Censured Genetalia and the fear of Sexuality

[Niku]

Why do we, in some or a lot of cases, censure genetalia. Both in media and reality. Why is it illegal to be naked in public in some parts of our world? Are our external sexual organs considered dangerous? Are they something that's supposed to be feared and ashamed of?
What about sex in general, or differing Sexualities? I'd like to think that we are moving towards a more openminded future. Isn't nudity and sexuality something that needs to be less associated with taboo?
I think so.

[Maharishi]

Sure, nudity is one of many societal norms that have a certain degree of cognitive dissonance associate with them. Why is it okay for girls to have longer fingernails than guys?

That being said, it's not a norm I have a particular issue with. Not seeing ugly bodies, and keeping some mystery for intimate moments is fine with me.

[Deleted]

In America's case. I suspect it comes from the original Puritanical settlers.

[Deleted]

Personally, I'd rather not see a naked man or woman walk down the street, however there are others in society (i.e nudist colonies) that see it as the norm.

As with the fear of sexuality, I notice this the most of the arguments against breast feeding in public. According to these individuals, feeding an infant in a natural way is seen as disgusting or abnormal. This is often due to the fact that breasts are seen as sexual objects in western societies, rather than a body part to feed an infant.

[Jackmoves]

Well our openess about sexuality has had a lot of advances at least, nudity the opposit if you compare to like the 60s-70s.
I think nudity is something that is quite private, some people might feel threatened by it and some people might feel more vulnerable, I think both those aspects is part of the reason for why nudity isn't really accepted.

I wouldn't feel comfy at a nudist beach for example, it takes a special kind of person for that, that being said... get me drunk a warm summers night and I don't mind going skinny dipping lmao

[Deleted]

Because of: increased heartbeat and possibility of heart failure.

[haxartus]

Most people are insecure about their bodies. The people that are the most afraid of nudity are usually the people that you wouldn't want to see naked anyway.

[Niku]

Personally, I'd rather not see a naked man or woman walk down the street, however there are others in society (i.e nudist colonies) that see it as the norm.

As with the fear of sexuality, I notice this the most of the arguments against breast feeding in public. According to these individuals, feeding an infant in a natural way is seen as disgusting or abnormal. This is often due to the fact that breasts are seen as sexual objects in western societies, rather than a body part to feed an infant.

You feeling that way is fine in itself, but isn't it odd to have a law against it? Your interests are protected but the individuals freedom to chose wether he wants to wear cloths or not isn't. Why is it that we don't want to see these parts so badly? Is it natural?

[Deleted]

"show me your genitals, your genitals, show me your genitals , your genitalia!!!!!!!" Because people build up a shame wall wall over the past years, in eastern germany before the reunite public nudists beaches were normal and the children were raised with this view, of course I am not showing everyone my dong now, but this makes the overall view of your body a bit more relaxted... when I remember as a kid we would visit the USA i had to buy a swim shorts because the small slip like thingies were not seen with friendly eyes and friends of my parents got reported for them by local people.

I think the usa need to let go of this habit because you can't be that prude in normal life while having the largest porn industry, young girls fucking around the earliest and sexual jokes are present in every sitcom and movie... I think through this total shame of oneself only the plastic surgeons, fitness gurus and health lobby get the benefit for telling you, you need to get better to show what you have...

[Deleted]

imagine fat and ugly people polluting the cities with their nudity, that would be fucking disgusting

or standing behind a fat naked blob in a line for ice cream or something, in the middle of summer... all the juices and sweat and arsehole stench flowing through your hair

[Irisel]

Because humans have and still do consider their bodies and private parts to be sacred, and censuring and making it illegal to show those parts is society's way of preserving this.

Also, the innocence of children seems like the most important part. Nudity changes children's' minds, literally.

But, speaking strictly as an adult, and ignore children for a moment, sexuality being taboo is what makes it so awesome. Just like using curse words, if you over do it, it takes the fun out of it.

[Maharishi]

You feeling that way is fine in itself, but isn't it odd to have a law against it? Your interests are protected but the individuals freedom to chose wether he wants to wear cloths or not isn't. Why is it that we don't want to see these parts so badly? Is it natural?

There are plenty of laws based on subjective morality
See

Marriage (not even including gay marriage, just in general the government endorsing it with tax law)
FCC obscenity policing
Libel laws


Really there are few laws which don't dome down to the point where they're based on subjective morality, rather than objective. (Though what objective morality is, I'm not sure).

[Stir]

In the NL, sexual organs aren't censored in the media. Of course; there are instances where they are... A strip of cloth here, a bowl of fruit there, a leaf somewhere else... But that's mainly because there's still a taboo on using pornographic imaging purely for advertisement (though a lot of advertisements come too close to comfort).
In dutch movies and even daytime television, full nudity does happen on occasion, but when it does, it's usually in a natural way. After all; it's rather unnatural to get out of bed with the blankets wrapped around your waist and a pillow held in front of your chest.

What I have noticed, though, is that it's more normal to see a man's penis on television than a woman's vagina. I guess that is because of the whole idea of woman's breasts, but we see men's breasts (usually oiled, muscular and bronzed) on TV all the time... And nobody's making a hassle.

[Deleted]

Why is it okay for girls to have longer fingernails than guys?

You have clearly never met a classical guitar player. They are more anal about their nails then any "beauty queen" out there. They all got their "perfect length". And constantly go around with their diamond nail files to keep their nails in top condition. If they get a small crack or dent in their nail it's the end of the fricking world.
Well, then again. I'm the total opposite. It starts to creep inside me when I see that my nails are getting the white part. Keep mine the shortest possible(without clipping into the finger so it starts to bleed). I can't stand having nails distorting my tone when I play bass.

And about the matter of showing genitalia in public. Think it's because we are so used to having clothes to shield us from wind and weather that we believe clothes to be natural part of human life. And as we've grown accustomed to clothes what's underneath it have become very private. And we also want to distance ourself from the animal behaviour of sex in public. We as humans are not animals, we are above them according to some people. So everything that relates to sex. Penises, vaginas, boobs and asses are to be covered. Because when we show those parts it to fornicate with someone special. Me myself, I don't like clothes and usually throw all, or most of them, off as soon as I get inside my apartment.

[Deleted]

imagine fat and ugly people polluting the cities with their nudity, that would be fucking disgusting

or standing behind a fat naked blob in a line for ice cream or something, in the middle of summer... all the juices and sweat and arsehole stench flowing through your hair

Or maybe you are used to it because you won't know it better then, and the stenches well people seem to forget that musk which we find so adorable and attracting was gained from the sexual organs of some poor mamals back in the day, there you got your arsehole stench on your skin without caring!

And really would fat and ugly people make you more conifident about yourself because u looking better beside them?

[Stanton Biston]

There have been studies that have shown that early exposure to visual sexuality can be traumatic to children.

That said, most jurisdictions in the United States make the distinction between nudity for a sexual purpose and nudity for some other purpose. Portland, Oregon has a naked bike ride every year and very few people go to jail as a result of it.

[Deleted]

im glad people cant walk around naked in public, so many obese and ugly people. maybe they should make it so only hot people can go naked

[eErike]

Thena again, some countries have an extream censure in movies and such. It's rather redundant that one should be afraid for the human body as they'll need to get used to it to reproduct

[alemaite]

Our society can't possibly work the way it does now if sexuality and nudity are seen in the way you are. We would just act like "animals", can you imagine how distracting it would be if in a business meeting pretty women were all naked? It would be hard to focus and our animalistic side would take over. It's our nature but we try to fight it.

[Niku]

In the NL, sexual organs aren't censored in the media. Of course; there are instances where they are... A strip of cloth here, a bowl of fruit there, a leaf somewhere else... But that's mainly because there's still a taboo on using pornographic imaging purely for advertisement (though a lot of advertisements come too close to comfort).
In dutch movies and even daytime television, full nudity does happen on occasion, but when it does, it's usually in a natural way. After all; it's rather unnatural to get out of bed with the blankets wrapped around your waist and a pillow held in front of your chest.

What I have noticed, though, is that it's more normal to see a man's penis on television than a woman's vagina. I guess that is because of the whole idea of woman's breasts, but we see men's breasts (usually oiled, muscular and bronzed) on TV all the time... And nobody's making a hassle.

I like the NL. But the breast thing, I donno, does women get the same turn on from watching mens breasts? I doubt it but what do I know. Why womens breast are idolised? Maybe because a lot of men where breastfed when younger and have a natural attraction in that connection, but then again so should women by that logic.

---------- Post added 2011-12-13 at 01:48 PM ----------

Our society can't possibly work the way it does now if sexuality and nudity are seen in the way you are. We would just act like "animals", can you imagine how distracting it would be if in a business meeting pretty women were all naked? It would be hard to focus and our animalistic side would take over. It's our nature but we try to fight it.

Maybe there's something in what you say. On the brightside, maybe we'd have a lot of orgies!