Independent research · Sanctuary Domain
Research in development
The Male Experience of Nudity
More Than Skin Deep.
For some men, being naked is ordinary. For others it is private, uncomfortable, freeing, or complicated. What shapes those differences, and what do they say about how men see their bodies, their friendships, and themselves?
Content note: This page includes AI-generated images depicting nonsexual adult nudity.
Why this study
Why these experiences matter
Nudity is part of ordinary life: changing at the gym, showering after sport, time alone at home, time with a partner. Yet men rarely talk about how those moments feel, or why the same situation can feel easy to one man and difficult to another.
This study looks at those experiences in the context of body image, aging, friendship, masculinity, and the line between sexual and nonsexual settings. The aim is to understand the range of men’s experiences, not to promote any one way of living.
Differing perspectives are welcome. Men who are comfortable being naked around others, men who are not, and men who have never thought much about it all have something useful to say. You do not need to be a naturist, or to have any particular experience, for your view to matter.
What the study explores
Six research themes
01
Personal nudity
How comfortable men feel being naked, alone and around others, and the everyday settings where it happens.
02
Age and masculinity
How comfort changes across adult life, and how expectations about being a man shape it.
03
Friendship and trust
What trust, respect, and clear boundaries mean for comfort around male friends.
04
Body image
How men see their own bodies, and how concern about other men’s judgment affects their choices.
05
Sexual and nonsexual meanings
How men tell sexual and nonsexual situations apart, and what clear expectations change.
06
Community and belonging
Views of naturism and clothing-optional spaces, and experiences of acceptance or exclusion.
Current status
Where the study is now
Volunteer applications for questionnaire review closed on November 13, 2026, and the volunteer review is now under way. Thank you to everyone who volunteered. The research questionnaire remains in development and is not yet open for participation.
Full information about taking part in the survey itself, including how responses will be stored and protected, will be published here before anyone is invited to participate.
Now
Preparing the research
The questionnaire has undergone initial technical testing and is now being reviewed by volunteers. The research survey is not open.
In progress
Questionnaire Review Under Way
Applications closed on November 13, 2026, and volunteers are now reviewing the draft questionnaire. Thank you to everyone who volunteered.
Later
Sharing what we learn
We plan to share findings and study limitations on Sanctuary Domain after the research is complete.
Launch notification
Be Notified When the Survey Opens
The Male Experience of Nudity is preparing to launch in December 2026. If you’d like to know when the survey opens, leave your email address below. We’ll send you a notification when it’s ready. Signing up doesn’t obligate you to participate.
This form uses Cloudflare Turnstile to help prevent spam. Cloudflare may process information about your browser and device. See Cloudflare’s privacy policy.
Who the study is for
Eligibility
When the study opens, it will be for adults who are:
- 18 years of age or older
- Men, including cisgender and transgender men
- Nonbinary adults who consider male experience relevant to their lives
No experience of social or naturist nudity is needed. Comfort, discomfort, curiosity, and lack of interest are all part of the picture, and all are welcome.
Taking part will be voluntary, and you will be able to skip questions you prefer not to answer. The survey will not request your name or email address, and responses will be handled confidentially. Because the survey runs on a hosted website, the hosting provider may still keep technical website logs, such as records of connections to the site.
About the researcher
Who is conducting this study
The Male Experience of Nudity is independent research conducted by Tony Wynne through Sanctuary Domain. It is not sponsored by a university or other institution.
Sanctuary Domain is a space for deeper conversations about identity, connection, and masculinity.
Contact
Questions about the study
If you have a question about the research, you are welcome to write.
Research in development. This page is not a call for participants.