Why do many people in the USA have a hard time being nude in front of others and in Europe they don't?

Question

1. More topless beaches in Europe (When I say Euorpe I am also including countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, etc.)
2. It is permissable by law to lay out naked on the grass in public parks in Europe yet if somebody was to do that here in the United States they would get arrested for indecent exposure
3. Changing clothes in front of another person
4. Bathing nude in some way, shape, or form (bathtub, shower) in front of another person, especially outdoors
5. Skinny dipping

Answer 1

In many ways the United States is a very conservative country when it comes to nudity. I'm 21 and love being naked as much as possible, alone or with others. I've been to the nude beach here on Long Island (NY) hundreds of times over the past 4 years and been seen naked by probably hundreds of thousands of people.

My point is that not all of us are shy or uptight about simple nudity, especially in appropriate places and situations (on the beach, in a pool, etc.) Here in NY it's now legal for girls to be topless anyplace a guy can be, so there are more and more girls taking off their tops on regular "clothed" beaches. Our bare boobs are become more acceptable every year, which is a good thing (at least in my opinion).

I think that part of the problem is that many people still equate nudity with sexuality, when that's not really the case. Nudity is always sensual (it feels awesome to be naked on a beach on a warm summer day) but it need not be sexual. Once people get past that misconception that being naked is always a sexual thing, simple nudity will become more commonplace.

Nude in the sun is just plain fun!

Bare hugs...

Answer 2

Because people in this country are raised thinking it's bad to be undressed. Even though everyone has a body you are brought up thinking it's wrong to show yours. I lived for two years in Germany. (Frankfurt) and spent some time at Gruneberg Park. It was the neatest thing I had ever seen. People could be walking and other might be taking a luch break and some people would be laying out nude. I see nothing wrong with being comfortable in our own skin but most people do in this country.

Answer 3

Maybe because we are a newer country than Europe as a whole. Look at the amount of guys we got on this side of the pond getting caught by dateline. Besides you're country is more accepting to the Idea where as ours isn't due to different Religions, Races, and Beliefs. Hope this was helpful. Besides that is the last type of message I want to send to our younger generations that are already showing too much skin.

Answer 4

in one answer Religion
Christianity says naked people are dirty
In Europe is much less religion ,especially in the noth ,who were hit the hardest by the Spanish Inquisition,after that most countries showed religion the door.
although it took Spain quite a while to accept Nudists on the beaches
but even that is history now

Answer 5

euros = pervs

Ha ha ha.

Seriously, it's got to be the difference in cultural values. The societies in most of the countries you mention are a lot older culturally than the USA, or were more heavily influenced by the much older cultures.

We are a relatively new culture, if you think of the planet as a whole, and we were started by a bunch of really uptight religious folks. Who left Europe because there were too many pervs there (I couldn't resist)

Answer 6

There is an obesity epidemic in the United States and there is not such an epidemic in Europe. Perhaps people are more shy about nudity in the United States because they are more self-conscious about their weight.

Answer 7

Interesting!

Answer 8

well with so many pervs in the U S i think that its hard to accept seeing a lot of people naked

Answer 9

Puritan ethic. Look it up.

Answer 10

cultural differences..