Children: The Unhindered Naturist

Children are the unhindered naturist; unfortunately mainstream Western society has a negative view of nudity. This is shown throughout the media and beyond. Genitals and faces are blanked out on the television screen when nudity is displayed. This practice conveys that nudity is a taboo. The idea that nudity is unnatural and coincides with sex or lustful thoughts is effectively promoted through these means. Thus the concept that nudity should only take place behind closed doors is validated. This belies that the body in its natural state is somehow lewd.

When nudity takes place in movies, the film is given a rating for more mature audiences, regardless of the rest of the content. This encourages the belief that all nudity is synonymous with sex. Consequently, the foundation for individuals to believe that sex must be a part of the naked form has been built. Even the lack of the nude human form in most non-sexually oriented magazines promotes this mindset. Safely hidden, the images behind the black cover become an even greater fascination.

Parenting is difficult enough without this factor. Today's parents are faced with more dilemmas than even their parents had when they were growing up. Those bad seeds that were partaking in child pornography now have neighbors spying on neighbors. It is not unheard of for a call to the authorities to be made when a toddler is seen playing in the backyard nude. In past times naked babes running through the sprinklers would not cause adults to even bat an eye.
Photographs of children taking a bath, dancing around freely in their nudity, and even nursing are now being seen less than pure. Pictures that were once commonly displayed in baby albums are suddenly being defined as sick practices. The world is heading in a topsy-turvy direction wherein the actions of the few leave the many under the microscope. Intentions are questioned on a daily basis, and parents have to second guess their every action. This is especially true in the case of nudity.