October open forum

Are Millennials and Gen Zers more prudish than baby boomers?

Australian playwright Ang Collins explores that “stereotype” in a production set in a nudist community. It plays up generational differences as well as “vulnerability in the face of climate change” — yes, she admits to packing a lot in there. The play is called Naturism and is set to be staged in 2025 in Sydney, Australia. It pits a Gen Z eco-influencer against an off-grid naturism community of boomers, and will feature an all-nude cast. ABC Radio National has a great interview with Collins. Listen here.

Collins feels that, yes, younger people today are more prudish, thanks to social media. They are more distanced from their bodies than older generations are, she says, adding that the popularity of naturism is dwindling in Australia.

She says she is using “the face of the generational conflict as a trojan horse to examine responsibility for climate change,” emphasizing that the nudity in the production is secondary, or “skin deep.”

It ties in with something I was thinking about today — and writing about in another newsletter here: Is there a climate change generation gap? Older folks may be less concerned about climate change than younger people for obvious reasons: boomers have less time left, while younger people have doubts about their chances of living to a ripe old age in the face of climate change.

I didn’t mention naturism in that post, but I have wondered what role naturism might play in adapting to climate change, especially in countries like Australia.

As for younger people being more prudish than boomers, well, many boomers were flower children back in the day (some still are). Nudity came naturally for many in that scene. Today’s world is so much more uptight. And, yes, there is that social media thing that keeps so many young people tied to their smartphone screens night and day. As Collins points out in the interview, a lot of young people put more emphasis on avatars and are “more distanced” from their bodies. To be a naturist, you gotta put the phone down sometimes!

Speaking of climate change and the extreme weather it can create, my heart goes out to everyone affected by Hurricane Helene in the United States, one of the most powerful and devastating to ever affect the country.

And a warm welcome to all new members here. The monthly open forums are designed for members to talk about all things naturism/nudism. If you are reading this in an email, post your comments by clicking on the tab below or by going to our website (don’t reply to the email).

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