I Don’t Care If You See Me Naked

By T. Lee

I am a pretty conservative person by most standards. I never did drugs growing up, even though a good amount of my friends did. I didn’t have my first kiss until I was sixteen. I didn’t start having sex until my early 20s. When I’m with my friends and someone says something raunchy, everyone instinctively glances at me to make sure I’m not offended. Not that I get offended, but that’s the type of person people think I am.

But if there’s one thing I’m not shy about, it’s being naked.

If it wasn’t socially unacceptable for girls to go topless on a hot day, I would. Maybe it’s because I don’t have breasts, but I don’t see the big fuss about nudity. We all have bodies, don’t we? And I’m pretty sure everyone in their twenties has seen a naked body of either the opposite or the same sex at least once, if not multiple times. So what’s the big deal?

I don’t care if you see me naked.

I mean, I care if you’re being weird about it. But if we’re just hanging out on the beach, and my nipple slips out, it’s like, totally fine. In fact, one time it happened to me at work (I should have used tape, I know), and although I was slightly embarrassed by the implications (sexual harassment? I don’t know), it didn’t bother me at all. I wasn’t wearing anything inappropriate, but my top was loose and it was one of those days when I didn’t feel like wearing a bra.

But we place so many rules and restrictions on our bodies that it makes me wonder what the point is.

It’s probably not hygienic for everyone to be naked all the time, and that’s not what I’m advocating at all. But when I’m at work, I wear long skirts and avoid low-cut shirts. When I get home, I usually strip down to a half top and boy shorts, because it’s less laundry and the summer’s are hot here. I’m the same, hard-working person my co-workers and my roommates see, so why does it matter if I’m clothed or not?

Maybe if we were all more open about our bodies, sex wouldn’t feel so off-limits. People could have honest conversations about what they want from each other, and we’d stop using covert tactics to get there. After all, if we want people to respect our bodies, we should start by not being ashamed of them.

It’s just a little skin, after all.

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