Helen speaks to Amanda Foster from Pretoria, South Africa. She’s 65 years old, mother of 3 adult children and has 4 grandchildren. She lives with her naturist partner, Lofty.
Q: What got you into naturism/nudism?
A: My ex-husband introduced me to naturism 25 years ago, but I was often naked as a child.
Q: Is there a difference between the two labels?
A: Naturism is about living nude in nature whereas nudism is about going nude anywhere (especially parties). Nudism is well known but the general public do not know what naturism is.
Q: How does it impact your life on a day-to-day basis?
A: We work mostly from home – nude if weather permits. We have a naturist tour operator business called Joxilox Tours. My partner, Lofty is the marketing director of SunEden Naturist Resort, of SANNA (South African National Naturist Association) and of Joxilox Tours, so we are both interacting with naturists daily.
Q: What challenges do women face in naturism generally?
A: The general public do not understand non-sexual nudity, so women naturists are often approached by men who are after sex or other non-naturist activities (like swinging).
Q: How can we encourage more women to try it?
A: Normalising naturism and the work done by women in naturism is the best way. It is pointless preaching to the converted, so TV and other media coverage helps a lot (thanks for what you do Helen). Only once women see how normal the naturist women’s bodies are, will they consider trying naturism.
Q: How can women help in desexualising nudity?
A: I think that it starts at home. If it is normal at home, with the family, then it is easier to get accustomed to being nude most of the time and to notice the many benefits.
Q: What can men do to help in desexualising nudity?
A: Some men pass comments about sexy women and fat women without knowing the damage caused by those comments. They sometimes watch porn and their partners are left feeling cheap and with body issues by trying to compete with the fashion models and porn women. Men should be careful with what they say.
Q: How can we encourage body positivity and acceptance?
A: Women naturists should speak to women who are first-timers or who are considering naturism and offer support and advice. Many of the naturist women here had body issues and after speaking to other women, they tried naturism. They gained a lot of confidence and became much happier with their bodies.
Q: What advice would you offer to women curious about naturism?
A: They should get to know the existing women naturists and then they should go to textile events with some of those naturists. They will soon get to like the women and then they will get to like naturism.
Q: What drives your passion in promoting naturism?
A: I have met a lot of amazing naturists in the past 25 years. I enjoy the naturist way of life and I want other women to enjoy this way of life as well.
Q: Is your family supportive?
A: My family are not naturists, but they are okay with me being a naturist.
Q: Has naturism changed since you first got involved?
A: I think that naturism in South Africa has grown and at SunEden there are more and more people of colour, different sexual orientation and more international shareholders and tourists, so it has changed for the better in my opinion. There are also younger people becoming naturists now.
Q: How do you see the future of naturism?
A: I think that there is a great future here in South Africa thanks mainly to the “influencers” who are promoting naturism on social media. New naturist resorts will be established which will also help to grow naturism here.
Q: Any other thoughts?
A: It is really sad that Naturist Hub and other social media platforms are dominated by men. It is time for women to insist that they not only be part of a couple but be proud naturists as an individual woman on social media. Unfortunately, most of the women feel the need to be protected by their partners from the huge amounts of unpleasantness and lack of respect.
