Uncovering the Power of Naked Girls Through Empirical Research
Uncovering the Power of Naked Girls Through Empirical Research
Blog Article
The nude female body has long been a powerful symbol in our culture. It evokes feelings of desire, fetishism and sexualisation, a legacy of painters (and a society!) who have rendered women’s bodies as objects of male desire. However, the image of the nude female body continues to be subject to intense scrutiny and censorship. This is evident in the ongoing debate around sexy-star Lena Dunham’s choice to bar her ‘imperfect’ breasts in public, the ferocity of sex-rights groups’ reaction to American Apparel’s new 62-year-old underwear model Jacky O’Shaughnessy and the backlash against the proliferation of nude teenage girls in advertisements for deodorants, slimming aids, body wash, hair spray and bust developers.
In response to these controversies, feminist scholars are beginning to uncover the power of naked images through empirical research. Using photography, videos and texts that document the experiences of women in their bodies, these scholars are providing evidence of the interrelated effects of gendered spectatorship, sexual shame and the construction of sexual knowledge.
By underscoring the multiple ways in which women engage with nude images, these researchers also challenge theories that depict them as powerless to negotiate patriarchially determined visual culture. In addition, they highlight the complexities of questions about what constitutes sexual knowledge and expertise – and the ambiguity of this for various gendered groups – in order to open up the possibility that women’s responses to nude imagery may be more diverse than currently assumed.
The first such study, conducted by the psychologists Gray and et al., showed 159 undergraduates photos of an attractive woman named Erin either wearing a headshot or a bikini. Participants initially viewed both sets of photos as having a great deal of agency – the women were presumed to be full of experience-related capacities such as hunger and desire. However, when the Nude cam girlfriend participants were shown more skin – and less headshots – they started to view the women as less capable of having agency.
This was particularly true for women who had high levels of sexual shame. The findings demonstrate the impact of shame on perceptions of agency and suggest that it is possible to reclaim a sense of self-worth through the practice of nudity.
While it is a shame that the nude girl remains largely relegated to beaches and naturist societies, it is encouraging that people are beginning to find ways to spend more time in the buff. It’s worth remembering, though, that before you make any plans to lounge around in the sun without a shirt on, or start inviting the neighbourhood kids over for a group nude picnic, it is important to ensure that your intentions and actions are always safe and consensual. This may include taking the time to prepare yourself in a private place, establishing clear boundaries with any partners and knowing your local laws regarding public nudity. To start, try introducing small amounts of nudity into your day by getting into your PJs later than usual or leaving your clothes off while doing simple tasks such as making the bed or washing your face. Report this page