Nudist Documentary “My Daughter the Teenage Nudist”
Nudist Documentary - My Daughter the Teenage Nudist
My Daughter the Teenage Nudist
Though the title of this nudist documentary might indicate otherwise (it sort of sounds like when a porn flick tries to guise itself under naturist terms), the documentry is not solely focused on this teenage girl and her mother. The next person we meet is Daryl Jones, youth officer for British Naturism. He is working with BN to recruit the younger folk, who seem to be missing in naturism just like in the U.S. British Nudism has also lost 7,000 members in the last decade, according to this nudist documentary. Daryl spreads the word on the street as he talks to World Naked Bike Riders and university students about joining YBN (Young British Naturists).
We also learn about a small group of young people who cook vegan food naked and write a nudist blog duly entitled, “Naked Vegan Cooking.” Alex, 25, is part of this group and by being nude, she also wants to challenge the pervasive images of flawless, photo-shopped bodies in the media. The group decides to do an event in support of positive body image, a “Naked Tea Party.” They promote it on the streets of Britain, and Alex and Daryl decide to remove their shirts while handing out fliers. They elicit a reaction from one young woman who says they are contradicting themselves by having two “beautiful” people promote positive image. While Alex does match the idealized body type – slim, tall and tanned – can we hold that against her? She is not allowed to try to change people’s perceptions about their bodies and nudity because she’s too thin or pretty? The young observer is missing the point. (It’s about being happy and comfortable with your body, no matter what size and shape. Sadly enough, even thin girls are incredibly unhappy with their bodies these days.) I actually really admired Alex after what happened next. It is supposedly legal to be publicly naked in Britain, but she had to confront a police officer asking her to put her shirt back on. She pointed out the absurdity of his enforcing the laws of “decency” that were of course not the same for Daryl, who was allowed to remain top-free. She stands up for herself, but then put her shirt back on, so the courts won’t get to decide what’s decent this time.
The narrator states at the beginning that more and more young people are engaging in public nudity, such as in events like the WNBR, but the naturist community isn’t exactly getting younger. The disparity here is perhaps partly due to the issue of labels. Alex, though she enjoys social nudity, is hesitant to label herself a naturist. Molly and her friends just want to try things out and go nude whenever they want without necessarily committing to a club or group. The naked vegan cooks opt to use the word “naked” for their event rather than “naturist,” which might “put people off.” So, is there a message here? Do we need to dump the term naturist and nudist to get the younger population interested? The leaders of BN are very aware that there is an image problem when using these terms. While visiting a naturist club, Alex has a chat with a man who tells her that when it comes down to it, being a naturist is just about “taking your pants off.” It really is as simple as that, isn’t it?
Links:
British Naturism
Nudist Documentary
Young Naturists & Nudists America
Category: Felicity's Nudist Blog By Felicity Jones
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jordan Blum is a lifelong nudie and co-founder of Young Naturists America.Subscribe
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Hey Daniel, I totally agree with you! The WNBR has its greater environmental cause, but I think it also has a double effect in exposing people to to the idea that nudity can be nonsexual and that it's fun and possible to bike ride naked! Dario, I haven't seen those other documentaries so I can't compare. I didn't even notice that the main girl isn't fully nude in any scenes, I thought she was a few times. But I don't feel the need to criticize her for that, she's young and still discovering what naturism is about. It did look like that guy was after her to take a photo because she was topless, but with her being the only topless girl around, it was obviously exciting for him. I would've refused him too in that moment. I don't think Clare is too hung up on her mother's concerns- she did try the skinny dipping and it seemed she had her own personal concerns about going nude or not. She's still a teenager, and I'm sure she'll be able to make her own decisions about it as she gets older. I'm also glad to see young people are getting into social nudity, and I hope the trend will spread more to Australia! :)
In my honest opinion, this is not the best of naturist documentaries (compared to the likes of Educating Julie and Diary of a Teenage Nudist). However, it's reasonably well executed but without going beneath the surface of why some young people take to being naked whilst others don't. In fact, the focal star of the doco does not actually go nude but merely topless at the events she is seen at. The Vegan Cooks are really cool, and I think that there should be more events like they have the world over. Where Alex's protest is concerned, I noted that when a young fellow barged in on her conversation with the police begging to take a photo of her she refuses him outright. My question is: would this have happened if she did not go topless in the street? Also, I felt rather sorry for Clare. She seems really repressed and hung up on herself especially with being an adult woman she still relies on her mother's opinion for not nuding up herself. Nevertheless, it's still entertaining, and I am glad to see youth and social nudity taking shape over in the UK after a few decades of struggling to do so. I only wish the same could be said for Australia, where young people are hardly ever seen at clubs or beaches anymore.
The naked bike ride part kind of ticked me off. the comments of the bystanders, oh it should be kept indoors. grrr theres nothing.. NOTHING sexual about it. only way i can see it being sexual if a woman keeps going over bumps on purpose. but other than that. Its a great idea and i wish i could experience it myself.
Hey Rick, I'm glad you liked it as much as I did! Thank you, I do hope this kind of nakedity becomes the norm :)
Thank you for sharing this. It was refreshing to see something on the internet where "nakedity" is being portrayed in a non-sexual and non-objectifying way. This documentary, and your blog for that matter, is a great start for this becoming the norm.. More power to ya..
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