I grew up in Australia and can remember in the changing rooms for swim class, many girls would put on their swimwear OVER their underwear, and THEN proceed to remove their underwear from under their swimwear, careful not to let anything show. This was in PRIMARY school, so we weren't even beginning to develop yet! This seemed to be the cool thing to do and the 'done' thing. And if there were changing cubicles, girls would go in there to change inside of out in the room with the others. So growing up with this kind of experience makes you feel that the body is something you should keep hidden from others, even if your parents demonstrate that they are comfortable with nudity at home.
A few years ago, I went to Japan on holiday and visited some Japanese friends. One friend took me to a hot spring onsen, telling me that foreigners don't usually like onsens. She then told me that that is because you have to be naked. I was shocked. Being naked amongst a bunch of other naked people is certainly not something I'm used to or comfortable with.
To begin with, we went in the co-sex areas, where you keep swimwear on. I felt fine there. Then I decided that this was not something I'd have the opportunity to do again any time soon so took the plunge and went naked in the womens' section. I was so scared because it is just something I was completely not used to. But I was really glad I did it cos it helped me to realise that it's really no big deal.
A few years ago, I went to Japan on holiday and visited some Japanese friends. One friend took me to a hot spring onsen, telling me that foreigners don't usually like onsens. She then told me that that is because you have to be naked. I was shocked. Being naked amongst a bunch of other naked people is certainly not something I'm used to or comfortable with.
To begin with, we went in the co-sex areas, where you keep swimwear on. I felt fine there. Then I decided that this was not something I'd have the opportunity to do again any time soon so took the plunge and went naked in the womens' section. I was so scared because it is just something I was completely not used to. But I was really glad I did it cos it helped me to realise that it's really no big deal.