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Why do Americans and foreigners alike describe the USA as prudish? Why do I see nothing prudish about the USA society? USA feels like one of the loosest countries although Americans claim to be very reserved.

11.06.2025 06:10

Why do Americans and foreigners alike describe the USA as prudish? Why do I see nothing prudish about the USA society? USA feels like one of the loosest countries although Americans claim to be very reserved.

The ridiculous 2004 Superbowl ‘Nipplegate’ was a more recent reminder of how US attitudes have not really advanced much since the Hays code.

sexual perversion, including homosexuality (naturally), and sexual relationships between the white and black races.

nudity, or even suggestions of it (e.g. a silhouette)

Can you turn 150 pages into a 5 minute presentation before a meeting?

For 34 years, movie and TV studios censored themselves to appease the Puritanical whims of Will Hays.

disrespect of authority figures. Crooked judges are OK if they are also clearly portrayed as evil people

couples in the same bed, even if married. (Laurel and Hardy came before the code)

Do married men know when their wives are having affairs?

lustful kissing is to be shown with care

toilets being shown

Some ridiculous highlights of the code in effect banned or discouraged:

Should transgender Ideology be renamed "Gender Revisionism/Biological Denialism"?

any profanity to the Christian religion, e.g. hell, damn, God (unless used in a holy sense), or ridicule of the clergy.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world still sniggers at American prudishness.

Remember the Hays Code?

Infrared contact lens enables humans to see in dark - DW

the display of bellybuttons