Introducing the NRE Standardised Stigma Measure (SSM) for Naturism: A World First

Visit the survey form directly: https://forms.gle/Yj74uLXVniT16wp86

A World First in Global Naturist Research and Advocacy

Naturism Resurgence (NRE) presents the world’s first comprehensive, multi-domain stigma measurement framework dedicated to naturism: the NRE Standardised Stigma Measure (SSM).

The SSM represents a decisive advance in naturist advocacy, academic research, and public education. For the first time, stigma surrounding naturism can be measured systematically, compared across contexts, and presented in a form suitable for engagement with policymakers, institutions, educators, and media.

Unlike previous approaches, the NRE SSM is not limited to public opinion alone. It is specifically designed to capture all major dimensions of naturism-related stigma, providing a complete and structured evidence base.

What the NRE SSM Measures

The SSM assesses stigma across four interconnected domains:

• Public Attitudes
  Societal and individual prejudice, stereotypes, and discriminatory intent toward naturists.

• Perceived Stigma
  How naturists believe they are viewed and judged by wider society.

• Internalised Stigma
  Self-directed shame, fear, concealment, or self-blame resulting from social attitudes.

• Enacted Stigma
  Real-world experiences of exclusion, discrimination, hostility, or harm.

This multi-perspective structure allows stigma to be examined as it is projected, perceived, internalised, and experienced. No previous naturism-related instrument has offered this level of analytical depth.

Comparison with Existing Instruments

Prior tools addressing stigma toward naturists have been limited in scope.

• Naturism Stigma Scale (NSS)
  Developed by Soylemez et al. (2025), the NSS adapted a mental-health stigma model to naturism. It focused primarily on personal and perceived stigma and did not include internalised or enacted dimensions.

• Beliefs About Naturists Scale (BANS)
  Introduced later in 2025 by the same authors, BANS expanded measurement to attitudes, stereotypes, and behavioural intentions. While valuable, it remained centred on public stigma and did not address lived experience or discrimination.

The NRE SSM goes significantly further by integrating:

• First-person reporting from naturists

• A structured discrimination and exclusion module

• A framework suitable for cross-cultural, international, and demographic comparison

Crucially, the SSM is designed not only for academic research, but for real-world advocacy, policy dialogue, education, and community resilience building.

Strategic Value of the NRE SSM

Advocacy
Provides credible, data-driven evidence to support engagement with governments, human rights bodies, insurers, employers, and media organisations.

Education
Enables targeted awareness initiatives based on measured public attitudes and documented misperceptions.

Empowerment
Gives naturists a structured, collective voice to describe their experiences and articulate the social impact of stigma.

Global Use
Designed with modular adaptability and inclusive language to support multilingual and multicultural deployment worldwide.

Participate in the Global SSM Research Initiative

NRE invites individuals and organisations worldwide to contribute to the most comprehensive research initiative ever undertaken on naturism-related stigma.

Participation is open to:

• Naturists
  Share lived experiences anonymously to support evidence-based advocacy and social recognition.

• Non-Naturists and Allies
  Contribute perspectives that help map public attitudes and misconceptions.

• Researchers and Educators
  Engage with a new framework for studying stigma, inclusion, and body-related social norms.

👉 Participate in the global SSM survey:
www.naturismre.com/ssm

To view how the survey looks like and some question samples click here

Visit the survey form directly: https://forms.gle/Yj74uLXVniT16wp86

Every response strengthens the evidence base supporting dignity, fairness, and respect for naturists worldwide.

A Milestone in Global Naturist Advocacy

The NRE Standardised Stigma Measure establishes a new benchmark for professionalism in naturist advocacy. It transforms stigma from anecdote into evidence, and from assumption into measurable reality.

The SSM is intended as a living global framework, capable of supporting longitudinal analysis, regional comparison, and informed dialogue across institutions and cultures. It is designed for international adoption and ongoing use by advocacy groups, researchers, and policymakers.

This is more than a research instrument.
It is a foundation for visibility, dignity, and justice in naturist life.

Authorised by Vincent Marty
Founder, Naturism Resurgence
Sydney, Australia

Why the SSM Matters: A New Era for Naturism

For decades, naturism has been shaped by stories, personal experiences, community dialogue, and cultural debate. Millions practise naturism worldwide, yet stigma has remained largely unmeasured and poorly understood.

People know stigma exists.
Naturists feel it.
Society expresses it.

Until now, there has been no structured, scientific way to show what that stigma looks like or how it operates.

The Standardised Stigma Measure changes this. It moves naturist advocacy from opinion to evidence.

The First Global Framework of Its Kind

The SSM is the first instrument built specifically to measure stigma associated with naturism across its full social impact:

Public attitudes.
Perceived judgement.
Internalised effects.
Enacted discrimination.

Together, these layers provide a complete picture of how stigma forms, how it is experienced, and how it causes harm.

This level of scope has never before existed in naturism research.

Why This Matters for Naturists

Stigma affects more than perception. It affects confidence, behaviour, relationships, employment, safety, and visibility. Many naturists conceal their identity. Others face exclusion or hostility in public and professional settings.

The SSM allows naturists to speak with data.
It turns silence into visibility, and visibility into action.

Why This Matters for Society

A healthy society understands the communities within it. Stigma distorts public discourse around body acceptance, privacy, inclusion, and personal freedom. When stigma remains unmeasured, it remains unaddressed.

The SSM provides a tool for researchers, educators, policymakers, and human rights advocates to work from evidence rather than assumption. It enables identification of where stigma is strongest, where education is needed, and where policy can evolve.

A New Level of Professionalism

The creation of the SSM signals a turning point. Naturism is entering an era where advocacy is supported by research, where legitimacy is reinforced by data, and where social identity is treated with seriousness and respect.

Institutions respond to evidence.
For the first time, naturism has a standard capable of informing their work.

Building a Better Future

The SSM is not only a measurement tool. It is a pathway toward better understanding, more informed policy, and fairer treatment of naturists worldwide. It enables comparison across regions, tracking over time, and evidence-based calls for social and legislative change.

Above all, it affirms a simple truth:

Naturists deserve the same dignity, respect, and fairness as any other social group.

This is why the SSM matters.
It marks a turning point toward a more informed, confident, and inclusive future for naturism.

Visit the survey form directly: https://forms.gle/Yj74uLXVniT16wp86

SSM policy submission updates

NSW 2026-27 pre-budget submission for the statewide stigma study