#femen

I saw a video (I am talking about the video positively because it was on the side of the protesters) talking about men complaining in comment sections about seeing shirtless women peacefully protesting. The specific comment the video was referencing was something along the lines of "just opened the app and this was the first thing I saw."

Now, the video did not specify whether they were talking about the FEMEN activists in France or the Free the Nipple movement soooo I'm just going to talk about both.

As far as I know, the FEMEN activists protest with their shirts off with the intent of shock value. They utilize it as a way to get people talking about issues that would otherwise be ignored. As an article from Brut News by Madhuli Trivedi says, "According to FEMEN, the tactic is intended to challenge the objectification of women's bodies while ensuring that their message attracts public and media attention."

I believe that this is good because it tackles two issues at once. The issue that many news stations ignore some topics or refuse to cover certain protests is solved by the women protesting shirtless because people objectify women's bodies. It's seen as scandalous because boobs are seen as both nudity and sexual and makes the protest go a whole lot farther and reach more people. Most conventional protests that the group has done have not reached nearly as many people as the ones where the women protest bare-chested.

The article goes on to say that some critics argue that "the emphasis on nudity overshadows the causes being highlighted." I disagree with this because although most news stations do emphasize the fact that they're protesting "in the nude" (I put that in quotations not because it's a quote but because I do not believe that breasts count as nudity) that does not stop people watching from becoming aware of the issues they are talking about especially since they often paint the slogans across their chests. Even if a lot of people watching those news stations see their actions as gross or vulgar, many others may think "What issue was so important that it pushed them to do this?" and then another person may join the side to fight for equality and peace.

The Free the Nipple movement is the topic between the two that I have more knowledge about and also more thoughts on because it's specifically about challenging the idea that breasts are inherently sexual or indecent so this one will be more my thoughts, opinions, and personal logic rather than quotes from a source although I did actually read 2 sources while writing this. Source 1 Source 2

For over a decade, protests for "Free the nipple" have been happening worldwide. These protests target the restrictions surrounding women's bodies in public (the laws that consider specifically women's breasts to be nudity) as well as the social norms (? is this the right phrase?) that cause many to view women's breasts as sexual, vulgar, and lewd.

Why is it that men can have their shirts off while working out, swimming, or even just walking down the street yet when women do the same they risk being arrested?

There is next to no difference between male and female chests other than the amount of tissue and social stigma. Even saying "the amount of tissue" is not always true. Under certain circumstances men can have similar extra tissue or even produce breast milk.

Also, breasts are not inherently sexual. Underneath the video I kept seeing comments from people saying things like, "But if a man had his weaner out then there'd be a problem." Which is just....... no?? Women's breasts are not genitalia so therefore, that argument is not comparable nor is it logic based (to be honest I don't think that sex organs are inherently sexual either but I might just be too ace and this is a conversation for another time). Boobs are literally just tissue. That's it.

I also saw comments from women wondering why people would even want to go out topless. To that I have to say that many women have been harassed or even arrested for breastfeeding in public. If all restrictions were taken away from breasts in public then it would practically be a lifesaver for mothers with young babies because oftentimes it's a lot more convenient and sanitary to do it in public rather than in a dirty public bathroom. Additionally, even if you personally don't see the appeal, it's mainly about the choice and the fact that it is specifically women's breasts that are restricted in most countries around the world.