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Although some cultures are less prudent then others I have the impression that walking in the nude in public is frowned upon world wide. Is this a correct assumption?

I know that for example going to the sauna in some countries requires you to go full monty, whereas in others it is considered offensive. So answers mentioning nude beaches, saunas and other designated areas are invalid. I am simply wondering is you can walk on the street naked without getting into trouble.

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    Also: Are there cultures without “streets”?
    – Relaxed
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 11:28
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    @Madlozoz Obviously. It was meant as a gentle poke on the question.
    – Relaxed
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 12:35
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    You have obviously never seen a National Geographic magazine.
    – Flimzy
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 12:53
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    Note that the definition of "naked" varies from culture, and may or may not involve hiding the genitalia and mammaries. "There are cultures where being dressed involves as little as a piece of string around the waist, but it is indecent to go out without the string." I'll also point out that there is no US federal law against nudity per se (which is why nude beaches are generally on federal land rather than state land).
    – keshlam
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 17:01
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    "Less prudent"? Do you mean "Less prudish"?
    – Phil Perry
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 20:52

2 Answers 2

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Yep, a good friend of mine lives in Ghana. He says that, when out and about on particularly hot days, he meets Ghanaians who have neglected to put on clothes before leaving the house.

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    bada-tssh. Where in Ghana does he live? As this is certainly not typical for city life in Ghana, where going nude would very much be frowned upon.
    – MastaBaba
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 18:52
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    South of lake volta. I'm not sure how large his town is but I figure that's beside the point.
    – sirdank
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 19:32
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    It is not besides the point if it's taken as representative for the whole country.
    – MastaBaba
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 22:13
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    @MastaBaba to be technical, it is besides the point, as the question was if cultures exist where nudity is not frowned upon. The answer is yes. As an example, apparently in some areas of Ghana - from anecdotal evidence from a friend - it is not unusual.
    – Doc
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 23:03
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The answer to your exact question is "No"

"Street" imply an urban environment and, if you are above 10 year old, no such place would accept public nudity.

That said, you can find some remote tribes in Papua. I heard also about Mentawai Island(south west Sumatra). Once again, it would be deep in the forest. Not in the (relatively) cosmopolitan harbor.

In both case, I am pretty sure they would frown at a white guy walking naked in their village.

http://www.papuatrekking.com/First_Contact_expedition.html

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    You can also find some tribes in the Brazilian amazon that wear nothing.
    – MastaBaba
    Commented May 13, 2014 at 18:58
  • @Madladoz Perhaps you're thinking of the Mentawai? I don't think they go naked though, and the vast majority have now been herded into settlements and have abandoned their traditional ways. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentawai_people
    – lambshaanxy
    Commented Jan 14, 2022 at 6:27
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    @lambshaanxy I was indeed talking about a documentary about Mentawai. I edited the post. I haven't been there (I lived north of sumatra where people frown on short pants). I can just tell that the documentary shot in the 2000's showed people walking around naked.
    – Madlozoz
    Commented Jan 15, 2022 at 13:00

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