Because younger men are used to their own bathrooms and privacy, interact more via their phones than live with others, and see locker rooms as suitable for cruising whether they are gay or straight, they are more self-conscious about nudity in locker rooms. A key difference is that whereas older men consider locker rooms private/semi-public, younger men are more likely to see them as public to the whole world, semi-private, or inherently less safe.
Acknowledging this, I see a trend in younger men learning to enjoy the freedom of nudity in the locker room. Perhaps it needs to be a choice first, but younger men don't want to be bullied into body shame, or restricted in their ability to express themselves around other men. They need and welcome role models for nonsexualized nudity around other males. They want to be proud to be a man among men, and not make it more complicated than that. It's a process, but I don't think locker rooms will disappear anytime soon.
I have not read the article but my guess is its a combination of 2 things . 1) younger guys not growing up in a time of showers after PE at school and 2) the fact that over the last 20 years ( or whatever) ., that as gay and Bi men have become more accepted there has been a marked increase of naughty activity going on .... guys jerking together discretely before someone else walks in ... and BJs. Several Ys I know have completely revamped their wet areas with large glass windows for the steamroom and saunas to deter from this ( and I'd be a hippocrit and lying if said I had never played with another man in a steamroom, etc. ). PLUS young guys tend to get cruised by older guys so they feel its creepy. The Y I go to actually does have a reputation of a high level of gay men. And of course no Gym , least of all a YMCA (Christian principles) wants to get a reputation as being known as cruisy area for gay /bi men. There! I said it ..
i could not think of anything worse or more uncomfortable than going into a sauna /steam room fully clothed understandable if your wish is to get a good sweat up but I think the majority of people are quite comfortable with the sweat they get normally with out clothes
I wonder how many of these people would male / female would think it ok to go swimming FULLY clothed, and again there is the factor of schools not using or having shower facilities after gym session's
Great conversation everyone. Oddly enough, I went to my gym last night and after a workout, went into the wet area. I entered the steamroom and it was super hot..too hot really, but there was a dude in shorts AND a towel wrapped around his waist. I of course was nude and just sat on my towel. Did not talk or anything, but since it was so hot, I left after only a few minutes. I actually enjoy the whirlpool more, so I left and went to the room with with pool. I ran into Robert, a buddy that works out there, and he was nude too. Married guy and all as well so we generally chat a bit. Although he does tend to talk a lot sometimes lol. Anyways, as we were chatting, in walks this dude that was in the steamroom, with just a towel around his waist and he politely interrupted us and asked "what is the etiquette?" Robert and I were a bit caught off guard and then the guy said it was his first time..trying out the facility,.and was not sure what the clothing requirement was. I never thought about that..but I guess maybe some people are not sure about what is acceptable or not? Anyways, we told him nude is best and he immediately dropped his towel and got in with with us. Not shy at all and it was great to sort of "initiate" Ben (he introduced himself) to nudity in the wet area and we explained that is is generally odd to see someone clothed as most are nude at our gym (in the wet areas at least). Mind you, there are still those that do the towel dance and cover up or wear shorts, but I think Ben was genuinely ok (almost seemed happy) with being nude once we made him aware that it was ok to be naked and that we were nude as well.
I haven't been in the locker room at my local Y in a while but when I did use it frequently in the past no one walked around nude. It seems I'm in a pretty puritan Y and since I'm shaved down there that might really offend some so I didn't either. I didn't do the towel dance but didn't strut around nude either. At the beach club we belong to almost everyone walked around nude so no big deal.
It's the younger fellows who seem to be reluctant to be seen nude, even for one second. I'll see them walking around with a towel wrapped even as they put on their shorts from under the towel without taking off the towel first.
The article referenced at the start is interesting and summarises much of what has been said.
The comments about the young guys and being online with selfies is right, but they will be fluffed or whatever for the selfies but cover up totally in a change room for fear they don't "measure up". It's the place to find that most of us are average and what is normal not abnormal or photo shopped.
Actions
Back to TopicsReply to TopicShare this topic
Get paid just by sending us users/traffic.
Signup takes seconds, start now!
Signup as an affiliate!