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Cultural attitudes toward nudity are learned, not innate.

Shifting how we relate to our own nakedness can be a meaningful step in healing.

Non-sexual nude spaces are linked in research to greater self-esteem and life satisfaction.

"No, you can't take your shirt off," they say, as the boys frolic naked through the sprinklers and my own shirt hangs heavy and wrong. “She’s put on a bit of weight hasn’t she” the family discusses as I play in earshot, desperately wishing I could disappear. “I want to split her in two” one of the footy boys tells my friend on my first day at high school, as I desperately try and figure out what that means. “wolf whistle” “show us your tits” “begging for it hey” they scream, whilst I look straight ahead and pretend not to hear.

"No, you can't take your shirt off," they say, as the boys frolic naked through the sprinklers and my own shirt hangs heavy and wrong.

“She’s put on a bit of weight hasn’t she” the family discusses as I play in earshot, desperately wishing I could disappear.

“I want to split her in two” one of the footy boys tells my friend on my first day at high school, as I desperately try and figure out what that means.

“wolf whistle” “show us your tits” “begging for it hey” they scream, whilst I look straight ahead and pretend not to hear.

I was a child for each of these moments. My body has been public property for as long as I can remember.

If the statements sound........

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