreational, social or celebratory activities, and appreciate nudity in the arts as representing positive values. A minority within many countries assert the benefits of social nudity , while other groups continue to disapprove of nudity not only in public but also in private based upon religious beliefs. Norms are codified to varying degrees by laws defining proper dress and indecent exposure . In general English usage, nude and naked are often synonyms for

588-542: A human being unclothed, but take on many meanings in particular contexts. Nude derives from Norman French , while naked is from the Anglo-Saxon . To be naked is more straightforward, not being properly dressed, or if stark naked , entirely without clothes. Nudity has more cultural connotations, and particularly in the fine arts, positive associations with the beauty of the human body. Further synonyms and euphemisms for nudity abound, including " birthday suit ", " in

672-421: A legal right in public and the workplace. Where public breastfeeding is unregulated or legal, mothers may be reluctant to do so because other people may object. The issue of breastfeeding is part of the sexualization of the breast in many cultures, and the perception of threat in what others perceive as non-sexual. Pope Francis came out in support of public breastfeeding at church services soon after assuming

756-641: A loincloth for men and a skirt for women. The Tokugawa period in Japan (1603–1868) was defined by the social dominance of hereditary classes, with clothing a regulated marker of status and little nudity among the upper classes. However, working populations in both rural and urban areas often dressed only in fundoshi (similar to a loincloth ), including women in hot weather and while nursing. Lacking baths in their homes, everyone frequented public bathhouses where they were unclothed together. This communal nudity might extend to other activities in rural villages. With

840-549: A natural curiosity about their own bodies and the bodies of others. The report recommended that parents learn what is normal in regard to nudity and sexuality at each stage of a child's development and refrain from overreacting to their children's nudity-related behaviors unless there are signs of a problem (e.g. anxiety, aggression, or sexual interactions between children not of the same age or stage of development). Problematic childhood behavior often takes place in daycare, rather than home environments. The general advice for caregivers

924-447: A person's membership in their society, thus nakedness meant being at the bottom of the social scale, lacking in dignity and status. In each culture, ornamentation represented the wearer's place in society; position of authority, economic class, gender role, and marital status. From the beginning of civilization, there was ambiguity regarding everyday nakedness and the nudity in depictions of deities and heroes indicating positive meanings of

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1008-495: A person's social and individual characteristics. Indigenous peoples in warm climates used clothing for decorative, symbolic or ceremonial purposes but were often nude, having neither the need to protect the body from the elements nor any conception of nakedness being shameful. In many societies, both ancient and contemporary, children might be naked until the beginning of puberty. Women may not cover their breasts if they were associated with nursing babies more than with sexuality. In

1092-469: A protest by mothers. However, only the middle school required suits, the elementary schools in the same district continued to allow girls to swim nude. The public health recommendation of male nudity continued officially until 1962 but was observed into the 1970s by the YMCA and schools with gender segregated classes. The era of male nude swimming in indoor pools declined steadily as mixed-gender usage became

1176-521: A ritual costume by association of the naked body with the beauty and power of the gods who were depicted as perfect naked humans. In Etruscan and early Roman athletics, in which masculinity involved prudishness and paranoia about effeminacy , the Greek traditions were not maintained because public nudity became associated with homoeroticism . In the Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE), the status of

1260-597: A sign of Māori racial inferiority , calling them "naked savages". On the islands of Yap State , dances by women in traditional dress that does not cover the breasts are now included in the Catholic celebration of Christmas and Easter. In Brazil, the Yawalapiti —an Indigenous Xingu tribe in the Amazon Basin —practice a funeral ritual known as Quarup to celebrate life, death and rebirth. The ritual involves

1344-529: Is a gradual process of social learning similar to other forms of group socialization . However, philosopher Krista Thomason notes that negative emotions including shame exist because they are functional, and that human beings are not perfect. The meaning of the naked body in Judaism , Christianity , and Islam is based upon the Genesis creation narrative , but each religion has their own interpretation. What

1428-427: Is a series of organs primarily located inside the body and around the pelvic region of a female that contribute towards the reproductive process. The human female reproductive system contains three main parts: the vagina, which leads from the vulva , the vaginal opening, to the uterus; the uterus , which holds the developing fetus; and the ovaries , which produce the female's ova. The breasts are involved during

1512-560: Is accepted as natural. In contemporary rural villages, both boys and girls are allowed to play totally nude, and women bare their breasts in the belief that the meaning of naked bodies is not limited to sexuality. Full or partial nudity is observed among some Burkinabese and Nilo-Saharan (e.g. Nuba and Surma people )—during particular occasions; for example, stick-fighting tournaments in Ethiopia. In Lagos, Nigeria , some parents continue to allow children to be naked until puberty. There

1596-620: Is accepted vary. Indigenous peoples retain pre-colonial norms to varying degrees. People in Western cultures may practice social nudity within the confines of semi-private facilities such as naturist resorts , while other seek more open acceptance of nudity in everyday life and in public spaces designated as clothing-optional. In the Islamic societies of Africa nudity is forbidden, while in sub-Saharan countries that never abandoned, or are reasserting, pre-colonial norms partial or complete nudity

1680-522: Is asserted in the adoption of traditional dress—young women wearing only beaded skirts and jewelry—in the Umkhosi Womhlanga (Reed Dance) by the Zulu and Swazi . Other examples of ethnic tourism reflect the visitor's desire to experience what they imagine being an exotic culture, which includes nudity. In Asian countries, rather than always being immoral or shameful, not being properly dressed

1764-742: Is associated with sin, criminality, and punishment. The strong connection of nudity to sex produces shame when naked in contexts where sexuality is deemed inappropriate. The connection of nakedness with the corruptibility of flesh and death may have biblical origins, but gained real world associations during epidemics in the Middle Ages. Confronted with this ambiguity, some individuals seek to resolve it by working toward greater acceptance of nudity for themselves and others. Although psychologist Keon West found positive effects from short-term participation in social nudity, such as an improved body image, sociologist Barbara Górnicka found that lasting change

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1848-440: Is based upon the idea that nakedness is connected to nature positively as a form of egalitarianism , that all humans are alike in their nakedness. Nudity also represents freedom: the liberation of the body is associated with sexual liberation, although many naturists tend to downplay this connection. In some forms of group psychotherapy , nudity has been used to promote open interaction and communication. Religious persons who reject

1932-415: Is known as oogenesis ; this occurs in the ovarian follicles of the ovaries. This process does not produce mature ovum until puberty. In contrast with males, each of the original diploid germ cells or primary oocytes will form only one mature ovum, and three polar bodies which are not capable of fertilization. It has long been understood that in females, unlike males, all the primary oocytes ever found in

2016-477: Is now an issue with strangers taking photographs, and they worry about pedophiles, but want kids to grow up with a positive body image and have the same freedom they remember from their own childhood. The upper torso of women is not sexual due to the general acceptance of breastfeeding in Africa, while their legs are covered by skirts to a greater extent than by Western clothing. The revival of pre-colonial culture

2100-464: Is one of the changes that mark the end of the Neolithic and the beginning of civilization, between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago. Much of what is known about the early history of clothing is from depictions of the higher classes, there being few surviving artifacts. Everyday behaviors are rarely represented in historical records. Clothing and adornment became part of the symbolic communication that marked

2184-687: Is one of the changes that occurred in the late Paleolithic (40,000 to 60,000 years ago) in which humans became not only anatomically modern, but also behaviorally modern and capable of self-reflection and symbolic interaction. More recent studies place the use of adornment at 77,000 years ago in South Africa, and 90,000—100,000 years ago in Israel and Algeria. While modesty is a factor, often overlooked purposes for body coverings are camouflage used by hunters, body armor, and costumes used to impersonate "spirit-beings". The current empirical evidence for

2268-470: Is part of both Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan. Purification in the bath is not only for the body, but the heart or spirit ( kokoro ). Public baths ( sentō ) were once common, but became less so with the addition of bathtubs in homes. Sentō were mixed gender ( konyoku ) until the arrival of Western influences, but became segregated by gender in cities. Nudity is required at Japanese hot spring resorts ( onsen ). Some resorts continue to be mixed gender, but

2352-420: Is perceived as a breach of etiquette (loss of face ) in most situations, while nakedness may be part of maintaining purity by public bathing, or expressing rejection of worldliness including clothes. In contemporary China, while maintaining the traditions of modest dress in everyday life, the use of nudity in magazine advertising indicates the effect of globalization. In much of Asia, traditional dress covers

2436-445: Is reflected in its many meanings, often expressed in the metaphors used to describe cultural values, both positive and negative. One of the first—but now obsolete—meanings of nude in the 16th century was "mere, plain, open, explicit" as reflected in the modern metaphors "the naked truth" and "the bare facts". Naturists often speak of their nakedness in terms of a return to the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The term naturism

2520-532: Is shared by all was various degrees of modest dress and the avoidance of nakedness. The meaning of the creation myth is inconsistent with a philosophical analysis of shame as an emotion of reflective self-assessment which is understood as a response to being seen by others, a social context that did not exist. The response of Adam and Eve to cover their bodies indicates that upon gaining knowledge of good and evil, they became aware of nakedness as intrinsically shameful, which contradicts their intrinsic goodness "before

2604-419: Is to find ways of setting boundaries without giving the child a sense of shame. Human reproductive system Human reproduction usually involves internal fertilization by sexual intercourse . In this process, the male inserts his penis into the female 's vagina and ejaculates semen , which contains sperm . A small proportion of the sperm pass through the cervix into the uterus and then into

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2688-622: The New Kingdom of Egypt (1550–1069 BCE), that functionaries in the households of the wealthy began wearing refined dress, and upper-class women wore elaborate dresses and ornamentation which covered their breasts. These later styles are often shown in film and TV as representing Ancient Egypt in all periods. Male nudity was celebrated in ancient Greece to a greater degree than any culture before or since. The status of freedom, maleness, privilege, and physical virtues were asserted by discarding everyday clothing for athletic nudity. Nudity became

2772-551: The development of the human fetus. Despite the differences between them, the adult male and female are determined in early development in the 6th week. The gonads and external genitals are derived from the intermediate mesoderm . The three main fetal precursors of the reproductive organs are the Wolffian duct , the Müllerian ducts , and the gonads . Endocrine hormones are a well-known and critical controlling factor in

2856-467: The epididymis , where they gain a tail, enabling motility . Each of the original diploid germ cells or primary spermatocytes forms four functional gametes, each forever young. The production and survival of sperms require a temperature below the normal core body temperature. Since the scrotum, where the testes is present, is situated outside the body cavity, it provides a temperature about 3 °C below normal body temperature. In females, gametogenesis

2940-402: The fallopian tubes for fertilization of the ovum . Only one sperm is required to fertilize the ovum. Upon successful fertilization , the fertilized ovum, or zygote , travels out of the fallopian tube and into the uterus , where it implants in the uterine wall. This marks the beginning of gestation, better known as pregnancy , which continues for around nine months as the fetus develops. When

3024-752: The Body" given in 1979, Pope John Paul II said that the innocent nudity of being before the fall is regained only between loving spouses. In daily life, Christianity requires clothing in public, but with great variation between and within societies as to the meaning of "public" and how much of the body is covered. Finnish Lutherans practice mixed nudity in private saunas used by families and close-knit groups. While maintaining communal nudity, men and women are now often separated in public or community settings. Certain sects of Christianity through history have included nudity into worship practices, but these have been deemed heretical . There have been Christian naturists in

3108-433: The Greek classical and later Abrahamic traditions has resulted in Western ambivalence, with nudity acquiring both positive and negative meanings in individual psychology, in social life, and in depictions such as art. The conservative versions of these religions continue to prohibit public and sometimes also private nudity. While public modesty prevails in more recent times, organized groups of nudists or naturists emerged with

3192-643: The Netherlands went through the same period of feminist activism in the 1960s–70s, but Dutch men were generally more open to the idea of gender equality, there being a prior history of regarding sexuality as healthy and normal, including nudity not always being sexual. A report issued in 2009 on child sexual development in the United States by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network asserted that children have

3276-578: The Papacy. Historically, men and boys bathed and swam nude in secluded rivers and lakes. In England when sea bathing became popular in the 18th century, beaches were initially male only, but with the easier access of the 19th century due to rail transportation, the mixing of genders became a problem for authorities. The addition of " bathing machines " at seaside resorts was not successful in maintaining standards of decency, men often continuing to be nude while women wore bathing costumes. However, public concern

3360-503: The United States promotes equal rights for women to be naked above the waist in public on the same basis that would apply to men in the same circumstances. Advocates of topfreedom view its illegality as the institutionalization of negative cultural values that affect women's body image. The legal justifications for topfreedom include equal protection , the right to privacy , and freedom of expression . The law in New York State

3444-542: The United States since the 1920s, but as a social and recreational practice rather than part of an organized religion. Islamic countries are guided by rules of modesty that forbid nudity, with variations between five schools of Islamic law. The most conservative is the Hanbali School in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where the niqab , the garment covering the whole female body and the face with a narrow opening for

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3528-437: The altogether " and " in the buff ". Partial nudity may be defined as not covering the genitals or other parts of the body deemed sexual, such as the buttocks or female breasts . Two human evolutionary processes are significant regarding nudity; first the biological evolution of early hominids from being covered in fur to being effectively hairless, followed by the sociocultural evolution of adornments and clothing. In

3612-775: The ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, from Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire, proper attire was required to maintain social standing. The lower classes might possess a single piece of cloth that was wrapped or tied to cover the lower body; the lowest classes including slaves might be naked. However, through much of Western history until the modern era , people of any status were also unclothed by necessity or convenience when engaged in labor and athletics; or when bathing or swimming. Such functional nudity occurred in groups that were usually but not always segregated by sex . Although improper dress might be socially embarrassing,

3696-408: The association of nudity with sin regarding sexuality began with Judeo-Christian societies, spreading through Europe in the post-classical period. Traditional clothing in temperate regions worldwide also reflect concerns for maintaining social status and order, as well as by necessity due to the colder climate. However, societies such as Japan and Finland maintain traditions of communal nudity based upon

3780-459: The body, such garments might be removed in public for practical or ceremonial purposes. Children until puberty and sometimes women until marriage might be naked. All humans lived in hunter-gatherer societies until 20,000 years ago, and they were naked. In the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, the Americas and Southeast Asia, this way of life continued until a few hundred years ago. Perhaps

3864-434: The clothing of Christ. Some clerics went further, to hatred and fear of the body, insisting that monks sleep fully dressed. Christian theology rarely addresses nudity, but rather proper dress and modesty. Western cultures adopted Greek heritage only with regard to art, the ideal nude. Real naked people remained shameful, and become human only when they cover their nakedness. In one of a series of lectures entitled "Theology of

3948-429: The development of an Adam's apple . An important sexual hormone of males is androgen , particularly testosterone . The testes release a hormone that controls the development of sperm. This hormone is also responsible for the development of physical characteristics in men, such as facial hair and a deep voice. The development of the reproductive system and the development of the urinary system are closely tied to

4032-514: The ejaculatory fluid producing glands which include the Cowper's gland (also called bulbourethral gland), seminal vesicles , prostate , and vas deferens . The final category are those used for copulation and deposition of the sperm within the female; these include the penis , urethra , and vas deferens . Major secondary sexual characteristics include a larger, more muscular stature, deepened voice, facial and body hair , broad shoulders, and

4116-531: The entire body, similar to Western dress. In stories written in China as early as the fourth century BCE, nudity is presented as an affront to human dignity , reflecting the belief that "humanness" in Chinese society is not innate, but is earned by correct behavior. However, nakedness could also be used by an individual to express contempt for others in their presence. In other stories, the nudity of women, emanating

4200-516: The eyes, is widespread. Hands are also hidden within sleeves as much as possible. The burqa , limited mainly to Afghanistan, also has a mesh screen which covers the eye opening. Different rules apply to men, women, and children; and depend upon the gender and family relationship of others present. In Western cultures, shame can result from not living up to the ideals of society with regard to physical appearance. Historically, such shame has affected women more than men. With regard to their naked bodies,

4284-448: The fall". According to German philosopher Thorsten Botz-Bornstein , interpretations of Genesis have placed responsibility for the fall of man and original sin on Eve, and, therefore, all women. As a result, the nudity of women is deemed more shameful personally and corrupting to society than the nakedness of men. The meaning of nudity for early Christians was the baptism , which was originally by full immersion and without clothes in

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4368-539: The female system. In both sexes, the gonads go on to form the testes and ovaries; because they are derived from the same undeveloped structure, they are considered homologous organs. There are a number of other homologous structures shared between male and female reproductive systems. However, despite the similarity in function of the female fallopian tubes and the male epididymis and vas deferens, they are not homologous but rather analogous structures as they arise from different fetal structures. Gametes are produced within

4452-527: The fetus has developed to a certain point, pregnancy is concluded with childbirth , involving labor. During labor, the uterine muscles contract, and the cervix dilates typically over a period of hours, allowing the infant to pass from the uterus through the vagina. Human infants are entirely dependent on their caregivers and require parental care . Infants rely on their caregivers for comfort, cleanliness, and food. Food may be provided by breastfeeding or formula feeding . The human female reproductive system

4536-420: The gonads through a process known as gametogenesis . This occurs when certain types of germ cells undergo meiosis to split the normal diploid number of chromosomes (n=46) into haploid cells containing only 23 chromosomes. In males, this process is known as spermatogenesis and occurs only after puberty in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The immature spermatozoa or sperm are then sent to

4620-488: The last uncontacted hunter-gatherers are the community of a few hundred individuals on one of the Andaman Islands . The Europeans who first contacted tropical peoples reported that they were unashamedly naked, only occasionally wrapping themselves in capes in colder weather. Many pastoral societies in warmer climates are also minimally clothed or naked while working. This practice continued when western clothing

4704-441: The legal definition of indecent exposure . In the United States, the exposure of female nipples is a criminal offense in many states and is not usually allowed in public. Individual women who have contested indecency laws by baring their breasts in public assert that their behavior is not sexual. In Canada, the law was changed to include a definition of a sexual context in order for behavior to be indecent. The topfreedom movement in

4788-434: The male reproductive system is to provide the male sperm for fertilization of the ovum. The major reproductive organs of the male can be grouped into three categories. The first category produces and stores sperm ( spermatozoa ). These are produced in the testicles , which are housed in the temperature-regulating scrotum ; immature sperm then travel to the epididymides for development and storage. The second category are

4872-656: The norm, and sped up following the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 . Eventually all pools use became mixed-gender, and in the 21st century, the practice of male nude swimming is largely forgotten, or denied as having ever existed. Social acceptance of mixed gender nudity due to sauna culture is associated with greater gender equality, which is highest in Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden (the US being #53 of 153 countries listed). America and

4956-468: The normal differentiation of the reproductive system. The Wolffian duct forms the epididymis , vas deferens , ejaculatory duct , and seminal vesicle in the male reproductive system, but essentially disappears in the female reproductive system. The reverse is true for the Müllerian duct, as it essentially disappears in the male reproductive system and forms the fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina in

5040-427: The number is declining as they cease to be supported by local communities. In Korea , bathhouses are known as Jjimjilbang . Such facilities may include mixed-sex sauna areas where clothing is worn, but bathing areas are gender segregated; nudity is required in those areas. In Russia , communal banyas have been used for over a thousand years, serving both hygienic and social functions. Nudity and mixed sex usage

5124-561: The opening of Japan to European visitors in the Meiji era (1868–1912), the previously normal states of undress, and the custom of mixed public bathing, became an issue for leaders concerned with Japan's international reputation. A law was established with fines for those that violated the ban on undress. Although often ignored or circumvented, the law had the effect of sexualizing the naked body in situations that had not previously been erotic. Public bathing for purification as well as cleanliness

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5208-653: The origin of clothing is from a 2010 study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution . That study indicates that the habitual wearing of clothing began at some point in time between 170,000 and 83,000 years ago based upon a genetic analysis indicating when clothing lice diverged from their head louse ancestors. A 2017 study published in Science estimated that anatomically modern humans evolved 350,000 to 260,000 years ago. Thus, humans were naked in prehistory for at least 90,000 years. The habitual use of clothing

5292-434: The ovum. The lining of the uterus, called the endometrium , and unfertilized ova are shed each cycle through the process of menstruation . If the ova is fertilized by sperm, it attaches to the endometrium and the fetus develops. The male reproductive system is a series of organs located outside the body and around the pelvis region of a male that contribute towards the reproduction process. The primary direct function of

5376-457: The parenting stage of reproduction, but in most classifications they are not considered to be part of the female reproductive system. The vagina meets the outside at the vulva , which is made up of the labia , clitoris and vestibule ; during intercourse this area is lubricated by mucus secreted by the Bartholin's glands . The vagina is attached to the uterus through the cervix , while

5460-399: The past there have been several theories regarding why humans lost their fur, but the need to dissipate body heat remains the most widely accepted evolutionary explanation. Less hair, and an increase in eccrine sweating , made it easier for early humans to cool their bodies when they moved from living in shady forest to open savanna . The ability to dissipate excess body heat was one of

5544-497: The pool, in order to eliminate contaminants and inspect swimmers to prohibit use by those with signs of disease. During women's weekly swim hours, simple one-piece suits were allowed and sometimes supplied by the facility to insure hygiene; towels were also supplied. Compared to the acceptance of boys being nude, an instance in 1947 where girls were given the same option lasted only six weeks in Highland Park, Michigan before

5628-639: The power of yin , could nullify the yang of aggressive forces. In India, the conventions regarding proper dress do not apply to monks in some Hindu and Jain sects who reject clothing as worldly. Although overwhelmingly male, there have been female ascetics such as Akka Mahadevi who refused to wear clothing. In Bangladesh , the Mru people have resisted centuries of Muslim and Christian pressure to clothe their nakedness as part of religious conversion. Most retain their own religion, which includes elements of Buddhism and Animism , as well as traditional clothing:

5712-408: The presentation of all young girls who have begun menstruating since the last Quarup and whose time has come to choose a partner. The Awá hunters , the male members of an Indigenous people of Brazil living in the eastern Amazon rainforest , are "completely naked except for a piece of string decorated with bright bird feathers tied to the end of their penises". This minimalist dress code reflects

5796-433: The relative lack of body coverings was one of the first things explorers noticed when they encountered Indigenous peoples of the tropics. Non-western cultures during the period were naked only by comparison to Western norms. The genitals or entire lower body of adults were covered by garments in most situations, while the upper body of both men and women might be unclothed. However, lacking the western concept of shame regarding

5880-410: The result is a tendency toward self-criticism by women, while men are less concerned by the evaluation of others. In patriarchal societies, which include much of the world, norms regarding proper attire and behavior are stricter for women than for men, and the judgements for violation of these norms are more severe. In much of the world, the modesty of women is a matter not only of social custom but of

5964-753: The right to be briefly nude in public as a form of expression protected by the First Amendment , but not on a continuing basis for their own comfort or enjoyment as men are allowed to do. In 2020 the US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of three women after the New Hampshire Supreme Court found that the state law does not discriminate against women because it bans nudity, which has traditionally included female breasts. Breastfeeding in public may be forbidden in some jurisdictions, unregulated in others, or protected as

6048-405: The social connotations of low status and deprivation rather than shame regarding sexuality. Slaves might not be provided with clothing. Other workers would be naked while performing many tasks, particularly if hot, dirty, or wet; farmers, fishermen, herders, and those working close to fires or ovens. Only the upper classes were habitually dressed. It was not until the later periods, in particular

6132-546: The spirit of the hunt and being overdressed may be considered ridiculous or inappropriate. The Western world inherited contradictory cultural traditions relating to nudity in various contexts. The first tradition came from the ancient Greeks, who saw the naked body as the natural state and as essentially positive. The second is based upon the Abrahamic religions —Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—which view being naked as shameful and essentially negative. The interaction between

6216-425: The stated purpose of regaining a natural connection to the human body and nature, sometimes in private spaces but also in public. Naturism in the United States, meanwhile, remains largely confined to private facilities, with few "clothing optional" public spaces compared to Europe. In spite of the liberalization of attitudes toward sex, Americans remain uncomfortable with complete nudity. The moral ambiguity of nudity

6300-416: The things that made possible the dramatic enlargement of the brain, the most temperature-sensitive human organ. Some of the technology for what is now called clothing may have originated to make other types of adornment, including jewelry , body paint , tattoos , and other body modifications , "dressing" the naked body without concealing it. According to Mark Leary and Nicole Buttermore, body adornment

6384-485: The unclothed body. The social humiliation of nakedness was not associated with sin or shame regarding sexuality, which was unique to Abrahamic societies. For millennia from Mesopotamia to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt the majority of men and women wore a cloth wrapped or tied to cover the lower part of the body. Both men and women would be bare-chested and barefoot . Complete nakedness was embarrassing due to

6468-564: The upper classes was such that nudity was of no concern for men, and for women only if seen by their social superiors. At the Roman baths ( thermae ), which had social functions similar to a modern beach, mixed nude bathing may have been the norm up to the fourth century CE. The encounter between the Indigenous cultures of Africa, the Americas and Oceania with Europeans had a significant effect on all cultures. Because clothing and body adornments are such an important part of cultural meaning,

6552-542: The use of baths and saunas that provided alternatives to sexualization . The spread of Western concepts of modest dress was part of colonialism, and continues today with globalization. Contemporary social norms regarding nudity reflect cultural ambiguity towards the body and sexuality, and differing conceptions of what constitutes public versus private spaces. Norms relating to nudity are different for men than they are for women. Individuals may intentionally violate norms relating to nudity; those without power may use nudity as

6636-405: The uterus is attached to the ovaries via the fallopian tubes . Each ovary contains hundreds of egg cells or ova (singular ovum ). Approximately every 28 days , the pituitary gland releases a hormone that stimulates some of the ova to develop and grow. One ovum is released and it passes through the fallopian tube into the uterus. Hormones produced by the ovaries prepare the uterus to receive

6720-433: The world as it is including all possessions may practice nudism, or use nakedness as a protest against an unjust world. Many of the negative associations of nakedness are the inverse of positive ones. If nudity is truth, nakedness may be an invasion of privacy or the exposure of uncomfortable truths, a source of anxiety. To be deprived of clothes is punishment, humiliating and degrading. Rather than being natural, nakedness

6804-595: Was challenged in 1986 by nine women who exposed their breasts in a public park, which led to nine years of litigation culminating with an opinion by the Court of Appeals that overturned the convictions on the basis of the women's actions not being lewd, rather than overturning the law as unconstitutional on the basis of equal protection , which is what the women sought. While the decision gave women more freedom to be topfree (e.g. while sunbathing ), it did not give them equality with men. Other court decisions have given individuals

6888-508: Was first introduced; for example Aboriginal Australians in 1819 wore only the jackets they were given, but not pants. Western ambivalence could be expressed by responding to the nakedness of natives as either a sign of rampant sexuality or of the innocence that preceded the " fall of man ". Norms related to nudity are associated with norms regarding personal freedom , human sexuality , and gender roles , which vary widely among contemporary societies. Situations where private or public nudity

6972-685: Was only regarding adults, it being generally accepted that boys at English beaches would be nude. This prompted complaints by visiting Americans, but Englishmen had no objection to their daughters being fully dressed on the beach with naked boys. In the United States and other Western countries for much of the 20th century, male nudity was the norm in gender segregated activities including summer camps, swimming pools and communal showers based on cultural beliefs that females need more privacy than males. Beginning in 1900, businessmen swam nude at private athletic clubs in New York City, which ended with

7056-478: Was typical for much of this history. Bathing facilities in homes threatened the existence of public banyas, but social functions maintained their popularity. Prior to the European colonization of New Zealand , Māori people went naked or partially clothed in casual settings as the climate allowed, although they did wear clothing to keep out the weather and denote social status. Men frequently wore nothing but

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