Share
Leaderboard ad for The Walrus Talks at Home: Circular Economy
 
The Walrus logo in summery yellow and orange colors.
Illustration of a naked woman throwing her clothes away against a blue background. The clothes form the shape of a wing.
 
When I moved from Toronto to Berlin, in 2017, I had no idea how many Germans love to get naked in public. If you go to almost any park or lake on a sunny day, you’re bound to see scores of people in the nude—and not just toned, skinny people but ones with droopy breasts, back rolls, hairy chests, and tufts of pubic hair.

Prior to my move, I barely felt comfortable taking my pants off at the doctor's office. If you would have told me that, four years later, I’d be one of those naked lake goers, I wouldn’t have believed you. But I’ve since learned just how transformative public nudity can be.

Canada does have a select number of nude beaches and naturist clubs, but outside of those settings, nudity can carry a $5,000 fine, jail time, or both. All of this made me wonder why Canadians would rather criminalize nudity than embrace it—especially since research has shown that those who practise naturism have higher levels of self-esteem and life satisfaction.

My story "Don’t Be a Prude: The Benefits of Public Nudity" traces the history of the naturism movement in North America and makes a case for reshaping the way we think about nudity. Showing skin shouldn’t be a privilege afforded only to the good looking, and by learning to loosen up, we might realize that everyone has a body worthy of being naked.

— Nicole Schmidt

Click on the images or titles below to learn more
Image of the Earth cracked in half

Since the 1970s, wages, infrastructure, and the pace of technology have all stagnated. Can it be reversed?


BY ANDREW POTTER

(13 minute read)
Book cover of Songs for Angel
Is There Such a Thing as a Universal Human Experience? Author Marie-Claire Blais Says Yes

In her new novel, Songs for Angel, Blais proves that the twenty-first-century heir to modernism is a francophone octogenarian living in Florida

BY AMANDA PERRY

(10 minute read)
Illustration of a wave crashing against people on a subway platform.

Mr. Simbatye’s body had not yet begun to wither, but she opened the window in case his soul required an avenue of escape. Also because of the smell

BY ALIX OHLIN
ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE THEODORE


(18 minute read)
Text reading 'Come work with us, you'll love it'
NEW JOB ALERT: The Walrus has partnered with Justice Fund to offer a great new opportunity for writers: the Justice Fund Writing Residency for Emerging Black Journalists. This is a full-time, paid, six-month residency for early career journalists who identify as Black. The residency begins on November 15, 2021.
We are also accepting applications for The Walrus Editorial Fellowship Program. There are two positions available for this full-time, paid, one-year fact-checking fellowship.

Black and white photos of Nicole Schmidt, Jason Herterich, and Jonah Brunet.
This weeks newsletter was written by Nicole Schmidt, produced by Jason Herterich, and copy-edited by Jonah Brunet.
Send us an email at letters@thewalrus.ca and your letter may be included in a future issue of The Walrus.
THE WALRUS THANKS ALL OUR ADVERTISERS. BECOME ONE.
 
Ad for The Walrus Leadership Forum: The Great Skills Shift on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Join us to learn the findings from RBC's Building Bandwidth report on the digital challenges and opportunities Indigenous youth face today and their potential for the decade ahead, followed by a panel discussion on how to ensure the next generation of professionals has the skills needed for success.
Big box ad for The Walrus Talks Sept. 13 on Next Gen event.
 
Big box ad on a blue background featuring The Walrus Talks at Home: News and Platforms event.
 
The Walrus logo along with Canada's Conversation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Was this email forwarded to you?
Click here to subscribe


Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Copyright © 2021 The Walrus, All rights reserve
d.


Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign