Eastney Beach (and heck, naturist women have a lot to put up with)

[rw]

I went to Eastney Beach for the first time this weekend (at last, a Bank holiday with reasonable weather).  About 90% men on the beach.  And very few under the age of 30.  I laid out my towel 10 or so metres away from a mother (late 40s early 50s?) with her daughter (late 20s early 30s) who were setting up a wind/privacy screen, and then after about 10 mins realised that there was actually a little bit of sand below the lip obscuring the edge of the shore (wish I'd taken photos, it's easier to explain with a photo than text), so picked up my stuff and moved closer to the water.  I went back into the water (very cold), and spent most my time just standing there try to get the courage to submerge the top half after the bottom half went numb - and never quite succeeding.

A 20-something girl arrived with her boyfriend, who seemed only interested in playing with his camera at the entrance to the beach, while she had set herself up a short distance from where I'd first laid my towel.  When she stripped off and went into the water, low-and-behold, where before there had been just 3 of us in the sea, suddenly there was double that.  About 3 or 4 guys (including one of the few 20-somethings) discovered an urgent need for a swim and appeared, as if by magic.  The 20-something even adjusted "himself" while he was turned away from observers on the beach (I had the misfortune to be looking in that direction at that moment) obviously to make himself look as... I dunno... photogenic as possible?

At which point, I decided to move further away from her down the beach.  I felt a bit sorry for her really.  It was all just a bit... obvious.  I mean, I'm appreciative of an attractive young body as the next guy, but really?

I'm not brilliant at confrontation, or I would've said something (like "for f**ks sake, give the girl a break").  But I wish I had.  Frankly based on that experience, I think young naturist women have a lot to put up with in the UK.  At least in the rest of Europe, where they have a bit less of a problem with nudity as a whole, the locals tend to just ignore and get on with it (sure guys might take a look at an attractive woman, but they seem a hell of a lot less obvious about it).

This was.... discouraging.

[nuduke]

It seems an unfortunate fact, rw, that the unalloyed and honest naturism which we practice and talk about here and which one gets the impression that most naturists practice isn't completely universal.  As your report relates, there are those that seek the cheap thrill and are creepy and uninhibited enough to insinuate themselves on others.


The other remark in your post that struck me was 

About 90% men on the beach.  And very few under the age of 30

This is another indicator that naturist practice is biased towards mature men.  Obviously not exclusively, yet everywhere you look (well me anyway), such as this site, there are mature to elderly single men naturists.  Women and younger people are in a minority.  Why then, the movement doesn't start from that fundamental I am puzzled over.  We debate the problems of single men getting access to naturist clubs and that single men hiking naked are more suspicious in the eyes of textiles than groups, couples or lone women.  It's so unfair and represents one of those ridiculous hegemonies that colour the prurient misconceptions of huge numbers of textiles about naturists.  Even naturist society has its head in the sand - Naturism is the thing of ageing men - get real naturist world!  Accept that us lovely post middle agers, pensioners and other creaky senior men are what naturism is about!!  CO clubs - get over your couples only obsession and recognise your market.


John

[John P]

That is the truth, women who get involved with naturism do have to endure a lot. I'm sure it's a major reason why women are so scarce in naturism! But naturist publicity says I'm wrong, that I live in some bizarre corner where I'm not seeing that most naturists are women, and young-looking too. I wonder what part of the world they take those pictures in.

Years ago I had to face the fact that if I was going to be a social naturist, I'd be meeting a lot of guys like myself, and very few women. I decided that I'm a fine fellow and pleasant to be with, and if I could find others of the same type, I'd have a good time. I wouldn't object to more female participation, but it's either go on our activities with my male friends or not go at all, and I'd rather go than not. It's worked out well enough.

[ric]

its some years since i went to an official naturist beach in the uk .   weve got quiet beaches closer which not being dubbed naturist dont attract those that flock to naturist beaches for the tittilation, just the odd surprised fisherman or dog walker

[Greenbare Woods]

This is another indicator that naturist practice is biased towards mature men.  Obviously not exclusively, yet everywhere you look (well me anyway), such as this site, there are mature to elderly single men naturists.  Women and younger people are in a minority.  Why then, the movement doesn't start from that fundamental I am puzzled over.  We debate the problems of single men getting access to naturist clubs and that single men hiking naked are more suspicious in the eyes of textiles than groups, couples or lone women.  It's so unfair and represents one of those ridiculous hegemonies that colour the prurient misconceptions of huge numbers of textiles about naturists.  Even naturist society has its head in the sand - Naturism is the thing of ageing men - get real naturist world!  Accept that us lovely post middle agers, pensioners and other creaky senior men are what naturism is about!!  CO clubs - get over your couples only obsession and recognise your market.
John

Hail and well said, John. 

There is a group on Facebook called Young Naturist Assn. that is run by young females, but by and large Naturist has been older MEN as long as I've known about Naturism.  Lee Baxandall created The Naturist Society.  Ed Lange created Elysium Fields in Topanga Canyon, CA.  I don't know who created BN, but probably an older man or men. 

Its time MEN are respected and accepted for our historic and ongoing contributions to nudism. 

Bob

[rw]

I wonder what part of the world they take those pictures in.

I assume parts of Europe.  Certainly "countries that are not part of the Commonwealth"... 

[eyesup]

A great many come from former Eastern Bloc countries.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I seem to be lucky. A thirty something, two sixty and then some, and then a 50's friend stopped in to sweat with myself and another older male. Then around 5pm a late thirties male stopped in with his girlfriend and two twenty-something girls from CAlifornia. We took a hike out on the stealth trail, lovely naked, the girls wore those skimpy bottoms in between rounds in the sweat. They were all beautiful in their own ways, dear friends and then meeting and entertaining everyone with sharing a highly spiritual experience. The younger ones were, as social standards go, very attractive, but just melded in as just more guests. For some reason yep, a matter of fact they were pretty, the older ones were also in their own ways. It is the clothing that creates the reactions that guys put on women. They categorize, they have sexist favoritism, and constricted perceptions, simply because they are not used to being around nude people in a comfortable safe environment. Then again, some women like the attention as long as it isn't too forward.

Had I been younger as well, would I be thinking of getting into one of there pants? Probably, but not so much more, if she wasn't wearing them. Back in the day, I was interested in getting intimate with most women my then age, clothed or not. I didn't discriminate when we were nude from when we were clothed.
Jbee
Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

We took a hike out on the stealth trail, lovely naked, the girls wore those skimpy bottoms in between rounds in the sweat.
Jbee

I'm not surprised that they young females reverted to fabric crotch covers even among nudists after being naked together.  Social conditioning runs deep.