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AIBU?

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Original poster

Being shy about nakedness - a British thing?

203 replies

lottieandmias · 07/04/2015 18:49

I've noticed that loads of women at the gym seem to walk around naked without batting an eyelid. I'm way to shy to ever do that. Am I hung up or not? I don't mind them doing it if they want to but I never could.

OP posts:
championnibbler · 07/04/2015 18:53

No, you're not hung up.
no way would i ever strut around naked in front of other women.
mostly because i look awful with my clothes off.
even if i had a great body, i still wouldn't strip off.

ThingummyJigg · 07/04/2015 18:55

I wish women at the gym wouldn't stalk around the changing room in the buff. I don't care if they've the body of Jessica Ennis or, er, me Blush but I really hate it.

Clearly I'm utterly repressed and there are things wrong with me. Or I just wish women would put their fannies and norks away before they decide to blow dry their hair with their head upside down, ffs love I'm not your gynaecologist.

Rant over.

SquinkiesRule · 07/04/2015 18:56

No. I lived in the US for many years until recently and they would just about faint at all the naked bodies at the gym changing rooms here in UK. Even though I lived in California and there was lots of skin on show from an early age, there was never nakedness in real life only in the movies. My friend let her son run into the water naked one day (he was only just past a year old) and the gasps of horror was so funny, I was laughing as was my friend.
I did the topless thing on holidays when younger but not any more.

Marmaladedandelions · 07/04/2015 18:57

I'm just a natural prude; always have been :)

fourteen · 07/04/2015 19:02

Yes, you've got a hang up.

But I wouldn't worry, it's a British thing. You can't help it.

Only1scoop · 07/04/2015 19:05

No I don't have hang ups but I certainly don't stand at the hairdryer starkers like some women do in my gym.

Sbear22 · 07/04/2015 19:07

Thingummyjigg I am almost in tears at your gynaecologist comment Grin

Mamiof3 · 07/04/2015 19:21

I wouldn't even blow dry my hair naked at home never mind the gym changing room wtaf?!!! Do they give their fanny hair a little blast as well?

someonestolemynick · 07/04/2015 19:22

I'm from Germany and being naked in the changing room is complete ly normal over there.
I do cover up in English changing rooms because everyone else is fiercely guarding their decency.

someonestolemynick · 07/04/2015 19:24

Though strip off in the shower cubicle... And I seem to be in the minority their (swimming pool)

MrsMook · 07/04/2015 19:27

In Iceland, the signs in the showers are very explicit about where they expect you to wash prior to going in the fresh geothermal pools. British prudery not accepted!

If it's a choice between functional nudity or claustrophobia in the locker, then sorry, it's time to air the stretch marks.

I wonder if there's a link between a British prudish culture and our collective body image issues.

Artandco · 07/04/2015 19:28

It's a British prude thing I think.

Although my parents were virtually hippies so we grew up surrounded by casual nakedness. I think it's good. There's no need to cover up surely in places like changing rooms/ showers/ at home. People are more efficient getting changed when they aren't hidden under a towel.

At home we are hoping our boys grow up not ashamed of any bodies ( although hopefully not full exbitionists)

HazleNutt · 07/04/2015 19:30

UK and US. I live on the continent and go to a very international gym. Was just thinking today that you can easily spot Brits and Americans, they are the ones doing a complicated changing-under-the-towel thing, while everybody else just gets naked.

alwaysstaytoolong · 07/04/2015 20:03

I honestly could not give a frig who sees me naked or who I see naked. I have no hang ups about nudity at all. Quite happy to be naked showering or in the process of drying and getting dressed.

But I still wouldn't wander around a changing room naked once I was dry or dry my hair while still naked. As soon as I was dry I'd get dressed because that's what you do isn't it?.

The wandering round chatting or drying hair/putting make up on while naked seems a bit odd to me and I'm not sure why.

Original poster
lottieandmias · 07/04/2015 20:46

Yes! Drying hair while naked. Just why? Tbh though I don't walk around naked in front of my kids even.

OP posts:
SinglePringle · 07/04/2015 20:48

I get naked at the gym. Have a shower, towel dry, get dressed - at some point in this process, I have to remove the towel and put underwear on. I can't stand trying to keep a towel wrapped round me whilst pulling knickers up and if I'm in a room full of women, then I really don't see the issue.

I don't wander around naked, much less get going with the hairdryer bald down there anywhere Grin but if someone happens to glimpse my arse, well... .

WorraLiberty · 07/04/2015 20:52

What country is the gym in?

Judging from the amount of threads about this sort of thing in British gyms, I'm not so sure Brits are as shy as they once were.

I like to keep a towel around me but other people being naked doesn't bother me.

Original poster
lottieandmias · 07/04/2015 20:52

At our gym there are lockable cubicles and I go hide in there. I do like my body but just can't stand the thought of people seeing me naked.

OP posts:
Original poster
lottieandmias · 07/04/2015 20:53

It's a David Lloyd gym Worra.

OP posts:
TiggyOBE · 07/04/2015 20:54

I'm typing this com pletely naked.

Sorry about the gap in that sentence. My penis fell on the space bar.

Original poster
lottieandmias · 07/04/2015 20:55

In Germany I remember everyone naked in the swimming pool changing rooms

OP posts:
Athrawes · 07/04/2015 21:02

British here. Can't be arsed with all the towel dancing at the pool, gym or beach. It is quicker just to get naked, dry and dress. I should add that my body is fat, wobbly and well past m Iddle age. Kiwi friends however think I am some kind of rampant exhibitionist. New Zealanders, now they are a prudish lot.

Kaekae · 07/04/2015 21:03

I remember having school swimming lessons at a local pool and there were always naked woman in the showers...we would all laugh. I remember they always seemed to have huge hairy vaginas and they'd leave long pubes behind. Heave.

I do not get naked at the gym, I'm not a prude but I don't get why women like to stand in the nude with one leg on a bench - it is as if they secretly like it.

WorraLiberty · 07/04/2015 21:12

It's a David Lloyd gym Worra

What country is it in? I've never heard of David Lloyd gyms as I'm not a gym sort of person.

But if it's in Britain, then I'd say it proves that Brits are slowly becoming less bothered about nudity.

Sparklingbrook · 07/04/2015 21:17

I don't go swimming or to the gym because I don't want to see naked people and I don't want them to see me naked.

There was a long thread not long ago where all the prudes got told off and were told that that's what changing rooms are for or something.