Are Irish women too prudish around other women?

Silverfish

Natasha_ wrote: »

Yes, clearly this is not the place for humor :rolleyes:

Since you are new to this site, I would recommend you have a read of the charter at the top of the forum.

Thanks.

Reward

Silverfish wrote: »

Since you are new to this site, I would recommend you have a read of the charter at the top of the forum.

Thanks.

Does it actually say "no humour"? :eek:

Silverfish

There was no humour in the post in question, there was wild assumptions based on nothing posted in a snide manner.

Absolute final warning.

Back on topic.

Natasha_

caseyann wrote: »

Well again its their prerogative and right to not get naked in room full of people they dont feel comfortable around or what ever their reason is.
Looking down on someone for baring all is a bit to far,not liking it and judging it is two different things.Simple to just turn away from them and not look.

'

Caseyann, why can't you apply that same "just turn away from them and not look" mentality to the guy up the beach changing then? It's interesting that you would ensure that one naked person 'got his marching orders' but that with a different naked person, you're suddenly reasonable and would not look.....

Why the double standard and what are you basing it on?

Surely not *gasp* GENDER??

Natasha_

@ Silverfish

Ok, really...honest question...How do you not see humor in this? Not even a little funny? Im not trying to take the piss out of you I swear, but really, in all the heatedness of this thread...not even a giggle?

Originally Posted by Reward
"Making sure they got their marching orders" indicated that you weren't going to do it yourself so I assumed that you would be calling on some men to act as white knights for you, you appear to perceive someone changing down the beach as being some sort of crime so I assumed you meant the guards.
Sorry about the mistake, perhaps you were going to call some other group of men to protect you and your children from the man changing his clothes up the beach.

Maple

Natasha, Silverfish has already issued an on-thread warning in relation to this, please refrain from dragging the thread any further off topic.

As previously stated, please familiarise yourself with the charter before posting again in The Ladies Lounge.

Thanks,

Maple.

Feeona

HalloweenJack wrote: »

As a man, I've noticed this as well. Personally, I think its Irish people in general, not specifically women.

I've been to several countries in Europe where it is accepted for men to walk around naked in changing rooms and for women to bathe topless in the parks.

I lived in Spain for a time. At first, I felt awkward in changing rooms, seeing naked men but I got used to it and, after a while, I had no problem being naked myself. For the locals, it was nothing out of the ordinary for them.

I think its just an Irish mentality that being naked around other people is wrong. I don't think its a Catholic thing as in Spain, another traditionally Catholic country, its the opposite.

I think someone mentioned earlier that the heat in Spain could be part of the reason why the Spanish aren't that concerned about stripping off in front of others.

I must say it's very liberating to walk around in the nude , but I would never do it in Ireland. It's never been part of the culture, and I'm certainly not going to test the waters!

Standman

Some gyms actively encourage you to cover up. In my local gym, they have signs on the wall saying "Please be bashful, there are children present!". I have to say I find it a bit ridiculous.

caseyann

Silverfish wrote: »

There's no need for this tone.

Firstly, caseyann was referring to someone 'stripping naked' on a beach, not someone getting changed.

This is illegal in Ireland, unless you are on a specific closed beach for it.

So she would be perfectly entitled to call the guards, even though that's not what she said she'd do.

Thanks Silverfish exactly right and i made no other inclination of any other sort. Thats why i walked away from the thread, sorry i didnt see that before much appreciated.

Vourney

I'll add my two cents here I guess. . .
I grew up in America, so having other people's sexuality pushed in your face has, to me, gotten to the point of being groteque and too much
I like privacy. I like to show respect for other people's privacy and I expect other's to respect mine. At times I have to demand that, and some people can get snippy, but I don't see that as my problem, still going to assert my rights anyway.
If some people feel more comfortable being modest, you shouldn't make them feel like they're somehow damaged or they should change. Just let them be and live the way they're comfortable.
I don't have a problem with sexuality, I like sex and I like my body, and I don't think bodies are shameful, etc. etc. but I just feel comfortable with a certain level of privacy and boundaries.
Also, if you feel more comfortable with nudity, then 2 things -- show respect the people who a more inclined to privacy. And why always justify you're position by how they do things in Spain or Russia or Italy. Always looking elsewhere as if they know how to do things is like trying to find yourself outside of yourself.

Vourney

Wow, thanks for all the thanks folks.

nkay1985

I have to say I'm surprised to see some men on here saying that this has become an issue with Irish men now too. I'm only 25 so I don't see how things can have changed so drastically but every time I played sports, everyone stripped down, went and had their shower, then came back and dried off. I thought this was still the case. I don't understand how it could work any differently in a changing room with a communal shower.

I was under the impression that this was what it was like for ladies in leisure centres etc also but I guess not. Let's say you finish your workout in the gym. Does every gym have individual showers in women's changing rooms? Do people just not ever shower in the gym if not? I'm thinking that from a purely practical point of view, it's easier for me to do it as I've always done and don't think of it as a big deal. I wouldn't think I'm "progressive" or "continental" or anything like that just because I'll walk around naked in a changing room.

Is it that different for women?

magneticimpulse

Most gym's have private showers. However some swimming pools have communal shower areas. It depends on the swimming pool. I currently live in france and the showers are right next to the foot bath/door way to the swimming pool. Usually lots of mothers with kids and the daddy's walking by outside. In which case i barely shower as its so crazy. Plus nowhere to put your towel, shower gel etc as its all open.

However I have been to german sauna's in which case everyone is naked and if you arrive in your bikini they give out to you because its "unhygenic". I have many German friends...so they laugh if I was to go around in my bikini. Ive since even gone to the nudist beach in Gran Canaria. Here was I thinking Gran Canaria would be full of Irish...when in fact its full of germans, i now know why haha.

For me back in Ireland, it depends. Alot of communal areas i dont mind being nude...except if there are lots of peoples children around, especially little boys...i find that annoying and just want to get out of the changing rooms as quickly as possible. Not a kid person at all.

magneticimpulse

Standman wrote: »

Some gyms actively encourage you to cover up. In my local gym, they have signs on the wall saying "Please be bashful, there are children present!". I have to say I find it a bit ridiculous.

Wow I certainly would not go to that gym. Im always naked in the showers after a swim...its in the female changing room. How else am I meant to have a shower? Its not my fault if they didnt bother putting doors up.

How could children be offended by it? Unless they are told there is something wrong by it. It is not a sexual act to wash yourself. If people were more open about it and less prudish, their children wouldnt know any different.

When I was a child, my parents took me on holidays in France. All the children there didnt have clothes on at the beach, so I used to do the same when I was playing with them.

In a changing room, usually children are with their parents. So I see no reason why they would be damaged by the sight of a naked woman. Surely they prob were breast fed anyway?

nkay1985

nkay1985 wrote: »

I was under the impression that this was what it was like for ladies in leisure centres etc also but I guess not. Let's say you finish your workout in the gym. Does every gym have individual showers in women's changing rooms? Do people just not ever shower in the gym if not? I'm thinking that from a purely practical point of view, it's easier for me to do it as I've always done and don't think of it as a big deal. I wouldn't think I'm "progressive" or "continental" or anything like that just because I'll walk around naked in a changing room.

Is it that different for women?

I don't go to the gym anymore as I prefer just stepping out the door and heading for a run.
But I will say that I didn't shower after workouts when I did go. I lived a short drive away and frankly the thought of splashing around on icky already-wet floors and other people's mess really bothers me. Now I don't know if it really was bad, probably not, but I hated the idea, same at swimming pools. Much prefer having a nice relaxing shower in my own home
I think the nakedness, while I wouldn't be entirely comfortable with it, would be secondary!

parker kent

magneticimpulse wrote: »

For me back in Ireland, it depends. Alot of communal areas i dont mind being nude...except if there are lots of peoples children around, especially little boys...i find that annoying and just want to get out of the changing rooms as quickly as possible. Not a kid person at all.

Does that happen a lot? I'd never considered that as an issue before and have never seen the opposite happen. Maybe it is more common for mothers (indeed I do remember a mother announcing her arrival in the male toilets with a kid once).

Having been a little boy myself, I know that an interest in boobs/girls starts at a very young age, so I can imagine it would be awkward for some women. I was in favour of freedom to be naked in changing rooms in the thread, but I can how that would annoy some people.

G86

I don't really see a problem with people changing in a changing room... I mean, how are you meant to get dressed otherwise? Doing that one top over another manouver that I used to do when I was 13?:rolleyes:

cdaly_

In the guys' changing room being naked is not a problem if it's all adults. If there are kids present, I would typically shower with swim trunks on but wouldn't be bothered with hiding behind a towel to get dressed.

Azureus

I wouldnt have a problem stripping off in changing rooms / showers in a gym at all. Obviously im not gonna prance about nude for half an hour while I dry my hair, but I dont hide under a towel either. Nobody looks! As for the kids issue, ive never come across children n my gym/pool so its never been an issue-I prob wuold be a lil more aware though.

I know some of my friends who are crazy modest and would barely flash an ankle without a blush (exaggeration), but the majority of us wouldnt think twice about stripping off an changing in front of eachother etc. We all have the same bits!

Greentopia

In answer to the OP I'd say yes Irish people (men and women) are still prudish when it comes to nudity but I understand the historical and cultural reasons for it.

I lived in Sweden for 8 years and there they have a very relaxed and open view (as you can imagine) about nudity which suited me fine as I've never had a problem with it.

It would be odd there anyway to be coy about nakedness and cover up in saunas and changing rooms when everyone else is relaxed about nudity.

I never took on board any repressed Catholic dogma about sexuality and nudity or any deleterious ideas about feeling shame about my body growing up here-thought it was all bunkum from a very young age and have always been a free independent thinker anyway.

Having said that I think to each his/her own. If someone is obviously not comfortable being nude then that's their choice if they feel they need to cover up, it certainly wouldn't bother me and I certainly wouldn't think any less of someone who was a bit more modest than I am.
They might have body issues that I don't know about so it wouldn't be fair to judge.

If however I wanted to go topless on the beach and others had a problem with that-tough! I'm not going to change how I am to accommodate other people when I'm not doing anything wrong.

If any parent came over to me and started with OMG thinkofthechildrun!!11! crap I'd probably laugh and tell them where to go.
That's an intrusion on my rights to be as I am.
If you don't want to look then don't! and I look after myself and keep myself in shape so the "I don't want to see your saggy bits" defence doesn't apply to me, TY
and when I do get old and wrinkled I will have earned the right to not give a damn what people say anyway!

Small kids don't naturally have any concept of shame or embarrassment about their bodies (you only have to look at tots on the beach to see that), that's only something that comes later that some parents instill into them because either they see them feeling embarrassed or prudish about nudity themselves, or they're told there's something to feel embarrassed or shameful about and then they adopt their parents ways.

Sad really as there's nothing more natural and carefree than being nude (obviously I don't mean walking down the high street or in full view of the neighbours but in gym changing rooms, saunas, communal shower areas, designated beach areas etc.)
I don't think it's doing kids any favours to send them the message that there's something wrong with their bodies that they must cover up in those environments or make a big fuss over protecting them from seeing other naked bodies and can do them harm by setting them up for having all sorts of hang ups and inhibitions about their bodies later in life.

nkay1985

cdaly_ wrote: »

In the guys' changing room being naked is not a problem if it's all adults. If there are kids present, I would typically shower with swim trunks on but wouldn't be bothered with hiding behind a towel to get dressed.

Are you referring to if there were young boys present? Or just young girls?

cdaly_

nkay1985 wrote: »

Are you referring to if there were young boys present? Or just young girls?

Boys too. Too much paedophilia paranoia around that you couldn't be casual about it...

magneticimpulse

My comment about children being in the changing rooms...especially boys, is not really got to do with naked but children in general. They tend to stare etc or just general lingering, shouting, crying etc. I feel the same about children outside changing rooms, anywhere in public area's. Not used to being around kids and normally quite happy to be just surrounded by adults most of the time. I certainly would not even consider what their Mammy's were thinking about me being nude while shower and changing.

I only encounter children if I go to the larger pool say maybe on a Sunday at the wrong time. At certain times its only open to adults, so that grand. Other times I can go to the Gym and the adults steam/sauna and plunge pool which never has kids and I feel way more comfortable about taking my time to have shower and change.

As for the person who considered the wet floor messy? Well I always wear flip flops walking around the pool or in the shower. The likes of Jacuzzi's have lots of bacteria in them anyway...or gym equipment, so the wet floor is the least of my worries...as ive prob picked up someone elses sweat while ive been working out on gym equipment and would rather freshen up.

airman101

I would openly advise anyone with any doubts interests or curiosities about nudism to attend the nude swim at *edit*, people from all walks of life with all sort of body shapes regularly attent. NOTHING sexual about the swim, its just people who enjoy being naked. If you are in anyway curious you should give it a go..

Wibbs

Eh how is this anything to do with this thread airman101? Zombie thread closed. Details removed