Is modesty or a sense of propriety confused with puritanicalism?

Depends. Are those same people trying to impose their ‘sense of decency’ onto other people? or are they simply talking of their own preferences for their own behaviour?

I agree with Cazzie. There’s a difference between “Oh, nude beaches aren’t for me” and “Nude beaches are gross, why do people even do stuff like that?”

Not necessarily. Puritanical behavior seems (to me) to be trying to foist ones’ modesty values onto others – forcing them to adhere to your personal standard of ‘proper’. Modesty is an internal, personal yardstick.

Puritanical is different from modesty. Modesty is about one’s own behavior. Puritanical is rendering judgment on others.

I don’t use the terms synonomously. It is true that people who are puritanical are possibly very likely to follow rules of modesty, but modest people are not necessarily puritanical. I use puritanical related to religion, probably only with Christianity, but maybe I am wrong to do that? I would never call a Chassidic woman puritanical, even though she dresses extremely modestly, has specific beliefs about God, sex, and nudity. I guess I agree with some of the answers above, it has to do with the person wanting others to behave the same way.

Time and place issues are exercised even by people who might dress fairly modestly at times. They might be topless at the beach, but never show cleavage in daily life. I don’t really think of that person as modest, but rather that she dresses modestly in certain situations.

A person who always dresses for modesty reasons, for religious reasons, I would probably clarify it is for religious reasons.

I also use puritanical to describe my disgust about not being able to discuss health issues regarding sex and women’s girly parts. Of course this is changing in America, but still sexual health discussion is a no no in many circles. When AIDS hit the scene, Reagan and his administration were not going to go on TV and talk about that gay disease and condoms, no matter how much our Surgeon General thought it was important to inform the public. Thank goodness the Hollywood community spoke out, produced films, and were very vocal. Still now there is a strong resistance to teach sexual health to our children.

The line is drawn when people aren’t reacting to that lack of comfort with “This is my issue, and I’ll own it” but rather “You should change so that I feel more comfortable”. A sense of propriety and modesty usually fits into puritanism, because the people who phrase it that way (as opposed to “a personal preference”) feel that they are conforming to societal standards that everyone in society is expected to and should conform to; ie, imposing their values on others and passing judgment.

The dictionary definition is: very strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so; rigidly austere. It makes no mention of judgement on others. So I am not sure if that answer is relevant. For someone to think nude beaches are “gross” does not make one puritanical, it is simply someone stating their preference. And they have a right to do that without being JUDGED as puritanical. That is the part I find interesting, whenever someone points out how another is judging unfairly, they themselves are indeed making a judgement.

So, wait, they have a right to judge me, but I don’t have a right to judge them for judging me?

@Aethelflaed – “puritan” has nothing to do with judging, see the definition above. And the point I am trying to make is, if judging is so unfair then why does everyone turn around and become the judge also??? But that is really a whole new question.

My question is about why the label “puritan” is applied to anyone who is not in favor of nudity when it is not on a nude beach or other appropriate venue. I think it has to do with modesty and propriety, not puritanism or being judgmental.

@rooeytoo Do you here it used in countries outside of the US?

@rooeytoo Yes, I’m familiar with the Puritans, and that definition is not really very good. Try, Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy. Also, Puritans: the people so pissed off that they couldn’t successfully impose their morality on everyone else that they had to flounce out of England for the New World to set up their own little purified community.

Hear. Ugh.

@JLeslie – actually I was thinking about the numerous times I have heard it on Fluther. I can’t think of specific questions, I will look if you wish, but if anyone said they were not comfortable with nudity they were called puritanical Americans. I think modesty or not wanting to be publicly nude is totally different than being puritanical. But based on the answers above, I am apparently in the minority.

@Aethelflaed – what dictionary used that definition? You seem to be especially vehement about this subject. You feel unjustly judged if I or anyone disagrees with you. I was merely wondering why anyone feels that modesty is puritanical.

@rooeytoo I think you and I agreed actually.

@JLeslie – I think so too! And I am pleased that I am not alone in noting the distinction.

I think I’d have to see specific examples to be sure, @rooeytoo, but I don’t think having a sense of modesty about your own body would be viewed as puritanical. Having a problem with someone else’s level of modesty might be, though. Like, if you (the general you, not you specifically) are offended by, say, revealing swim suits or something.

@augustlan -I will hunt for examples. But how about this, let’s say a person does not like nudity. They do not like naked bodies lying around on the furniture, they feel it is unsanitary or whatever. They don’t like their own naked body doing it or someone else’s naked body. Would that be puritanical? You are judging the other person for being naked as well as yourself.

If it’s your own furniture, no problem. If you’re judging someone for being naked in their own house, on their furniture… I don’t know if ‘puritanical’ is the word I’d use, but it’s definitely not the same as just being modest on your own behalf, you know? Disliking nudity altogether does seem a little puritanical to me, though. It conjures images of having sex with your clothes on or something.

@augustlan @rooeytoo The thing is, some people feel badly about their bodies, or just don’t feel comfortable being naked, and it might have nothing to do with being puritanical. They might have a liberal mindset and be fine with other people who wear mini skirts and gogo boots, they might be judgmental of those who sit naked on the coach for sanitary reasons, it may have nothing to do with modesty related to being puritanical. I don’t think how some dresses or wants others to dress necessarily tells us the whole story, we would need to know why, what is their reasons for modest dress. To me puritanical is related to the person’s ideas of morality. What do you think?

@JLeslie Yeah, there are a lot of variables in there. The word ‘puritanical’ does seem linked to a type of morality, and not necessarily other reasons for being uncomfortable with nudity.

In the US no one is truly comfortable with nudity even when some try so hard to get naked with another person. It is something to know you like but not have to see it. I guess sense being naked or nudity is a major component of sex, and people still grapple with that, it is a source why nudity is what it is.

@HC Amazing how you know the comfort levels of everyone in America. Quite the superpower.

^ You have not watch TV or reads magazines?

Is that how one comes to know everything? By watching TV and reading magazines? Wow. that really is incredible.

TV and media learns from the people, and echo it back, so those who don’t know, then know the world is doing.

That was a very interesting look into how you see the world, @Hypocrisy_Central.