BARE TRUTHS: THE ART OF BEING A NUDIST IN SAINT LUCIA

Historically, nudism has been rooted in the very active struggles across Western societies for personal freedom and going back to one's natural state but there is something unique in this practice in the Caribbean region, particularly in Saint Lucia. This study examines the different dimensions of nudism as a practice in Saint Lucia and relates it to the historical context and culture of the island nation. Given the context of Saint Lucia having the effects of colonialism, African people and Christian beliefs, nudism in this context is more than just a lifestyle-it is a weaving of one's identity amidst social expectations of decency and traditional views on women's positions in the society. However, in a Western context, nudism is often characterized as a movement of free and public self-expression characterized with group living, whereas in Saint Lucia it is rather subtle, restrained. Aside from a few exceptions as pointed out in the publication 'The Nude Caribbean: Exploring Nudist Culture in the Tropics', people are not free to nude in the streets in St. Lucia due to the law as well as the beliefs of the culture. The island nudists, on the other hand, need to contend with the new order in the form of