Naked Modesty

Being a naturist blogger, I love to do research on all things nudity related. One of my favorite things to research is the lifestyle of groups who go naked exclusively, usually indigenous tribes in Africa or the Amazon. Probably my favorite tribe in terms of the beauty and simplicity of their lifestyle is the Zo'e tribe of northern Brazil.

One thing I noticed after seeing several photos and some videos is that the women all sit a particular way. I was curious about this. It was not a way I was accustomed to seeing anyone sit. It doesn't look uncomfortable, but it seemed odd to me that all the women sit like this.

Source: FUNAI
As a naturist, and not an indigenous tribesman, I am more accustomed to seeing women sit like this:

Source: The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp-Fiction Appreciation Society. I highly recommend you check out their site!

I wondered what the deal was. After doing some more sleuthing I discovered this video.

Turns out the reason the Zo'e sit like that is modesty. Most westerners would call the Zo'e immodest in their state of nudity. But the Zo'e do not define modesty by clothing. The women of the tribe sit that way because to them how a woman sits displays her sense of modesty more than what she is wearing. The women sit in such a way as to cover their vulva (two-een? I couldn't find a spelling) at all times.

Lest you think they have a double standard, men's modesty is preserved with a covering that prevents the head of their penis from being exposed. Both men and women have certain standards for modesty.

Being a Christian nudist I find this sense of modesty interesting. Most people of my religious persuasion would define modesty by coverage. But how do nudists and those who live in the nude normally define it? The Zo'e tribe have created a definition that obviously differs from recreational nudists and lifestyle naturists quite a bit.

Granted, I have seen women in nudist environments generally sitting with their legs together. The above photos are more the exception than the rule. But does that make the women above "immodest"? Is the vulva indecent? If so, why is the penis not indecent as well? (The Zo'e are at least consistent on this point.)

As a nudist I don't believe any part of the body is inherently indecent, therefore no part of the body is immodest to display. To me modesty is more about intent than exposure. If one intends to draw attention to oneself they are being immodest. If one intends to arouse others, sexually or otherwise, with their dress or their positioning, they are being immodest. Therefore one can be completely nude and still be modest, if they follow the practices of others around them in positioning and covering.

So who is more modest in the above pictures? Both are modest in their respective environments. But to sit like the second group in the company of the first would be immodest. Modesty is highly situational. If one of the nudists above were to visit the tribe and sit like she normally does in a nudist environment she would offend them. (Likewise I suspect that a circumcised male would be offensive and would have to find some way of covering his glans.)

What's the point of all of this? Naturism is largely about respect. Respect not just for the body, but for others. Nudity should not be offensive, and one way to make it less offensive is to observe the standards of those around us. I'm not just talking about following the rules of whatever club you're in. Watch those around you, don't be the one sticking out.

That's how you stay naked and modest.