MOMENT | Free The Nipple
When I was putting together the Tomboy Style book, about three years ago now, I remember having a few heated debates with my editor about the inclusion of nudity. She wanted it, I didn't. Her opinion was that it would make the book more artful, and mine was that it might prohibit younger people from buying the book. It's not that I disagreed with her point, it's just that my whole objective was to write the book that I wish existed when I was growing up. I ended up winning the argument, but I'm thinking a lot now about why this argument had to exist at all. With the buzz surrounding the forthcoming film Free The Nipple, protests of the censorship on Instagram (even when it's "artful"), performance artists taking to the streets of NYC in the pursuit of nipple equality, and celebs like artist Shepherd Fairy (pictured above) and Rhianna weighing in, there's a lot to process. It all has me asking why our social custom is so wildly different for men and women when it comes to the public bearing of breasts? I'm not jonesing to go topless in public by any means (even on an Australian or French beach where it's de rigueur), but I certainly don't think it should mean jail time (up to three years and $2500 fine for exposed female breasts in Louisiana). In 35 states it's illegal for a woman to be topless, five of those states even include breastfeeding.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on what may be the feminist
Comments
Of course the only solution isn't to become more comfortable with nudity but to instead start having sex with our clothes on.
In all seriousness though I wish the Free the Nipple campaign was a bit more "beaches of St. Tropez" and a bit less "agitprop" esthetics-wise.
"of the year" meaning, most talked about, publicized, and timely.
I agree that health clinics closing is a more important on-going issue and that makes this concept seem insignificant and ridiculous.
It's "sexy" so it gets all the press, but so does Kim Kardashian. There are a lot of more concerning issues about the marginalization of and systematic discrimination against women.
All of that aside, I do not feel that women have the "right" to be topless in public (breastfeeding aside). To me, that's nudity and I do not think men OR women have the right to be nude in public. I don't view it as unequal.
Good point, I appreciate the feedback. I guess what's frustrating to me is that although you (and many others don't view it as unequal) it IS legally unequal. A man has the right to take off his shirt and a woman doesn't. I'm not saying people should be naked everywhere, I just feel it is unjust that a woman can go to jail for something that a man can do casually. It's a complex issue, but interesting to think about, at least I think so.
In terms of the upper/middle class white feminist issue, I understand that the Free the Nipple Campaign is less urgent, but I'm not sure why it has to be categorized as a class thing. I agree clinics closing, and the treatment of women across the globe in less democratized nations is a much bigger and more important issue, but does that mean we shouldn't talk freely about smaller social issues as well (on a style blog)?
I'm sure this is topic is indeed getting press because it's "sexy", but I also think censorship, especially in the age of social media, is a real issue too, and it illuminates an interesting form of inequality.
Again, not saying it's the most important feminist issue, just the most talked about and unique to this year.
Hope that makes sense. :)
It was ok in the 80's, I remember that, but it was more because everything was very permissive at this time, not in a sexual way at all. Today, everything is more complicated, hatred against women and people in general is everywhere (oh thank you internet by the way)and we will need a lot more of Broad City or Girls to make the women feel free and normal with their body.
But this Free the nipple thing, I just...don't really get it.
I mean, my boobs are my business (and my boyfriend's one sometimes) and that's IT !
-Matt
-Matt
And thank you for posting empowering things daily as well.
~Canadian reader
Domestic violence is the real issue, Australian Statistics show that one in six murders are of women by partners or former partners. According to the ABS 1.5million women have experienced sexual or physical violence.
I suspect these type of stats are not limited to Australia.
Freeing the nipple should be seen as a metaphor, that women should have equal rights to those afforded to men, not simply the right to walk around without your shirt on.
Julie
I believe women should have equal rights, but as Marilyn Monroe said, "Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition." In other words, men and women are different. Equal, but different. And I am so thankful for that. This doesn't mean my life is governed by restrictions -- I often camp in the mountains alone, I've lived in the Middle East, my life is certainly not dominated by fear or restrictions. Nevertheless, I am proud to be a woman. I am proud to be different than men. I don't to be the same as men. That sounds profoundly unappealing. The ultimate anti-feminist statement is to assume that true equality requires "being like men." How insulting to women!
Men don't have breasts. It's not unequal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiS8q_fifa0
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