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TV nudity is it just me?

87 replies

Whythoughlol · 05/01/2020 13:56

Not sure if this is the right category but wanted people's opinions.

I've noticed I feel uncomfortable watching shows or films that show just female nudity.
It really bothers me when it just feels like it's done for the sake of it and the male cast members aren't equally as nude or not nude at all. I don't feel bothered when it makes sense to the story or is artistic as such.

I've put it down to being pregnant right now and not feeling attractive but I also notice I feel its a lot to do with me feeling like it's not fair that often it's just women and male actors you might see a bum but i don't feel it's the same to a women having her breasts out or do you think it is?

I read an article the other day I think it was in the metro about Emilia Clarke and how she really struggled and felt pressured into nude scenes in game of thrones and now I wonder if all these young actresses feel like that at times.

I'm also young in my 20s but feel as I'm getting older I've noticed just how unequal stuff like this is in the media and TV and film.

I'm not good at articulating my point of view. Do I need to work on my self esteem or am I right to feel these things and not alone in that.

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Whythoughlol · 05/01/2020 15:42

I didn't think about that I guess a guys erection would be pretty out there! Haha
I was thinking maybe bum with bit of ball bag would be equal Grin haha I kid.

Thanks for people's response.
I would like to feel more comfortable with this as it's hard to avoid and don't want to stop watching stuff with my other half because of my own insecurties.

I can't help thinking it'll probably get worse with all these streaming apps coming out now competing with each other and all the shows probably want to be the next Game of thrones. Feels like it's a box to tick sometimes in new shows.

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SmudgeButt · 05/01/2020 15:45

I think it's in part that a naked woman walking directly to the camera can look good whereas a naked man will have his limp willy flappy about and he'll look silly to the (mostly male) directors.

Worst gratuitous nudity ever is in Working Girl (1988 film so maybe not everyone's familiar). Harrison Ford (always clothed), Sigourney Weaver (appropriately in on scene in a sexy negligee) and Melanie Griffith as the title character who at one point is running around hoovering in 3 - 4 inch heels and red lacy panties and nothing else. So much for being a film about a strong young woman taking on the world.

But things have changed in 30+ years and at least we now get to see some very nice male butts for which I'm generally grateful.

FacesLookUgly · 05/01/2020 15:55

Agree re Witcher.

With all those kinds of series, I look forward to being 2-3 seasons in when they stop bothering with gratuitous nudity so much.

I am always Hmm when yet another female bath scene (or similar) is shot so that her nipples are just above the camera cut off point. I just always imagine some sleazy director saying "make sure you get her nipples in shot".

It doesn't help with that specific series that Henry Cavill also has such a poor reputation re the way he treats women.

Ferretyone · 05/01/2020 16:05

@Whythoughlol

I am often puzzled by [American] films where people making love keep all their underwear on. While I wonder how and where the bits go I also wonder whether we are therefore doing it wrong? Grin

Sagradafamiliar · 05/01/2020 16:10

It doesn't bother me but I just think 'how juvenile' and it has put me off watching, say, Game of Thrones. Then again the violence in that would have also put me off.
It just brings to mind exploitation, objectification and seedy directors. The line 'it was important to show it in the context of the story' always gets trotted out...well yeah, the gratuitous nudity was in the script as well lol!

The only scene I've seen topless women in a film that wasn't a gratuitous one, was in The Magdalene Sisters.

ElefanteIntheroom · 05/01/2020 16:15

I hate male gaze type nudity as well. Its ALWAYS young women in these roles Angry

Marriedtoapenguin · 05/01/2020 16:18

The game of thrones nudity is as per the book and fairly integral to the character development and lessens considerably as the series progresses.

Halle Berry, Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon, Margot Robbie, Jamie Lee Curtis have all done at least partial nudity if you're thinking a lister people. (Reese's was very early in her career mind you)

Copperleaves · 05/01/2020 16:24

I don't think "it's in the book" counts really as a character can still be naked without the camera showing her to be. They can shoot headshots, from behind, doesn't have to be a full frontal shot just because someone has had a bath or whatever.

soakedat3 · 05/01/2020 16:32

I am also watching The Witcher with OH and have commented on the female nudity to him. Some is because I would love that body and other is because it's not really needed to the plot and very unequal levels. OH is huge fan of books and game and agrees it's just not needed but it seems to be the way of shows just now. Nudity galore until s2!

PuppyMonkey · 05/01/2020 16:33

I knew this would be about The Witcher - it made me very uncomfortable and I was thinking about what Emilia Clarke from GOT had said while watching that main actress in this (the ep where she’s wandering around half nude for ages as part of some spell other while the minstrel fella is recovering in bed). There was just no need for it, it added nothing to the story.

At least in GOT the nudity reduced over time but The Witcher has gone right back to Square one.

Thymelord · 05/01/2020 16:36

I agree with you. One of my bugbears is how it's always a woman that needs yo be naked. Often there's no reason for it! I feel the same about shows that use the murder/rape of women as an excuse to have a slim attractive naked woman laid out in a mortuary, or wherever. It's unnecessary and perpetuates the "women as decoration" bollocks.

Mockers2020Vision · 05/01/2020 16:39

It's difficult to get a balance because a bloke with his shirt off is not 'nudity.' If you did a buttock-count, I suspect you'd get more male than female.

Context is all. The first full female nude on British TV was a brilliant piece of TV Drama, in ITV's Manhunt when Robert Hardy's sadistic SS Officer dehumanises Cyd Hayman of Zer Resistance.

Writersblock2 · 05/01/2020 16:40

GoT books are misogynistic too. Written from a female character POV at the start where she spends a lot of time thinking about her own breasts. Because that’s totally realistic. Not. Hmm

OP, it’s not your own insecurities...

I’d love to see this reposted on the feminist forum.

Thymelord · 05/01/2020 16:41

The game of thrones nudity is as per the book and fairly integral to the character development and lessens considerably as the series progresses

I loved GOT, I was a huge fan, but I disagree with you here. Most of the (always female) nudity was absolutely unnecessary. The first thing that comes yo my mind is the scene with Petyr Baelish, Ros and Armeca. It was literally wank fodder! Added nothing. We could have been told his backstory without the porn.

Mockers2020Vision · 05/01/2020 16:44

GoT was very sleazy, especially the giggling jiggling whores straight out of Up Pompeii!

Vulpine · 05/01/2020 16:46

Sex scenes, the womans always on top, bazukas swinging. That irks me.

Oksanna · 05/01/2020 16:47

That’s partially why I don’t watch films/series with my husband. I’m in my early 20s too and in good shape but i still don’t feel comfortable sitting with my husband and looking at a nude female or sex scenes. It makes me wonder does that arouse him etc. I don’t like the idea that anything could arouse him other than me.. of course it’s unrealistic but it hurts me.

june2007 · 05/01/2020 16:55

It depends to me what is shown and in what context. Is it necessary, does it add to the story ect.

june2007 · 05/01/2020 16:56

Vulpine that's it not my take on things must be watching different stuff.

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Whythoughlol · 05/01/2020 17:02

Ah god does it get worse I'm on episode 3?
I really want to keep watching it but probably not going to enjoy it if its just going to be a boob fest. Same here oksanna although I think being pregnant at the moment is clouding my judgement a bit. I don't think being young and slim makes you immune to this stuff.

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Whythoughlol · 05/01/2020 17:09

How can I move this to the feminist board maybe that's where I should of posted this. I need help articulating how I feel about this so I can confidently bring this up with my partner. I have two young daughters don't know if that's why I'm thinking more about this stuff lately but finding more things bother me and I just can't communicate that well in conversation.

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Londongirl86 · 05/01/2020 17:13

See a bum made me laugh lol

I know exactly what you mean though. I suppose you don't see fannies and Willie's but you see boobs and bums. I have nothing against gay or lesbians. But shows like Hollyoaks really go to far with gay men. It's ridiculous how many men in that village sleep together. Not so much any lesbians though. I often think God sake we get it!

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 05/01/2020 17:17

Completely agree about The Witcher. It's not the nudity itself I have a problem with but the sheer one-sidedness of it. In the last one I watched there was a female character just wandering around with her tits out for most of the episode for no discernible reason whatsoever and yet Henry Cavill's character didn't even take anything off when they were having sex! He must have something written into his contract about nudity/sex scenes because whenever it becomes apparent that his character is about to get it on with someone the camera tastefully pans away from the bed or fades to black, yet there have been norks a-plenty from the first episode!

Whatisnormalhere · 05/01/2020 17:17

I'm really glad I found this thread because my partner was watching The Witcher today and all the female nudity and sex scenes, was just too much. It was unnecessary. It made me feel really uncomfortable and insecure as well. I hate the objectification and exploitation of women's bodies. I actually had to get him to stop watching it because it upset me so much and we had an argument. He was also watching it while our 2 year old was around. It's not the first time we argued about something like this. I just wish everything wasn't so hypersexual.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 05/01/2020 17:21

He was also watching it while our 2 year old was around

That's really not on, there's some pretty strong violence in that show as well as the sex scenes.