The real way to encourage body-positivity is to bring back sauna culture. (hexbear.net)

submitted 2 weeks ago by ConcreteHalloween@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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Nothing help do away with your insecurities about your body image than sweating profusely with your junk out in a room filled with other nude people sweating profusely. It's a great equalizer.

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[-] Busgirl@hexbear.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

Would you be willing to expand a bit more on the gender issue?

[-] StillNoLeftLeft@hexbear.net 5 points 2 weeks ago

I can only speak from my own experience, but having to do the sauna for example in puberty and especially mixed in with various extended family or family friends there was always an awareness of a power differential and the male gaze definitely happened even though in my culture the sauna supposedly isn't a sexualized space. But men would definitely look at you. You'd also get the cringe "I can wash your back" comments.

In public saunas there tends to always be a few creeps that everyone knows about. Being in that space as a woman can feel unsafe or just gross.

In Finland you also are to be fully naked in a sauna, for example in a swimming hall. Going in in a bathing suit or wrapped in a towel is allowed for people with a disability only and this is why my stepkid who is trans doesn't go in them anymore. The saunas are obviously separated to mens/womens, there is no gender neutral option.

[-] Busgirl@hexbear.net 3 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks for the response! though I am confused on a couple parts, are the saunas only separated in swimming halls and also you can't wear a bathing suit while swimming or is it just in the sauna?