Naked images may be taken or sent in many contexts. Some people may choose to take a nude photo of themselves in a moment or heightened body confidence and therefore want to capture the moment. Others may use such images as a way of exploring a new sexual avenue with a partner, potentially even using it as a type of foreplay in the lead up to a long awaited reunion. It is becoming increasingly popular to view the taking and sending of these images as extremely empowering as it makes them feel sexy, desirable and more accepting of their body.
Taking and sending of these images as extremely empowering as it makes them feel sexy, desirable and more accepting of their body
It must be stated however, that whatever the intent may have been by the person capturing the image, it must be consensually taken and sent by an adult to an adult without coercion. There are those with what are now increasingly considered ‘old fashioned views’, who hold serious concerns over the sharing of such images and are of the opinion that they make the person in the photograph vulnerable. This is not an entirely misplaced concern due to the matter of ‘revenge porn’, whereby following the end of a relationship, out of spite and anger, one of the partners shares the intimate images that were previously sent to them by their former partner, without their consent. This offence carries a sentence of up to two years in the UK.
Nudes are also occasionally considered to be degrading to the person in the image as they are being sexualised and objectified, however, sexual arousal is not always the sole purpose of such such images, with body confidence being a significant factor.
`Sexual arousal is not always the sole purpose of such such images, with body confidence being a significant factor.
It should also be noted that it is women who are primarily associated with nudes and often in a negative and objectifying light. This is a misogynistic bias which is exacerbated due to news stories in recent years of celebrities, such as Emily Ratajkowsk, having their intimate photographs leaked online, marking a violation in their privacy.