Hopeful30 Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 (edited) A friend of mine expressed something to me yesterday and I'm not quite sure myself how I would react. She is American, dating a Russian guy for a few weeks, so things are brand new. She went to a Russian sauna where many people are naked because that's how saunas work. She saw her man there, who was naked, with his female cousin, who was also naked. Now my natural reaction to her first was that she's not his cousin, but she confirmed that she was because she met her earlier at a family gathering earlier that week, which is how she recognized the woman. Now, I know in some cultures that this nakedness with family is normal, but I personally would not feel comfortable being naked with male family members (I'm female). But I also know that cousins hook up, so there is room for suspicion. I asked her how they seemed together, but she was too weirded out to stick around. My guess is she was too surprised by the nakedness to notice anything else. What do you guys think? I don't even know myself how I would react... More info: She said hi to them, and they were friendly by what she says. She hasn't brought up the topic with him (I've gotten an earful to say the least lol) Edited March 9, 2017 by Hopeful30
CptInsano Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 My family background is German, and I've seen my entire German side of the family naked. My parents suggested that my US girlfriends would join them in the sauna, which caused similar consternation. I know that the attitude is similar in many other northern and eastern European countries. Chances are that she has nothing to worry about. 5
kgcolonel Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Being a nudist, this is one of the hardest perspectives to convince non-nudists. Nudity doesn't necessarily have anything to do with sex, it is more of one of liberation. I know that many will contest this and several years ago, I would also be on that side of the fence however after practicing nudism for a few years, I would not necessarily be alarmed about the sauna situation. We have one of those where i live as well and nudity is the practice in that variety of saunas. She should speak with her SO to understand his perspective, it may be innocent and it may not but it should not be judged without a conversation. 4
preraph Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Well, was the naked female cousin she got a load of young and pretty or not? If she is young and attractive, I'm going to speculate this isn't a random family reunion unless the group also included 60 year old aunts and uncles. Maybe this family is a little glad-handed about DNA concerns.
kendahke Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Your friend might want to research Russian culture and familiarize herself with their customs if she's going to date a dude from there. They probably grew up doing this with their families. 3
GunslingerRoland Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Europeans are very different about nakedness than Americans. You go to the park in the summer and there are many topless women. Even the everyday fashions for women are often thin see through materials with no bra. 2
WaitingForBardot Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Nudity doesn't necessarily have anything to do with sex, Although good luck trying to convince many Americans of that, collectively we are very puritanical. I lived in a small town for many years and saw a lot of the girls/women from town, high school age and up, naked at the swimming holes. This was very common in the late '60s early '70s, but I don't know about now. Of course there were also those that didn't and were convinced we were going to burn for it. As to the connection between nudity and sex, having seen everyone naked is not all it's cracked up to be insofar as sex is concerned. Have you ever tried macking on someone you've already seen naked in a non-sexual context, or is already naked? It isn't easy. A lot of non-verbal clues we use to judge interest simply do not apply. 2
RecentChange Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 I grew up around nudist hippies and later some years in Switzerland - I agree with others, nudity does not equal sex. I wouldn't have been weirded out by this. 2
kgcolonel Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Although good luck trying to convince many Americans of that, collectively we are very puritanical. I lived in a small town for many years and saw a lot of the girls/women from town, high school age and up, naked at the swimming holes. This was very common in the late '60s early '70s, but I don't know about now. Of course there were also those that didn't and were convinced we were going to burn for it. As to the connection between nudity and sex, having seen everyone naked is not all it's cracked up to be insofar as sex is concerned. Have you ever tried macking on someone you've already seen naked in a non-sexual context, or is already naked? It isn't easy. A lot of non-verbal clues we use to judge interest simply do not apply. Just my wife........
preraph Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 I grew up around nudist hippies and later some years in Switzerland - I agree with others, nudity does not equal sex. I wouldn't have been weirded out by this. I was a commune-dwelling hippie and nudity DID equal sex, pretty much. And one thing I've noticed about nudist areas on lakes, etc. is there are men lurking in the bushes watching and the only women who take their tops off have big boobs. I'm 64. Just an observation. I know there's "bathhouses" type stuff going back centuries, but then no one had showers back then, so..... I'm sure different cultures are different, just like some parents kiss their children, young or old, on the mouth as if they were a French trollop.
Shanex Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Never seen anyone from my family and extended family nude either... it's quite common for Russians and Finns though, and Germans too, basically people of the North who go to the sauna this way. We do have nude beaches, and naturist events of course, and it's perfectly legal. Just as long as no sex is intended and the 'spy camera' voyeurs are usually politely told to leave. It's a culture thing, nothing more. But I understand the concern of a more puritan person.
Rockdad Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 I'm proud to be an American but it sure is an uptight culture when it comes to nudity. We've gone from days of swimming naked for school gym class and the YMCA to equating nudity equals sex. Being naked is reserved only to the bedroom and bathroom. No more skinny dipping with your family on a hot day as your kids should never see nakedness. If you do walk around your house naked and someone finds out your open to scrutiny. Educating people that nudity does not equal sex I doubt will ever be achieved in this country. I've seen thousands (literally) of naked people and they were not having non stop boinking marathons. I have hung out with my female cousin nude many times, it doesn't mean anything weird did or was going to happen. 1
thefooloftheyear Posted March 15, 2017 Posted March 15, 2017 And people call us Italians weird because we kiss male relatives on the cheek... TFY
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