Humans (Homo sapiens) have lived on this planet for only about 315,000 years, based on fossil records. Perhaps for less than the last half of that time (150,000 years) humans have covered themselves in any way (such as with paints, animal skins, or plant material). Use of plant material that’s been deliberately woven into some sort of fabric may have begun only 25,000 years ago. By then, Neanderthals (humans’ closest hominid relatives) had already gone extinct.
Neanderthals lived mainly in northern Europe and similar latitudes further East, so they were more acclimated to colder regions. Homo sapiens, however, originated in Africa and migrated into northern latitudes much later, perhaps not long before the Neanderthals’ extinction. The lack of long-term acclimatization to colder environments was probably a key factor in humans’ development of clothing.
Textile-like material made from plants (such as cotton) or animals (such as sheep’s wool) has existed for less than 10,000 years. And what we currently think of as clothing made of textiles similar to modern fabrics has existed for even less time (somewhat over 5,000 years). So, for a very rough estimate, humans have commonly worn clothing as we currently think of it for only 2 or 3 percent of the time humans have existed.
Bottom line: wearing any somewhat modern types of clothing is very exceptional relative to the whole time humans have been around. So there should be some good reasons why most people nearly always wear clothes now (except, perhaps, when sleeping or for medical procedures).
There have been various reasons for humans to begin wearing clothes as we know them, although that’s been possible for only about the past 100 centuries. However, some reasons are more sensible than others. Naturists tend to enjoy nudity or very minimal clothing, when that’s possible and comfortable, and they believe that many justifications for wearing clothes are less sensible than generally supposed.
So, let’s examine and evaluate frequently offered reasons for wearing clothes to explain why naturists generally understand and accept some of those reasons, while rejecting many others that non-naturists often consider valid.
Warmth is probably one of the most compelling reasons to wear clothes. Most people, including naturists, rather dislike feeling too cold. Any sustained temperature below about 40° (F) is quite uncomfortable (and less than 32° (F) for very long is fatal). Most people, without suitable clothing, would prefer temperatures above 60°(F) or more. Of course, many people besides naturists will prefer to wear as little as possible above 90° (F). Little more needs to be said about this.
Clothes do offer protection from excessive exposure to (ultraviolet) sunlight, even for naturists if there’s no good alternative. Naturists generally prefer to use sunscreens or sunblocks (opaque materials like zinc oxide creams) instead of clothing. However, just to be safe, naturists may wear some minimal clothing for simplicity and convenience. Beach and patio umbrellas, of course, are a good alternative to clothing if one simply likes being naked outside in their backyards, beside the pool, or at the beach.
Sunburn is painful, potentially quite harmful (think skin cancer), and should be avoided. Susceptibility to biting insects raises a different but similar concern, and insect repellants may be a good alternative to clothing for both naturists and others.
Wearing certain types or styles of clothes is generally expected at work in various occupations, such as business executives, religious leaders and clergy, police officers, postal workers, soldiers, etc. Some types of clothes (“uniforms”) are usually required, while more variability is possible in other cases.
Stores, restaurants, and other private businesses serve a wide variety of people and have varied opinions about what constitutes “adequate” clothing in their establishments. Such places usually require patrons to wear shoes and shirts - pants alone aren’t enough, even for men. The requirement for shoes is reasonable to protect against harm to bare feet.
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All of the above provide sensible reasons to wear clothes, even for naturists, since nudity’s almost never an option. However, there’s much more beyond issues of common sense, comfort, and safety that underlie the beliefs of most non-naturists about when, where, why, and what sorts of clothes “ought” to be worn.
Unfortunately for naturists, in most societies and for most people, wearing clothes in public has been a strong norm in most places for more than 2,000 years, not simply optional. So endemic prudishness, much of it often for religious reasons, has been a major deterrent for a long time to nudity in public.
In most private homes, things are more relaxed, and some minimal clothing may be fine. However, unless the home’s inhabitants are naturists themselves, or at least tolerant of naturist friends and relatives, full nudity will be unwelcome.
Of course, if visiting naturists have comfortable relationships with certain friends or relatives, learning the host’s opinions of nudity should be quite worthwhile. If naturism is carefully explained to them, the host may be open-minded enough to accept their guest’s nudity indoors, or at least in a swimming pool, spa/hot tub, or sauna. The host might even take an interest in it themselves.
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There are many common reasons for wearing clothes. The reasons are usually considered legitimate, whether or not they’re good arguments for wearing clothes. (When wearing nothing is impractical, naturists’ preferences will be as varied as anyone else’s.)
Most parents impress on their young children that wearing clothes is simply something that “everyone” does because that’s what “society” expects - citing few, if any, specific reasons.
Wearing clothes that cover the genital area, buttocks, and (usually) female breasts is considered necessary and is normally required by law to deter sexual behavior anywhere in public. And more than the minimum usually would be better, or even essential.
Wearing clothes is important for covering or concealing parts or regions of one’s body that are imperfect or unattractive because of scars, wrinkles due to aging, flabbiness, or other factors that might not look good to others.
Wearing certain types of clothes shows oneself in a positive light, especially as long as they are currently “fashionable”, “popular”, “normal”, “stylish”, etc. But other styles that seem “old-fashioned”, “foreign”, or “weird” are usually avoided.
Some people choose clothes that are “trendy”, “quirky”, “distinctive”, or otherwise unusual to make a statement differentiating themselves from more conventional people..
Even with religions that don’t have strict clothing mandates, wearing “everyday” clothes in religious services will generally be considered “disrespectful”, and the same is true in other “formal” occasions like weddings and funerals.
Most businesses have formal or informal expectations about what employees should wear on the job. Businesses that serve the public directly sometimes require employees to wear approved uniforms. As for customers, “No shoes, no shirt, no service” policies are common.
Although most contemporary societies have laws requiring some “essential” clothing, there are (rare) exceptions, such as at clothing-optional beaches, saunas, spas, and certain public occasions like “naked bike rides”.
How compelling are these reasons, actually? Naturists, generally, think the answer is not necessarily all that much. After all, in various parts of the world, nudity is accepted and even expected in some places, such as those specifically for naturists. And in a few countries, like England, Germany, New Zealand, and Spain, public nudity is technically legal as long as it isn’t deliberately “alarming” or “offensive”.
Various other reasons for wearing clothes are more complicated and unpredictable from place to place.
Decisions parents make about their children (under the age of 18) going naked themselves or seeing other family members naked vary. If parents are frequently naked at home or consider themselves to be naturists or nudists, their children, beyond the diaper stage, will probably be naked at least as often. (But, hopefully, not forced to be.) Pre-school children may playfully remove their clothes and enjoy the feeling, regardless of their parents’ inclinations. Young children are usually more at ease with nudity than older ones, while teenagers are likely to be more conflicted about nudity.
Many issues surrounding human sexuality also affect nudity, especially the exposure of genitalia and female breasts. So this influences the types of clothing that people do (or don’t) wear. Exposing “too much” of one’s body has clear sexual implications, so naturists and nudists try to separate their sexuality from their enjoyment of nudity. But, unfortunately, most people simplistically conflate nudity with sexuality. Also, this is usually a more salient issue for women than for men, leading to non-participation in naturism by many women who otherwise might enjoy it.
Many human religions have stigmatized nudity, except between “properly” married individuals. However, a few with ancient roots (and modern versions, such as Wicca) include nudity in their religious practices, such as for “baptisms”. But contemporary religions often expect participants to wear suitable clothing in religious events. Some are very strict about the exact type or style of clothes that should be worn, even in everyday life, such as specific types of clothing or head coverings. That makes even nonsexual nudity impermissible. The post on Naturism and religion goes further into this.
A wide variety of taboos exist in most human societies. A previous article (Why has nudity been a strong taboo in most societies for so long?) covered the widespread taboo on nudity. So, for most people, going naked outside their home is seldom an option in most times and places. The existence and strength of the taboo is certainly a strong reason most people eschew nudity, at least outside their own family. Nevertheless, it’s still a very poor reason for wearing clothes. Unfortunately, the taboo persists regardless of its general lack of justification and whether it makes much sense.
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Various sensible justifications (as well as some debatable ones) for wearing clothes, as well as mandates that may be quite annoying, have been mentioned. But, additionally, people often have specific reasons for wearing clothes that are “special” in some way and are intended to boost the wearer’s self-esteem. Many naturists consider such reasons for wearing clothes to be either silly or at least questionable.
Because of body shame, a major factor, clothes are chosen to cover parts of the body that the wearer considers blemished, scarred, or otherwise unattractive.
People may wear clothes that happen to be generally popular, “normal”, or typical in a particular social or demographic group to indicate affinity with the group.
People often wear clothes that are especially “stylish” at the time as “fashion statements”, to demonstrate agreement with what is currently popular and to avoid alternatives that may seem (to others) especially unpopular, or “dorky”.
Some people intentionally choose clothes that are unusual, or even “weird”, to stand out and differentiate themselves.
Clothes with unusual colors, designs, and shapes may be worn deliberately to attract attention to themselves.
Expensive clothes may be used to show off, particularly above-average wealth or status.
“Reasons” like these are generally rather petty. But they’re still quite common and might even constitute an addiction. Why else would frequent “shopping for clothes” seem so important for many people? Naturists, of course, usually won’t have this sort of problem.
Symptoms of having such an addiction include:
Spending a lot of time and money adding to their wardrobes
Having unrealistic beliefs that wearing the “right” clothes is necessary for success in life
Believing that self-esteem requires being able to afford the “best” clothes
Failing to realize that an obsession with clothes may harm potential relationships with others
Misjudging people based on the types of clothes they generally wear
Overlooking the possibility that wearing clothes to present a false impression may lead to problems if the ruse is discovered
Many people may sometimes or often be motivated by such considerations, regardless of their reasonableness. Even naturists may make such choices whenever (as is usually the case) it’s unacceptable to be naked and they must wear something. However, in many “ordinary” circumstances when specific types of clothing aren’t especially important, naturists are less likely than others to be swayed by such choices.
Unfortunately, in most contemporary societies, nudity is seldom either a realistic or acceptable option for most people. So that’s a big reason, probably the main one, why people wear clothes, or at least believe they should.
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Now we come to a very strong - but unfortunately very prevalent reason - why most people usually wear clothes: fear. Specifically, the fear of very unpleasant things that could happen to them if they don’t wear clothes or not “enough” clothes - no matter how much they’d prefer to wear little or nothing. Fear is what happens when full or partial nudity is simply illegal or a strong taboo in a person’s society.
Regardless of how much people might sometimes or often prefer to wear little or nothing, fear can still compel them to wear clothes.
Fear is obviously a major underlying reason for wearing clothes as a sort of armor against unwanted consequences. Whether or not the fears should realistically be of concern, they could have been firmly inculcated by parents, guardians, teachers, or seemingly authoritative sources at an early age - or even later.
It’s natural, and maybe essential, to have some fear of wearing little or nothing, except somewhere that full or partial nudity is sensibly considered “safe”.
Even if not strictly illegal, full or partial nudity may violate religious dictates or prevalent taboos, possibly leading to serious (or even fatal) consequences.
Even in the absence of taboos or specific laws, a person who wears “inadequate” clothes or none at all may fear harming friendships, relationships, or causing disapproval or ostracism from others.
Fear that enjoying full or partial nudity may damage or destroy casual or committed relationships involving others who disapprove.
If one’s naked body doesn’t meet some standard of “good fitness” attributable to overeating or insufficient exercise, they may fear disrespect or disdain from others.
Women may fear being subject to “slut-shaming”, sexual harassment, or physical harm (including rape) if they’re known to enjoy nudity where legal, or when wearing clothes considered inadequate or “improper”.
The primary fear is simply the fear of nudity itself due to unexamined cultural traditions that stigmatize it even when there’s no sexual or other ulterior motive. The comfort of not wearing clothes is enjoyable and pleasurable just by itself and poses no intentional threat or affront to anyone.
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Naturists, of course, don’t consider many of the reasons for wearing clothes compelling. But they’ll still respect applicable laws in public and semi-public places (businesses, stores, theaters, etc.), as well as in private places (homes, apartments) if the occupants disapprove of nudity. Even if nudity is possible, naturists usually will wear clothes for warmth - or simply because they’re not in the mood for being naked at the time. This usually also applies in most places within naturist parks and resorts or on clothing-optional beaches. Most naturists aren’t fanatics about nudity. They’ll usually opt for what’s most sensible and comfortable at the time.
Wearing some or at least enough clothing to be comfortably warm is a very natural human preference. As noted at the start of this essay, it probably goes all the way back to the time when Homo sapiens commenced their migration out of Africa into the colder northern Europe - despite haven’t become as adequately acclimated over many eons as their Neanderthal next of kin.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of places north of Africa that are sufficiently warm for people to enjoy naturism comfortably.
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