Many teenagers have no problem being seen nude in locker rooms by same-sex peers, but freak out at the thought of being seen nude by family members, especially opposite-sex family members. Other teenagers feel comfortable going nude around family members, but less so in public changing rooms. Younger teenagers seem to have more concerns about their physical development, so they're more nervous with group nudity in locker rooms at school or at a swimming pool. Others have gotten used to it.
Some people feel totally private about their bodies, sharing their nudity only with their partner. For others, semi-public nudity (as in a changing room) is a turn-on, particularly if they notice or imagine that others are looking at them. Many people of all ages have had to deal with a seriously negative body image that hampers their relations with friends and lovers. With time and growth, many of us conquer these negative feelings about our bodies, but some never do.]
The last people to see me naked were some guys at the gym. I'm not gay, but for some reason I like to show off my body at the gym. I'm not buffed or anything, but I like to compare penis size, shape, etc. I guess it's a guy thing.
- age 24, Georgia
I live with my divorced father, my grandfather, and my two brothers (ages 15 and 12). Since there are no females around, we hardly ever bother wearing clothes around the house. My brothers and I share a room and we all sleep naked. We also have a backyard pool and go skinny-dipping all the time. I don't care if my dad and brothers see me naked, but whenever my mom comes over, we all get dressed. At this age, it would be weird if she saw me naked!
- age 14, California
I go to the YMCA to work out; it's less expensive then the private clubs. I met this younger guy (18) there, and we have become really good friends. We have dressed and showered together at the "Y" and at my house. I have no problem being nude in front of him, and he has no problem being nude in front of me. I don't mind being nude in front of other guys at the "Y" as long as they don't touch.
- age 21, Indiana
I just started puberty. Most guys in my area started back when they were 12. At my school we all shower together after sports, and they made fun of me because I still looked like a little kid. I dreaded other boys seeing my body because they would make jokes and call attention to me. It isn't so bad now that I am getting hair around my penis.
- age 15, New Zealand
Since I work out, I am often seen naked in the locker room. Normally this doesn't bother me at all — especially the part about people seeing my body. I have been blessed with a nice body and penis, so I feel pretty good about myself. I did have an experience a couple weeks ago, though: While showering after working out, I started to get an erection. Several other guys were showering as well. I quickly left the shower somewhat embarrassed, though I don't know whether anyone noticed.
- age 30, Michigan
I am on the school swim team, so other girls see me naked whenever I am changing. My girlfriend also sees me naked when we masturbate each other. I don't mind being seen naked by girls (in fact, I like to show off my body when this happens), but I think guys are gross.
- age 17, California (female)
The last woman I slept with (my friend's ex-girlfriend) was the last person to see me naked, when we had sex last weekend. Before that was this chick I had a one-night stand with. Both had very high opinions about my body, which I try not to display. I'm very paranoid over the way it looks. I try to work out, but I eat so little, I think I'm too skinny. I don't mind working out with friends and even taking gym showers, but I'm always afraid I'll be too skinny for most women.
- age 20, New York
Except for changing in the dressing room, nobody has ever seen me naked. I am confident about my body, but I feel that only the person I'm involved with should see me naked (with the obvious exceptions of doctors, etc.). While changing in the dressing room during plays I usually don't care who sees me, but that is a different situation than if I was just to strip for somebody. For me, my body is very private and only to be shared with my boyfriend.
- age 18, Florida (female)
Not too many people have seen me naked. I wish more people have. Most of my friends have because we masturbate together, and my girlfriend has seen me — but she is ashamed of seeing me, so sometimes she doesn't look.
- age 20, Uruguay
My girlfriend, brother, and the guys in my gym class are the only people who've seen me naked lately. I don't care about my brother; we see each other naked all the time. But I hate showering after gym. It's embarrassing, since some of those guys have chest hair and stuff that I don't. I was real nervous getting naked in front of my girlfriend the first time, too, since she was the first girl to see my penis. But I'd gotten erections a lot when we made out, and she'd been cool, so I figured it'd be okay. And it definitely was worth it!
- age 15, Virginia
The only person (besides myself) to have seen me naked recently was a guy from Japan whom I met over the Internet and who visited me in December. I've always felt dissatisfied with my body, especially my chest, but he was highly complimentary of it. He was impressed with the size of my penis, too (we spent a good part of his visit naked and playing around sexually). So I felt totally comfortable being naked around him. I am more comfortable being naked in front of men than women, even though I'm gay. I guess I'm comfortable being seen naked by people who are comfortable seeing me naked.
- age 42, Tennessee
My cousin, brother, and 2 of my best friends. I'm proud of my body (I'm very well endowed), and I'd rather be naked in front of a friend rather than a stranger.
- age 16, Canada
My boyfriend sees me naked quite often. I like the effect I have on him when I'm naked — he immediately gets aroused. If he's naked, his arousal is immediately apparent as he gets an erection. I sometimes do it for a tease. When he gets aroused, I pretend to be disinterested and encourage him to masturbate to ease his arousal. Almost always it arouses me to see him masturbate, so I join in. My fantasy is to do the same thing with strangers, but I never have.
- age 24, Australia (female)
The last person to see me in my birthday suit was my girlfriend. It was actually on accident when I was masturbating and mom told her to come to my room because I was up there and she didn't know I was masturbating. She walked in, saw what I was doing, and then closed the door and started watching me do it — and after a minute started masturbating herself. I didn't mind her seeing me naked because we have a strong relationship. If it were someone else, like my sister, I would have freaked out.
- age 14, Ohio
My mom from getting out of the shower. I don't like her to see me naked, but I don't think I'd mind other people, like girlfriends and stuff. It depends a lot on who the person is. Like if it's a family member then I don't want them to see.
- age 17, Virginia
I was taking a shower when my friend, also 13, saw me as I stepped out. I got embarrassed. I don't mind it so much that he saw me, and he really didn't say anything. He just smiled and went on down the hallway. I don't think it's too wrong for another boy (or girl) to see me nude, but it's very embarrassing — *most* embarrassing — when my mom or dad sees me. Why should I be more ashamed of my nude body in front of my parents than I would in front of a friend?
- age 13, Georgia
I have been seen naked by my friend whom I masturbate with, the friends I work out with, the other guys in the shower, my father, and a few girls at a wild pool party, and of course, my girlfriend. Usually I really do not care who sees me naked, but my mom and female relatives are a NO!
- age 16, Connecticut
About a month or so ago, my little brother, who is 16, walked in on me while I was getting dressed. I didn't mind. When I was in school and we took showers, I didn't take one because I felt uncomfortable having other people see me naked. Now I don't mind if a family member like a brother or dad (but not mom) sees me naked, because all guys look almost alike naked.
- age 21, Missouri
People I played football with saw me shower naked a few months ago. I didn't mind — we all had a penis and hair. I actually like the fact that I have a lot of pubic hair.
- age 17, Pennsylvania
Aside from guys in the locker room at my gym and guys I've slept with, the only person to see me naked recently was my roommate. He has seen me toweling off after showering. A few months ago, we were both out drinking and had to pee. I checked him out and I saw him checking me out. That's cool, it does not bother either of us — even though he's straight and I'm gay — just two guys casually comparing equipment. Nudity does not really bother me. It used to when I was a teen and was less secure about my body and sexuality. I would not be comfortable with female relatives seeing me naked, though.
- age 32, Ohio
The only person who has seen me naked has been my girlfriend. I feel unsafe when I am naked; I think people will make fun of my penis size (even though it is average), and I think I'm a little on the chubby side.
- age 16, Maryland
My girlfriend has seen me naked, of course, and lots of guys in the locker room of the gym where I work out. I work hard to keep my body in shape and I enjoy showing it off. It really turns me on to walk around naked and know guys are watching me with desire or envy.
- age 26, Canada
My friends at school see me naked after gymnastics, and I think it's a bit exciting when I see others looking at my body without knowing I know.
- age 14, Sweden
Guys at the gym see me naked all the time. I like it when guys see me naked. I caught this guy peeking at me from the bathroom stall while I was changing. I got a full erection and started walking around, and I could see him masturbating, and that made me go home and do the same.
- age 30, North Carolina
Teammates, girlfriend, brother, dad, friends, doctor. I don't have a problem with being naked in front of people in the lockerroom, or coming out of the shower at home in front of my brother or dad or friends. Being naked in front of the doctor is a bit weird — during a physical he seems to linger over my testicles and penis a little bit longer than necessary if you ask me.
- age 17, Oklahoma
I'm a naturist, I guess — I go to nude beaches and swim and suntan in the nude at fairly private mountain lakes. Being seen naked is no deal at all to me. Also, seeing others naked is no big deal. There are no sex issues with being natural and naked. The body is what you were given at birth — no big deal. Why all the fuss about being naked?
- age 25, California
On a few occasions my mate and I could be seen running around naked at our local park in the very early morning hours. Sound weird? Well, we sort of get a cool rush out of it. It's not a sex thing — it's just fun to run around naked a bit. But basically, he's the only person who has seen me naked, which I'm fine about. Apart from that, my friend's cousin saw me when she accidentally opened the door when I was getting out of the shower, but I doubt she saw much. Even so, I was okay with it because I'm very comfortable with my body the way God meant it to be.
- age 16, Australia
I am a nudist, so many different people have seen me nude — at recent nude spa parties, people of both sexes and of varying ages. I am not anxious at all about people seeing my nude body. While my body may not be perfect according to preconceived notions such as those found in advertisements, I am comfortable with it. Being a nudist does not equate to being an exhibitionist. Nudism is for body freedom, while exhibitionism is for more sexual reasons. Therefore I am comfortable showing my nude body in nudist settings, but not in places for exhibitionists.
- age 38, New Jersey
I don't think anyone has seen me naked in the last year or so. I can't stand changing in front of people.
- age 15, Canada
My little brother and other guys in the lockerroom. With my brother it is no big thing; he is 18 months younger then me. I taught him how to masturbate, and we find no discomfort around each other. With other guys in the lockerroom it's not really a problem, either. When I was a puny freshman I was a little embarrassed showering with seniors who were fully developed, but now that I am the senior and fully developed, I kind of like to be able to show off a little.
- age 18, Montana
My family lives most of the time in a nudist colony. I've grown up with naked people all my life. I have no problem with people looking at my body. I am a part of nature, and there is nothing wrong with being naked. All humans are born that way. I think it's a bigger deal for people who wear clothes all the time.
- age 13, Arizona
What a sad question — no one has seen me nude in the last four months! Well, maybe my cat. How depressing!
- age 29, California
Seen me naked? As in bare? Without clothes? Nude?! Well, just my bunkmates at camp, parents who walk in while I'm changing as I grasp for a towel, and my (now ex) boyfriend. It took me forever to be able to expose myself to him; I'm kind of shy. My feeling is, if you're uncomfortable looking at your own naked body when you are alone, then you aren't ready to share it with the world. I know I'm not, just yet. However, I'm completely comfy with my male or female friends seeing me in my bra or underwear.
- age 15, Canada (female)
The only people who have seen me naked are my parents and doctors. I'd prefer that none of them had ever seen me without any clothes. I suppose it will be easier to get naked for the woman I want, but I'm overweight and extremely self-conscious about how I look, and I think it will take the comfort that comes with love to let me lower my guard.
- age 25, Florida
No one has seen me naked in a while. I don't really like people seeing me naked, and I haven't since I started puberty or around then. It doesn't really depend on who they are; I just don't like people seeing me naked.
- age 15, Missouri
As far as I'm aware, nobody's seen me naked recently. I'd be pretty embarrassed about my parents or my sister seeing me naked, simply because they're relatives. As for the changing room at school, I tend to hide the fact that I'm circumcised (mainly because nobody else is), and also just because I'm fairly shy about my body.
- age 16, Scotland
My fiancee and some guys at the gym where I work out. My fiancee and I are very comfortable with each other, so I never have any feelings of insecurity or awkwardness when I'm nude in front of her. In the gym lockerroom, I never even think about it. Most of those men aren't looking, and I don't really care what they think anyway.
- age 32, California
A week ago I went to the gym and was taking a public shower after a workout. For some reason this time I had an erection. Normally, since I don't really know anybody there, it really does not matter to me who sees my penis in the shower, because I know all those men have one also. But I felt weird when they started looking at my erection.
- age 18, Florida
My sister caught me masturbating — I was naked and stroking when she walked in. I immediately stood up. She said it was okay and that I wasn't doing any harm, and that she said she does it, too. I was embarrassed that my sister saw me naked, but she said it was okay because I have a nice body. (Kind of awkward coming from your sister, right?) So I'm not ashamed to be naked anymore — although I won't push my luck!
- age 14, Massachusetts
Aside from a few guys at the gym, nobody has seen me naked lately. But I do have some friends on the Internet who have seen me in the buff, because I find it exciting to show myself to them using my QuickCam!
- age 17, Canada
These past months I've been seen naked by my older brothers (25 and 29) and by some students at college. But this is the deal: When it comes to relatives, it's not that strange. I mean, they're family. But when it comes to other males, it's strange — or at least that was what I thought before I started working out. I've been attending college gym for 8 months. At the beginning, especially the first month when I had to take a shower after my 2-hour sessions, I felt kind of ashamed to undress in front of other guys, including my trainer. This could be because when I go to the gym, the only students there have been working out for months, even years. Most of them are pretty brawny, and I was skinny. But now it's all different — not because of the muscle mass I've gained but because I've learned you have to love and accept your body the way it is, without depending on who sees you or how you look. Just enjoy how you look naked!.
- age 22, Mexico
Both my sister and my boyfriend (though not at the same time!) have seen me naked in the past few months. I don't care about my sister; she looks just like I do. But I still get uncomfortable when my boyfriend wants to look at me. I'm more comfortable having sex with him than letting him see me so vulnerable. It would probably be easier if he would tell me how great I looked, but he doesn't seem to realize how important it is to reassure me.
- age 18, Illinois (female)
My dad sees me sometimes in the morning with changing and showers. We share a bathroom. I am comfortable with him seeing me, but I hate the showers at school, because I don't know those people that well. Dad sometimes comments that I am growing just right for my age, which makes me feel better because even though he had "the talk" with me, I still am not sure if I'm growing right.
- age 15, Ohio
I went to Mexico and stayed at a hotel where you could swim naked. Probably 30 people saw me naked, and it was awesome.
- age 22, Wisconsin
No one has seen me naked for about 3 years. When I masturbate I always fantasize about people seeing me naked and me seeing other people naked and having sex. But I think it would make me kind of nervous, because I have a rather small penis for my age (or at least I think so).
- age 14, Connecticut
The love of my life is the only person to ever have seen me naked. I have been in compromising situations before with other guys, but I've never been comfortable enough to even take off my bra. I don't have the greatest body in the world, but my sweetie makes me feel like I'm a goddess. I think that when you truly fall in love with someone, you forget about body image and concentrate on what really matters: loving each other.
- age 17, North Carolina (female)