For Thinking that Mixed Saunas are Perverted?

[GreekDogRescue]

I am currently staying in a spa resort in Switzerland. The facilities are immaculate but it always strikes me as odd that the conservative Germanic cultures are so keen on the mixed naked sauna.

I visit every year and endure it but every time I enter the sauna with trepidation, hoping against hope that I do not have to confront some elephantine Germanic male proudly plodding about with his crown jewels on display. Thankfully I’m increasingly myopic but WTF?

The irony is that Brits are seen as wacky nonconformists yet conservative European cultures are so keen to get their kit off at the first glimpse of a bit of heat. There are even signs up forbidding users to wear their bathing costumes. Why?

Obviously as a rule-breaking Brit I defy this but will never forget a Swiss lifeguard storming into the Davos public sauna demanding I take my bathers off. I have also been harassed in the most horrible way so now stick to hotels.

AIBU to find this all very perverted?

Are there any Scandi or Germanic contributors who can shed some light?

But a number of men are perverts, all over the world. The Swiss are no different.

True, but they are perverts everywhere and don't necessarily go to saunas in larger quanitites for that purpose. I go to German saunas regulary and people just mind their own business. While naked.

A gay sauna is a million miles away from the Alpine spa holiday that OP is on.

Unless your point is actually just that gay people are all perverts?

The best sauna is your own, your own Finnish barrel sauna, in your own garden. It is actually probably far cheaper than multiple holidays to Switzerland and costs a few pounds to run at a time. You can add water to the heater and make it steamy. You can use your own essential oils mixed in with the water and have your own Zen music on a speaker. And most importantly you can dress how you like and invite whoever you like, or not.

Quite. When it comes to spas/saunas/swimming etc or anything with other people there wearing not many/no clothes the smaller and more selective the group, the better.

I’ve never been in a naked sauna. However, DH always tells the story of his first girlfriend when he was about 18. She was Swedish and she took him home to Sweden where the family had a sauna in their garden. The whole family stripped off and got in 😂 He said he didn’t know where to look when her mum was chatting to him about college with her knockers on full display.

I've only been to a sauna once in Germany and I don't think I'd do it again. It was just me (in my costume) and a young man with a huge penis which I think was semi erect. Not comfortable and I just left. Not for me!

Why on earth would you look at/inspect someone else's penis?

Just enjoy the sauna!

If women weren't raped, oggled at, abused, moaned at for what we wear etc etc, then I think most of us wouldn't mind having a sauna naked. We women however are usually the targets for nasty things to happen.

but it really is very simple. I have never ever encountered a German sauna that doesn't have single sex sessions (no longer allowed, possibly, due to the new Self ID laws, we will see)

Presumably the chlorine, piss, whatever else contaminant soaked swimwear that has been in the pool or ocean is going to turn into steam which people are going to breathe.

Who doesn't enjoy a peek of cock?

You don't. It is disgusting to put your bare bum on the seat except in the steam room when you hose down your seat thoroughly when finished. You sit on your towel while in the sauna and wrap yourself in it the rest of the time.

Exactly this.

This! Stop looking. Bloody hell.

I don't want to be naked in front of men or women or anyone really. Naked saunas give me the heebie jeebies. An ex colleague told me about a London women's Spa which involved women walking around naked and it's my worst nightmare 🤣 It's shut now but nowadays they'd have males there too.

If you're thinking of the Sanctuary, no-one walked around naked.

yeah @CitrineRaindropPhoenix I'm sure that was the one. She must've been exaggerating then!

Scandi here, brought up with all the body positivity, nudity is normal, it’s just bodies and everyone has got one, no one’s looking, don’t be a prude, yadda yadda. I hate it. Hell will freeze over before I take my clothes off in front of strangers.

I have been to a naked German sauna once. Didn’t bother me at all but my exh, who I was with at the time, made a huge fuss about it. Got upset when they said it was unhygienic to wear a costume and took it as a slight on our country.

Ive also been to a Finnish sauna quite recently that was costumes on, but I think that was because it was partly outdoor.

It doesn't bother me at all, but I lived in Germany in the 90s. If it bothers you, don't use their saunas. We can't go around imposing our culture on others

I had no idea this was a thing. To be honest, the only thing I can think of that would be worse than a sauna of any kind would be a naked sauna.

A lot of women are offended. A lot of women I expect don't look either, but talk to someone's face if having a conversation.

I live in Germany and mixed nude saunas and nude sunbathing areas are a normal part of life here. I don’t think it is in any way perverted. Having said that, you will never ever find me in one, I’m private about such things and don’t do nudity. Can’t imagine anything less relaxing! So if it’s a thermal spa day out with my friends, those who want to go to the sauna area do so, and the rest of us bob around in the textile areas.

Presumably one showers after swimming to remove any contaminants prior to entering this apparently sterile area.

I went to a sauna in the red light district in Amsterdam when I was 21. Opened my eyes super wide! Yes, why can t we wear swimwear? Not sure.

Just imagined a work night out at a naked sauna & it’s really tickled me!