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Yes… We Are Naturists! Yes… We Are WOKE!!

Byournaturistlife
Naturism and woke! A woman standing naked in front of a mirror in a decorated space with bamboo walls and plants.

Brace yourself. This one might sting a little.

Or you might laugh. Or rage-quit. Or dramatically yell comments at us. That’s fine. Take a lap around your yard and come back when you’re ready. Naked, of course.

This isn’t a political post. We’re not here to argue left or right, liberal or conservative, Democrats or Republicans. For us, being “woke” isn’t about political lines… it’s about morals. It’s about how a word can be taken and weaponized or made to no longer have the same meaning.

But let’s just get it out there. Yes, we’re naturists. Yes, we’re also “WOKE”. And if that word makes you clutch your towel in horror, maybe this isn’t the naturist blog for you.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth. To us personally… naturism and woke values actually go hand in hand. Maybe we are even “super” woke!

We know. Scandalous! We can already hear the heavy beatings of keyboards coming our way!

But What Even Is “Woke” Anymore?

We’ve noticed that “woke” has become one of those words people spit out like a watermelon seed. It used to mean being awake to injustice… aware, empathetic, conscious. It was about noticing that not everyone is treated fairly and… here’s the shocking part… caring about that.

Today? “Woke” has been turned into a catch-all insult for… well, just about anything some people find vaguely inconvenient.

Use someone’s pronouns? Woke. Support anti-racism? Woke. Prefer oat milk in your latte? Absolutely woke. Suggest maybe we shouldn’t boil the planet alive? Super woke. Let people be naked without it being something sexual? You guessed it… dangerously woke.

Wait… what?

Yeah, the words power seems to have been hijacked. But you know what hasn’t? The values it originally stood for. Naturism is about equality, respect, body acceptance, freedom, and living close to nature. You don’t have to squint very hard to see that those values overlap with the very things being mocked as “woke.”

And here’s where it gets awkward for the “anti-woke” crowd. Those values? They’re baked into naturism like sand at a nude beach.

So we’re not running from the word… we’re embracing it.

A person walking through a lush forest, embracing naturism and body positivity, with tattoos visible on their back.

Naturism and Woke… With a Tan Line (Okay, Hopefully Not Even That)

Let’s just look at what we as naturists believe:

We are woke about bodies

We believe in body acceptance. Not “your body is fine as long as it looks like mine.” Not “love yourself, but only if you fit my comfort zone.” All bodies. All ages. All shapes. All abilities. That’s woke. That’s naturism.

We are woke about freedom

We challenge shame, body hierarchies, fashion-driven status, and the idea that nudity must be sexual. That’s not just personal comfort… it’s social rebellion. We don’t need megaphones to be making a point. Every time we live without shame, we’re quietly resisting a culture that tells us to cover up, conform, and consume. That’s freedom. That’s woke. That’s naturism.

We are woke about equality

We also believe equality isn’t optional. When we step out of our clothes, the labels society slaps on us… rich or poor, thin or thick, CEO or intern, young or old… lose their shine. But equality isn’t just about what we leave behind with our clothing. It’s about what we carry into the space… respect. Respect for differences in gender, race, sexuality, ability, age, background, and personal lives. We believe in creating space for people to bring their whole selves, not just the parts we’re comfortable with. That’s woke. That’s naturism.

So how can we stand for all of that… but not “wokeness”?

“I’m Not Political, I Just Like Being Naked.”

Guess what? If you’re doing the thing, you’re part of the thing.

Being a naturist is a political act. Not because it’s on a ballot, but because it challenges cultural norms about shame, beauty, gender, modesty, and yes… freedom.

We don’t have to be quoting Bell Hooks at the hot tub to be woke.

Just showing up as our imperfect, glorious, completely unclothed selves in a world that sells shame like it’s on clearance?

That’s resistance. That’s freedom. That’s woke!

A person navigating through rocky terrain while nude, enjoying a natural outdoor setting under a clear blue sky.

Woke About the Earth, Too (Sorry, Climate Deniers)

Let’s not forget the other big thing “woke” people like us get mocked for. We also care about the Earth. Always have.

That’s why you’ll find us more at beaches and in forests than in malls. Naturism has roots in environmentalism, in simplicity, in living close to nature.

But here’s where it gets spicy… some people now use “woke” to attack climate action. Politicians rail against “woke corporations” if they cut emissions. Some folks think recycling is a leftist plot. They scoff at renewable energy, hate bikes, and panic when a coffee shop bans plastic straws. Commentators sneer at “eco-wokeness” when we advocate for sustainability.

On the flip side, we recognize that climate justice is social justice, because the people hit hardest by climate change are often those with the fewest resources. Yes… that’s woke. That’s naturism.

Here’s the kicker… if we’re naked in nature, enjoying a beach, a forest, a sunbeam, and we care if these things exist in 20, 50, or 100 years… guess what they call people like us who care about climate change? That’s right. Woke!

If you don’t care about these things… then you’re not a naturist. You’re just a naked tourist.

Let’s Talk About Who REALLY Hates “Woke” Stuff

Spoiler: It’s not the people who want more fairness in the world. It’s the people who feel threatened by it.

You know the type. They think every diversity initiative is an “attack on white men.” They freak out because a cartoon character uses they/them pronouns. They believe that corporate climate pledges are “Marxism in disguise.” They complain about body positivity while rocking a gut that could store winter supplies.

And now… they’re coming for us too! Because we’re naturists!

Because how dare we show up with our cellulite, our friends with queer identities or brown skin, our autistic joy and say, “Hey, we all belong here too”?

And it’s beautiful. And natural. And, sorry, not sorry, naked. And yeah… that’s woke!

A naturist woman poses in a tree, embracing nature while being unclothed, surrounded by lush green foliage.

Naturism Has Always Been Woke… It Just Didn’t Call Itself That

Think about it.

Naturism started as a rebellion against restrictive, classist, puritanical clothing norms. It was about health, freedom, equality. It was progressive from the start.

It’s only in recent decades that some parts of the community started acting like naturism was some idyllic time capsule for straight, white, middle-aged men who think the only diversity worth celebrating is areola size.

But the tide’s changing. Younger naturists? They’re not playing that game.

They’re bringing their full selves… trans, queer, fat, skinny, disabled, neurodivergent, racially diverse and saying “This movement is ours too.”

And they’re right. Because if naturism isn’t inclusive, it’s just a club for people who don’t like tan lines.

And One Last Thing, for the “Woke Is an Insult” Crowd…

If you’re using “woke” as an insult againt us… here’s what you’re really doing:

  • You’re mocking us for caring.
  • You’re ridiculing us for empathy.
  • You’re scoffing at us for believing in equity, inclusion, and sustainability. The very values naturism is supposed to stand for.
  • You’re turning a movement about freedom and respect into a punchline for your politics.

If your naturism only makes room for the people who look like you, think like you, and live like you… then you’re not a naturist. You’re just naked in a bubble of denial.

You don’t get to stand naked in nature, preach freedom and equality, and then roll your eyes at the word “woke” like it’s beneath you. Because if kindness, justice, and environmental responsibility offend you more than sunburned nipples, you’ve lost the plot.

And if you’re still using “woke” as an insult while calling yourself a naturist, here’s the truth. You’re not defending naturism. You’re deflating it. You sound less like a freedom-loving naturist and more like a cranky uncle yelling at clouds… naked.

So next time you feel the urge to call us “too woke,” pause. Ask yourself… or are we just better naturists than you?

A naturist woman posing in a forest, resting her face on her hands, with greenery surrounding her.

Final Thought: We’re Woke. We Own It. We Laugh About It. We Lean Into It.

Look, we get it. The word “woke” has been dragged through so much mud it might need a pressure wash.

But here’s the truth. We believe in body freedom, in self-expression, in treating people with dignity, and in not setting fire to the only planet we have! And it’s not an insult. It’s a compliment. It means we’re conscious. Compassionate. Human. Things lost to many in society today.

We’re not part of the problem. We’re part of the possibility.

We laugh when people call us woke because of what we stand for. We have certainly been called worse things by better people.

So if you had no sense of ha ha and got defensive on the article… maybe go read our article 20 Questions Naturists Always Get Asked (And the Ridiculous Answers We Wish We Could Give) Maybe it will break up your anger a bit!

So go ahead. Be proud. Be kind. Be free. Be naked.

Be woke!

Bonus FAQ (Because We Know the Comments Are Coming)

Q: Are you saying I have to vote left to be a naturist?

A: No. We’re saying you have to care about other humans. If that feels political to you, maybe ask yourself why.

Q: Can I be a naturist and still make jokes about “woke snowflakes”?

A: Sure. And we can roll our eyes while you do it. Just know that when you mock us for wanting inclusion, dignity, and sustainability… you sound less like a naturist and more like a someone who forgot why they got into this in the first place.

Q: Isn’t calling naturists “woke” divisive?

A: Yes… but not as divisive as excluding people who don’t fit your comfort zone. If someone feels unwelcome in your version of naturism because they’re “too woke,” then it’s not really naturism… it’s a clubhouse for your privilege.

We hope you enjoy our human experiences in naturism. Please share, like, leave a comment and subscribe to get notified when we post something new.

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28 Comments

  1. Pingback: Naturism and Inclusivity: The Courage to Make Space

  2. I think woke can better be defined as uncritically accepting arguments like man made, carbon driven climate change or racial injustice as an explanation for all inequality, as a form of virtue signalling. CO2 is 0.04% of the atmosphere, it’s not causing climate change, even Bill Gates has backed down on it. If there is a racist law or practice, let’s hear about it and attack it.

    I don’t call you woke, because you don’t act in a way that I would consider woke. I don’t mock you because I like your arguments, even the ones I don’t agree with. Being woke also means not listening to arguments against your position.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Gerdus. It’s always good when people engage in real discussion rather than just throwing the word “woke” like a tomato at a debate.

      Let’s unpack a few things though:

      You’ve defined “woke” as uncritical acceptance, but that’s not actually what the term means, or meant, before it got dragged through political mud. Originally, it referred to being awake to social or environmental issues that many would rather ignore. Awareness and blind belief aren’t the same thing. In fact, genuine awareness usually comes from questioning and learning… not parroting slogans.

      CO₂ might be “only” 0.04% of the atmosphere, but small percentages can have big effects. Ask anyone who’s ever mixed a drink too strong or added too much salt to dinner. The global scientific consensus isn’t based on political virtue, it’s based on measurable evidence. And just to clarify that Bill Gates reference… he didn’t “back down” on climate change. What he said was that while it’s serious, it’s not the apocalypse, and we need to balance climate action with tackling poverty and disease. He still fully supports the science behind carbon-driven warming and maintains that climate action is a critical endeavor. But he also advocates for a shift in strategy to better balance it with immediate global health and development needs, focusing on practical solutions and innovation over urgent emissions cuts in the near term. So quoting him as proof that CO₂ isn’t causing climate change is a bit of a creative rewrite of what he said.

      You mentioned racist laws or practices… and yes, when they’re visible, they should be challenged. But racism doesn’t always announce itself in legislation. It often shows up quietly in systems, culture, and assumptions. That’s exactly why being “awake” matters. To see the things that aren’t written in bold print.

      We agree that mocking or refusing to hear other views isn’t helpful. But that goes both ways. Calling awareness “virtue signalling” can be just another way to shut down uncomfortable conversations. Listening should work in every direction.

      So while we appreciate the respectful tone, we’ll gently push back on the idea that “being woke” means refusing to think. For us, it’s the opposite. It means thinking deeply enough to question what’s easy, convenient, or comforting.

      Reply

  3. I feel like you are using naturalism as a prop and justification for a soapbox for your beliefs…..which is fine. Its your blog and you can write whatever you want. I don’t think the connection of wokeness and naturalism is as tight as you think, but I think its a position you’re pretty set in.

    As an immigrant to America, I’m resentful of those that always define us by color, race, or sex. The world needs empathy and compassion, but not at the loss of laws. We need inclusion, but lowering the bar or giving more positions to non-whites isn’t inclusion, its cheapening the goal.

    I’m non-woke and a naturalist….and a immigrant and person of color…. I’m sorry I don’t fit your beliefs or stereotypes.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think we may be looking at the same goal from different angles.

      When we speak about inclusion and equity, it’s not about “lowering the bar” or handing out positions. It’s about ensuring everyone has the same opportunities to reach that bar in the first place. Equality isn’t achieved by pretending the playing field was ever level. It’s achieved by acknowledging that it hasn’t been, and then working to make it fair.

      That’s not cheapening the goal… that is the goal. Everyone deserves the same chance, regardless of race, gender, or background.

      Our writing connects naturism with these ideas because naturism, at its heart, is about respect, authenticity, and seeing people beyond categories. It’s about building a world… clothed or unclothed… where no one’s humanity is diminished. A movement that claims to celebrate freedom has to also confront where that freedom hasn’t been equally shared.

      We believe inclusion doesn’t weaken naturism. It’s what keeps it authentic. Everyone deserves the same chance to belong, not just those who happen to fit the comfort zones of others.

      Our website has always stood for naturism that values empathy, respect, and moral integrity. If that sometimes overlaps with broader social awareness, that’s because naturism and humanity aren’t separate one reflects the other.

      Our website, OurNaturistLife, is exactly what the name says. It’s about our naturist life, as a couple. It’s written from our experiences, our values, and our interpretation of what naturism means to us. If that comes across as a “soapbox,” that’s fine because every blog ultimately is. Ours simply happens to stand for empathy, equality, and respect.

      We genuinely appreciate hearing perspectives from different experiences, even when we disagree. That’s how understanding grows.

      Reply

  5. “…we care if these things exist in 20, 50, or 100 years… guess what they call people like us who care about climate change? That’s right. Woke!
    If you don’t care about these things… then you’re not a naturist. You’re just a naked tourist.”

    Do you believe those who disagree with your assessment of the climate conditions are non-caring? Climate alarmists have been predicting doom and gloom for decades, yet nothing ever happens. In the 70s, they were predicting global cooling and a coming ice-age. When that didn’t happen, then they switched to global warming. That also didn’t happen, so they changed to “climate change” so they can claim anything, temperatures going up or down or staying the same, is “climate change”. Reality is the climate has always changed throughout the earth’s entire history, long before the industrial revolution, long before “carbon emissions”. Every metric the climate alarmists use to point to as evidence for their claims have been debunked. Claims about polar bear population, polar ice caps, sea level rise, hurricane size and quantity, precipitation levels, forest fires, and on and on and on have ALL been debunked.

    “Wait ’til you find out about climate models.” – Scott Adams

    No one is called “woke” for caring about the climate, they’re called “woke” because much of what they believe just isn’t so, and no amount of facts and logic will ever change their minds, because what they believe was never based on facts, but rather emotional manipulation by propagandists.

    Reply

    1. Bart, let’s separate opinion from verifiable facts. You also need to separate climate science from climate alarmists and media spin.

      You’re right that climate has always changed. But what’s different now is the speed and cause. The current rate of warming is roughly 10 times faster than natural post-ice-age cycles. Every major scientific body on the planet, including NASA, NOAA, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has confirmed that the rise in temperature since the 20th century correlates directly with human greenhouse gas emissions… not natural variation.

      1. “They predicted global cooling in the 1970s.”
      This is a myth. A review of over 70 peer-reviewed studies from the 1970s found that less than 7% predicted cooling, while over 65% predicted warming. A few magazine covers sensationalized “cooling,” but the science overwhelmingly pointed toward warming and that’s exactly what happened. So who is “they”? A few journalists did. Most Climate Scientists didn’t.

      2. “Polar bears, ice caps, sea levels, and hurricanes all debunked.”
      None of these are debunked. Show me studies to the contrary.

      Polar bears: Populations in some regions are declining due to melting sea ice (US Geological Survey, 2020).

      Ice caps: NASA satellite data shows the Arctic has lost about 13% of its sea ice per decade since 1979.

      Sea levels: Tide gauge and satellite records confirm a rise of over 8 inches since 1900, accelerating in recent decades (NOAA).

      Hurricanes and wildfires: While the number may fluctuate, intensity and duration have increased as warmer oceans feed more energy into storms (IPCC AR6, 2021).

      3. “Climate alarmists changed the name to ‘climate change’.”
      Incorrect. Scientists used “climate change” long before “global warming” — the term dates back to at least 1956 in scientific literature. “Global warming” refers specifically to temperature rise; “climate change” describes the broader effects (droughts, storms, shifting ecosystems). It’s not a rebrand. It’s precision.

      4. “Climate models are wrong.”
      Actually, models from the 1980s like those by NASA scientist James Hansen have predicted temperature trends with remarkable accuracy. When you plug in the actual emissions that occurred, the observed temperatures line up almost perfectly with those early models (Hausfather et al., Geophysical Research Letters, 2019).

      So no, this isn’t propaganda or emotion… it’s decades of verified data across thousands of studies from independent researchers worldwide.

      Scott Adams?? Seriously! When someone quotes a cartoonist instead of a climatologist, it says a lot about where their “facts and logic” are coming from.

      Naturism, at its core, is about respect for the natural world. I read the science… not the headlines… and not to alarmists or cartoon writers.

      Dismissing science that shows the planet is in distress because it doesn’t meet your personal narrative isn’t respect.. it’s avoidance. What is emotional is pretending that every scientist, satellite, and dataset on the planet is part of some coordinated manipulation. That’s not critical thinking… that’s distrust turned into dogma.

      If we’re going to talk about who’s being manipulated, maybe it’s time to stop quoting Scott Adams and start reading NASA, NOAA, and the IPCC instead. Facts aren’t “woke.” They’re measurable… and they’re right in front of us. If I am wrong… show me your evidence and studies!

      And if caring about the health of the Earth is called “woke,” then maybe it’s time more of us woke up.

      Reply

  6. Thank you for this post. I am with you on it. Too many people in the naturists community stick their heads in the sand about the political threats to the “nude” movement.

    Reply

  7. Cec Cinder’s “The Nudist Idea” has five criteria for nudity to be nudISM. What are they? Let me think. Group activity, mixed sex, no thongs… Okay, I gotta go get the book. …not primarily political or religious… But then Cinder makes a u-turn about politics: “There should be an awareness among the participants, and this awareness ought to be shared if only tacitly, that they are nude as a form of social protest,” however informal, well intended, humble, or apologetic. “Nudism need not be formally organized, but it should be conscious of its own existence as a force in the mental life and in the affairs of mankind.” And it HAS made a difference. I draw nude models with two different groups, Tusedays and Thursdays. The nudity is matter-of-fact, the artists and models are men and women, although the models, regrettably, are mostly women. (The artists are dressed, and models are robed during breaks. This too is regrettable.) When I have told friends and neighbors about this, they have been supportive and even admiring. This support wouldn’t be the case—in fact amateur artists wouldn’t be doing this—had nudism not been a movement for 120 years.

    Reply

  8. Societies are different all around this planet, and I suspect attitudes towards “wokeness” are as diverse as humanity itself. So I can’t comment on what things are like in Canada or the UK or USA, but here in New Zealand, the term “woke” is rapidly losing its integrity, simply because it’s becoming synonymous with aggressively overreaching, and causing more harm than good – embracing fictitious ideologies rather than pursuing truth and reality.

    For that reason, I’d rather not put the woke label on naturism or clothes-optional advocacy – at least not in this country. I’d prefer to see people discover and adopt the joys of clothes-free living no matter where they stand on the various woke issues.

    Reply

  9. Very well done. You have once again hit the nail on the head. We as naturists have learned to have a fairly tough skin, and rightfully so. All we can do is just laugh at the “u woke”, and feel sad that some people just don’t care Bout anyone but themselves. Thank You for another great article that holds so much truth.

    Reply

  10. Am I woke ? I don’t know. I support all that you say but this blog does stray into political waters. Left v right. Be careful Kevin.

    Reply

  11. Well said and absolutely correct. The more I read your articles, the more I love you two. I’m gonna start calling you Mensch Kevin and Mensch Corin.

    Reply

  12. We all have some things that we approve of, and some things we don’t. I certainly disapprove of many things that the ‘anti-woke’ crowd do, and I also disapprove of many of the things that the ‘woke’ crowd believe in. I would be HEAVILY frowned upon by both groups. My views go well beyond BOTH extremes and so really don’t fit well into either philosophy. Are there only two groups? Maybe certain factions are trying to make it look like that for simplicity. I just know that I am what I am!

    Reply

  13. This article is perfect. The absolute proof NATURISM is the only sane philosophy for society and culture is very simple: What shape is the world in today? Is the status quo of acceptable norms making everyone happy and feeling involved? Do communities share values of freedom, respect, honesty, equality and family? If society and culture don’t change and accept our philosophy, there is a high probability every aspect of life will soon fail. I wish to God I didn’t believe that ugly statement.

    Reply

  16. Usually I would comment on bluesy (Natsumi80085) but that respond would probably take 10 300 characters limited comment.
    I’m a queer naturist woman with disability, most of that statement yell “woke” yet the last part doesn’t work well.
    Woke isn’t that inclusive towards people with disabilities. Some of us NEED those demonized plastic straws to avoid chocking or dying of dehydration. We’re not the best suited to go where we need to go on bike and yeah naturist is woke…cuz as the woke they tend to forget us.
    Will have to build my own disabled section of naturism (thankfully with a little push from the FQN) because otherwise the normies around here tend to rush as much as the textiles are to accomodate us. Out of all the naturist beaches/camp only one maybe 2 (not sure about Oka’s beach) are vaguely accessible in Quebec.
    As I say to all the other wokes, glad you respect my pronouns and choice of bathroom but if those bathroom are not accessible you need to do better otherwise I’m still shitting myself.
    That is why that naturist trans woman kinda can’t share your wokeness…for now
    Hope the woke mob truly accept us one day

    Reply

    1. Thank you for sharing this so honestly. You make such an important point. Accessibility in naturism often gets overlooked in the same way other social issues do. Respect and inclusion have to go beyond words, and that includes making spaces welcoming and accessible for everyone.

      We really appreciate you sharing what it’s like from your perspective. It’s a needed reminder that naturism should be about equal comfort and freedom, not just for the able-bodied. We’d love to learn more about what changes you think could make the biggest difference.

      Reply

  18. My wife and I are fairly recent converts to naturism. I was a little surprised when we joined a landed club that those of us who might be considered “woke” were in the minority.
    Oh well, we’ll keep enjoying being naked and doing all the other woke things. See you in nature!

    Reply

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