Mormon Women Bare

The only problem I have with the project is the way it is described often when others are reporting on it – particularly when the broad statement is made that the LDS Church has a “strict” dress code. I have issues with the way we talk about modesty in our church culture, but, when viewed objectively in comparison to the rest of the world, our actual “dress code” is quite moderate. There are lots of cultures that are more strict, and there are lots of cultures that are less strict. Ours is nowhere near either extreme – even, again, as I believe we butcher the discussion of modesty badly way too often.

Also, the site absolutely isn’t porn, and I like anything that makes the distinction clear between nudity and porn. That’s another area where our dominant culture has botched the discussion badly.

I don’t have anything profound to say. I would never have participated, but I’m kind of glad someone did this. I like seeing contented, smiling faces on post-pregnancy, non-airbrushed, surgically-unaltered bodies. Mormon women are the same as all others, but we talk about our bodies differently, and, I might add, incessantly!!!

What kind of backlash would these women receive in their Wards, do you think? (If they are active). And do you think a Bishop or SP might deny or revoke a TR over their participation in something like this?

Didn’t some of those returned missionaries who posed for the shirtless calendar receive fairly church discipline? And I believe the maker of the calendar was excommunicated (not sure if there were other circumstances). I’m not saying that was right, but I could see something similar happening.

What kind of backlash would these women receive in their Wards, do you think? (If they are active). And do you think a Bishop or SP might deny or revoke a TR over their participation in something like this?

In an interview the author/photographer of the project, Katrina Barker Anderson, mentions that several women have made commitments to participate but then have backed out due to their husbands putting their foot down. I imagine that if DW wanted to participate then my biggest concern would be how this might make life difficult in the ward. Adults can be cruel, kids can be worse.

From the FAQ page:

Has anyone associated with this project been subjected to official church discipline?

No.

I hope that this alone helps to make people think. There is nothing in the TR interview that would prohibit being a nude model for art. This kind of goes back to what Ray was saying…

The only problem I have with the project is the way it is described often when others are reporting on it – particularly when the broad statement is made that the LDS Church has a “strict” dress code.

The church standard on dress is much more nebulous. Is it what is printed in the FSOY? Is it what is written in M of F? I seem to remember Pres. Kimball saying that it was just as bad for a man to go topless as a woman – is that the standard? Is it capped sleeves and mid-calf dresses? Even for angels and toddlers?

Wouldn’t it be great if the church came out with a press release that said that said something like “The church believes in the sanctity of the human body. It is the house of your divine spirit and is, in that sense, a temple. We encourage everyone to treat their own bodies and the bodies of others with care and respect in nourishment, exercise, clothing, medical care, adornment, etc. There are many opinions expressed on how this should be appropriately done but ultimately it is a decision that must be made by each individual member after careful consideration and prayer.”?

There were similar press releases about caffeinated soda and wearing pants to church.

Those would be the types of discussions that I hope would come out of this project.

Why “Mormon” women. Do they look different than other women bare? What’s the awareness about?

Maybe it’s the nun thing. Inaccessible.

Having never seen a Mormon woman’s navel, let alone anything more exotic, I can’t comment.

Maybe missionaries should be showing these pictures to our more hesistant male investigators? Baptism and retention rates would go through the roof.

(Sorry, that’s a joke, please don’t shoot me down!)

I suppose part of the problem is that more of the female body is sexualized than the male. A male torso doesn’t get the same reaction as a female one. However I’ve never met a Mormon woman who came over as sleazy, and many have a degree of inner beauty that can be less common elsewhere. I think that can be captured in a photograph and is more authentic than Hollywood glitz. The fact that Mormon women don’t smoke or drink/drug helps too (although there is the carb question).

And…so now I’m wondering…where is the “man bare” page?

Surely we believe in equal posing opportunities, right? :clap: