I'm a 20 yo male college student in the United States (Michigan ), but my parents are from Germany and Sweden. So, in a way, I've got both American and European views and values. Growing up, nudity was NOT a big deal in my family. I mean, we're not nudists or anything, but if my brother or sister saw me naked, it wasn't a big deal...and we'd go in the Jacuzzi naked and stuff. So, what I'm saying is, it wasn't taboo or dirty or anything; just a natural thing when it happened.
I have two roommates in my college dorm. Last night, after going for a 6 mile run in chilly December weather, I took a shower. I wrapped up in a towel and came back to my dorm to get dressed, and when I got in my room, I took off my towel and was walking around doing a few things, like blow drying my hair and stuff. One of my roommate's, Matt, was in the tv room with his girlfriend, and I didn't know she was there. I walked by naked and she saw me and screamed. I mean she actually screamed. I'm not ugly or anything. I mean, I'm skinny and in good shape, so it's not like I'm fat or something. Anyway, Matt's girlfriend goes "Oh my God, Jared is naked!" Matt and his girlfriend and this other guy just stare at me. I said, "so...it's my room...sorry, I didn't know you were here." I turn around and go over by my bed and she follows me. I mean, I'm still naked and I go to put on my underwear and she's like "so, you're not embarrassed or anything?" I say, "nope..why should I be? Haven't you seen a guy naked before? Does it bother you?" She's like, "no, but I was just surprised...I mean, you're not embarrassed or afraid to be naked in front of others?" I just stare at her and say "um, why would I be? It's not like I'm some freak doing something inappropriate. This is my room and I like airing off after I towel off...sorry"
So, I put on some sweats and a t-shirt and finish my hair and then go over to my computer. This girl is still staring at me and then she comes over to me and is like "do you go around like that a lot?" I tell her that when I'm in my room, yeah, it's not a big deal and Matt and my other roommate Shawn do it too, just not as much. She keeps asking me all these questions about my family, being shy, whatever. Then she stared at me the rest of the night and it made me feel sorta shy...like, after a while, I DID become embarrassed and I'm not sure why.
What's the big deal? Did I do something wrong? Why are Americans, especially girls, so hung up on nudity? In Europe, when I'm visiting my family, I swim naked, go into saunas naked, hang out at certain beaches naked, and it's normal and NOT sexual at all. How come it's so different here? Am I just some kinda freak or something? Does anyone have any ideas or experiences like mine?
I know there's the whole Puritan tradition here, but shouldn't these out of date values have disappeared by now? I dunno...I was just really surprised by this girl's reaction. It's not like I was doing anything inappropriate, did I?
Jared
I have two roommates in my college dorm. Last night, after going for a 6 mile run in chilly December weather, I took a shower. I wrapped up in a towel and came back to my dorm to get dressed, and when I got in my room, I took off my towel and was walking around doing a few things, like blow drying my hair and stuff. One of my roommate's, Matt, was in the tv room with his girlfriend, and I didn't know she was there. I walked by naked and she saw me and screamed. I mean she actually screamed. I'm not ugly or anything. I mean, I'm skinny and in good shape, so it's not like I'm fat or something. Anyway, Matt's girlfriend goes "Oh my God, Jared is naked!" Matt and his girlfriend and this other guy just stare at me. I said, "so...it's my room...sorry, I didn't know you were here." I turn around and go over by my bed and she follows me. I mean, I'm still naked and I go to put on my underwear and she's like "so, you're not embarrassed or anything?" I say, "nope..why should I be? Haven't you seen a guy naked before? Does it bother you?" She's like, "no, but I was just surprised...I mean, you're not embarrassed or afraid to be naked in front of others?" I just stare at her and say "um, why would I be? It's not like I'm some freak doing something inappropriate. This is my room and I like airing off after I towel off...sorry"
So, I put on some sweats and a t-shirt and finish my hair and then go over to my computer. This girl is still staring at me and then she comes over to me and is like "do you go around like that a lot?" I tell her that when I'm in my room, yeah, it's not a big deal and Matt and my other roommate Shawn do it too, just not as much. She keeps asking me all these questions about my family, being shy, whatever. Then she stared at me the rest of the night and it made me feel sorta shy...like, after a while, I DID become embarrassed and I'm not sure why.
What's the big deal? Did I do something wrong? Why are Americans, especially girls, so hung up on nudity? In Europe, when I'm visiting my family, I swim naked, go into saunas naked, hang out at certain beaches naked, and it's normal and NOT sexual at all. How come it's so different here? Am I just some kinda freak or something? Does anyone have any ideas or experiences like mine?
I know there's the whole Puritan tradition here, but shouldn't these out of date values have disappeared by now? I dunno...I was just really surprised by this girl's reaction. It's not like I was doing anything inappropriate, did I?
Jared
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