I have a contrarian view here.
I don’t think capitalism or religion is to “blame” or “credit” for these sorts of variations. In my experience, doing so is often folks attaching new “sins” onto concepts they already don’t like.
“just another thing capitalism ruined.”
i tend to view this issues more broadly. After all, European countries tend to have very liberal views of nudity, are capitalistic, and have a “smut” culture in line with Penthouse as well.
I remember a college professor in my film studies class talking about cultural variations of modesty by describing a visit to Japan. In the video stores, which included pornographic vids, nudity was shown freely——but little stickers had been applied to all the images with public hair to cover it. Public hair was considered taboo enough to cover, but not breasts and butts and genitals. Now, that was his illustration. It may or may not be accurate broadly. But I always remembered it as an example that social taboos are cultural and very specific. Not tied so tightly to religious or economic histories as we light think.
the fact is that pubic single sex nudity was FAR more acceptable in the so call puritanical past of the US. The 50s and before. During times when we’re told everyone was a prude and everyone was sexually repressed. This is clearly evident in the nude swimming and common open room showering that many here lament as lost “comfort with our own bodies.” But the US was deeply religious and capitalistic back then. So how can this be?
in my opinion, the broad sexualization of our culture is what lead to the changing of these taboos. In a culture where everything is sexualized—from art to marketing to politics—is it any wonder that younger men would view getting naked in a common male space as potentially sexual? Or at least feel uncomfortable enough to choose modesty?
is it homophobic for a man to choose to not participate in group nudity because they think others would view him as a sex object in those settings? The fact that so many complain about their decision to choose modesty in forums like this pretty much answers that question for me.
perhaps society would be better if everyone felt free to be nude and not worry. Maybe modesty in general or modesty in single sex environments is dumb and counter productive.or perhaps a society’s current collective views on modesty are reactions to their recent past (repression leading to periods of less modesty, hyper sexualization leading to periods of more modesty.)
I’d just encourage everyone to think about it outside of broad abstractions like capitalism or religious Puritanism or homophobia. In the end, the best explanation in my mind is that “the demand among members of LPSG for attractive men who get nude in semi public areas far exceeds the supply.”
…. Actually, I guess that’s what a capitalist WOULD say……. LOL.
