The Ongoing Battle to Convince Nudists to Wear Face Masks
Covering your face contradicts the naturist lifestyle, according to some nudists in France.
This article originally appeared on VICE France.
Pierre, 34, has been a naturist for over a decade. He had planned to spend his summer vacation in Cap d’Agde, a seaside destination near the border between France and Spain. Dubbed “the world’s biggest naturist resort”, Cap d’Agde is a nudist town-within-a-town, offering supermarkets, boutiques, hair salons and even a post office with a recommended undress code.
The resort recently reopened its doors to tourists after the French lockdown, strongly encouraging visitors to wear a face mask with their birthday suit. But Pierre simply couldn’t wrap his head around covering his face while the rest of his body is naked – so he cancelled his trip. To be clear, while wearing a mask is merely a government recommendation in most public places in France, it’s obligatory in all shops, schools and on public transport as of publication. Transgressors risk a fine of 135 euros.
For most naturists, living in the buff has nothing to do with sex. According to International Naturist Federation, naturism is a lifestyle in “harmony with nature, characterised by the practice of communal nudity”.
“Naturism gives us a feeling of freedom and equality with everyone, regardless of anyone’s social status,” said Mathieu, a 30-something from northwestern France who enjoys the lifestyle with his girlfriend Morgane. The couple believe wearing a face mask is in contradiction with this lifestyle and plan to ignore the government recommendations while vacationing at nudist beaches this summer. As far as they’re concerned, keeping distance from other sunbathers will be enough.
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Source: Vice
Original publication Original Date
Posted on NatCorn 23rd June 2020
Reference to an article does not infer endorsement of any views expressed.