The Nekkdel Test

I'm not sure if I'm shooting myself in the foot by saying this, or if, on the other hand, drawing attention to it will generate more interest, but in reading my old posts on nudism, it occurs to me that perhaps there is need for a variation of the Bechdel test relating to discussions of nudism and sexuality.

I'm a nudist. So I've written a lot about nudism. But most of those posts address the tenuous relationship (or, more accurately, the suspicion of a relationship) between nudism and sex (often in the form of exhibitionism).

In my defense, I'm also an exhibitionist. And an erotic artist and philosopher. So these are topics that interest me. And, at the risk of being accused of "courting" controversy, controversial subjects are, by their very nature, intriguing in a way that mundane topics are not.

Some people are afraid to broach controversy. For the most part, I am not. I'm sure there is utility in writing sanitized nudist travel blogs, but let's be honest; resort reviews don't typically make for terribly gripping reading.

There are the usual subjects that are repeatedly picked up and batted around by nudists, but what I mainly have to add to the conversation is my unconventional perspective as a sex-positive activist, on the subject of how our attitudes (not our behaviors, but our attitudes) impact the reputation of nudism (especially online).

My blog is not a nudist blog because most of what I write is not about nudism. However, I do resent (a little bit) that my blog will never be considered a nudist blog, because I think what I have to add to the conversation on nudism is fairly unique, and rather worthwhile. In my not so humble opinion.

But, nudists get upset when you mix the subjects of sex and nudism together, because it tends to reinforce problematic (and largely inaccurate) stereotypes about nudism in the public mindset. Yet I always seem to be talking about nudism in relation to our sexual attitudes (which, it should be noted, is not the same as talking about the proverbial "sex on the beach").

So perhaps what I need, as I alluded to earlier, is a variation of the Bechdel test. Call it the "Nekkdel" test. The intended result of applying this test would be to generate more discussion of nudism that desexualizes the topic, which would probably be a net gain for nudism. Here's how I would frame the test:

A discussion (written or verbal) passes the Nekkdel test if it broaches the topic of nudism*, without mentioning sex (including, but not limited to, public sex, erections, and exhibitionism).

*Alternatively, the scope of this test could be broadened to include all discussions of nudity, not specifically nudism, to identify those discussions that are essentially "nudist kosher". Although particularly in this case, I don't think there should be any negative judgment associated with failing the test, because it's perfectly okay to talk about nudity - as distinguished from nudism - in a sexual context.

Though they may be few and far between, I do think I have one or two posts in the 12 or so years I've been blogging that would pass this test. But I'm not sure I'm brave enough to check...