What Scars Are Your Clothes Hiding?

by Amanda Collins
on March 03, 2014
in Naturist Topics
9 comments
5114 views

For most nudists, being without clothes is comfortable. We don't judge others on their scars or stretch marks, and we certainly don't look to hide them under textiles. But what about those people who have thought about nudism yet are too embarrassed about the marks they will show when they get naked?

One woman who is not a traditional nudist has chosen to take off her clothes to share her scars and stretch marks with the world, and she has received some significant backlash, as well as tremendous support from the effort. Beth Whaanga is an Australian nurse and criminologist who was diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer. During her diagnosis and treatment, she discovered that she carried the BCRA2 gene mutation, meaning that she is at a higher risk of contracting cancer.

As a mother of four, she took the bold move to have a hysterectomy and double mastectomy. She also had her lymphnodes removed to further protect her body.But Beth didn't stop there. She then chronicled her journey Â€Â”and her scars Â€Â”with the Under the Red Dress project (you can check out her story here: http://www.mamamia.com.au/double-mastectomy-photos-beth-whaanga/).

Upon posting pictures of her naked, scarred body on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/underthereddress), more than 100 of Beth's friends immediately un-friended her. Some even complained to Facebook that the pictures were too graphic and should be removed; thankfully, Facebook extended their typically too-harsh stance on nudism to allow the pictures to remain posted. But what Beth got was unexpected: her story gained a global audience, with thousands of cancer survivors showing their support.

So our question to you today is: What scars are your clothes hiding? If you have toyed with nudism and are afraid to shed those clothes due to the scars you have, now is the time to embrace them.

We all have something we are hesitant for others to see, but scars and stretch marks don't have to hold us back. Every one of them has a story behind it. For Beth Whaanga, she is alive today because of the marks that remain on her body, and for that she should not (and does not) apologize.

You don't have to be afraid to share all of yourself; you might just be surprised at the new friends you'll make in the process.

Tags : Body-image, Nudism, Scars

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wanttobefreenow

I haven't been to a nudist place yet but want to.

Liam0419

About 30 years ago I suffered a ruptured colon. The experience left me with a street-map of abdominal scars. About 10 months ago I had surgery for a hernia and stomach muscle separation. The recent experience actually eliminated some of the original scars, but left a new one crossing my abdomen from side to side only visible to others when I am nude. This is such a non judge-mental group I have never felt any concern or discomfort over my appearance.

S_Natur-El

This is the truth about creation being beautiful: all bodies (I say as a guy, every female body) are created beautiful, and while the looks of youth eventually fade, beauty does not -- fat and cellulite are just part of beauty. The awesome thing is, beauty is self-restoring -- after surgery is done and healed, no matter how many scars in what places, beauty isn't diminished. It's the same principle as the healing of cuts and bruises: the body will be as well-off again as it was before. Beauty likewise.

Kevin80222

We all have physical attributes we don't like, but those of us with scars often have to grapple not only with the physical change to ourselves but also the story that these scars remind us of. Often the scars are not a singular, one-time occurrence, but more often than not tell of a longer, more painful journey, one that has changed or impacted the owner and will continue to do so for life. I applaud those who can be open and expose these scars, because they show your strength...

Pamela69

Not quite in that league but I felt a bit self-conscious about my saggy breasts after my second child, but my nipples became very perky so that made up for it a bit. Now I am coping with a scar from abdominal surgery which is more prominent with a suntan, but my view is that is who I am, you don't need to look.

Nik_Nudist

True nudists accept each other for who they are. We're all different, some of our bodies have more visible stories, does it matter? If we can just be ourselves in just our skin that is more important to me than marks on our skin.

Rapidi

I was initially self conscious of my scars. I've had intestinal surgery and both hips replaced. The scar on my abdomen is small, but the ones on the sides of my legs are long because of complications with the hip replacement surgery. The more I was nude, the more comfortable I became with this until I wasn't bothered by it at all. It's interesting how one comes to accept their flaws and those of others simply by not wearing clothes. It helps that my wife calls the scars on my legs "racing st

Lifelongnaturist

Hello, I clicked on the address above to check out Beth Whaanga's story, the first address that does not have facebook in it, and it took me to what I can only describe as an Asian porn site of some sort, I could not read the language and am not sure what it was. Some one may want to check into that.

* The views expressed in the article and in the following comments are of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this website's owners

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Amanda Collins

Amanda Collins is the chief of staff of The Grammar Doctors, a content-marketing firm that partners with business owners and job seekers to develop and implement strategies to accelerate results. The Grammar Doctors specializes in writing website content, articles, blogs, newsletters, press releases, social-media updates, advertisements, and rsums, as well as copyediting for authors and students.

Amanda works with clients across the country, has edited several published books, and served as the editor in chief and major contributor to Jetset Magazine, an affluent lifestyle magazine. She is an acclaimed presenter, haven spoken at LaidOffCamp, DeVry College, and a number of networking organizations. Amanda has been covered in the press on Good Morning Arizona, The Arizona Republic, The Phoenix Business Journal, AM Arizona, KFNX, and KJZZ, Phoenixs National Public Radio affiliate.

When not writing killer copy, Amanda treasures spending time with her seven-year-old son Patrick and building her collections of Wonder Woman and The Little Mermaid mementos.My Website View my profile