Passionate people often go to great lengths to get their viewpoint across. Protestors typically hold rallies, wave signs and scream their messages from megaphones. Some protests get violent and some get naked.
FEMEN is a global women’s movement that aims to fight against social and sexual inequality by going topless. The messages they declare are frequently painted across their bare chests in an effort to call attention to important issues such as women’s rights, democracy, religion and corruption in the sex industry. Their motto is “My Body My Manifesto.”
Wednesday, they made an appearance in the Spanish parliament to protest against the government’s plans to overturn the current abortion law. Abortions are allowed until 14 weeks and up to 22 weeks if the fetus is deformed. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy wants to reform the law to make abortions legal only in circumstances of rape or risk of physical or mental harm to the mother. In addition, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 would have to seek permission from their parents.
Three FEMEN protesters disrupted Spanish parliament and stripped off their t-shirts to reveal painted messages on their chests. They straddled the barrier wall between the public gallery and the lawmakers shouting “abortion is sacred.”
Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-bz8zb4TJg
Following their removal from parliament, they were taken into police custody. They could face a hefty fine or up to a year in prison for the stunt.
On Oct. 2, three members of FEMEN Canada disrupted a meeting of the National Assembly in Montreal to protest against the crucifix that hangs in the legislature. The Parti Québécois government refuses to include the national assembly crucifix among religious symbols forbidden under its proposed charter of values, because they claim it is a part of their heritage and therefore exempt.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/femen-quebec-defends-group-s-topless-tactics-1.1894420
And one day earlier, members of FEMEN Sweden stormed the Court of Appeal building in Stockholm to denounce the decision to acquit six men who raped a 15-year-old girl. They displayed messages of “Stop legalizing rape!”
Some feminist groups call FEMEN “stupid.” The leader of FEMEN, Xenia Chernyshova, says that their activists present “real bodies” as a “statement about how society sees women’s bodies.” Instead of sexualizing their bodies, they aim to empower them.
While their form of activism is extreme, it is clear that they are deeply passionate about the issues they speak out against. Women’s bodies have always been restricted by rules that don’t apply to men. Why can’t women expose their breasts in public? Because it’s all about sexualization, and that is exactly the point FEMEN is trying to get across. In some parts of America, it’s perfectly legal to go topless, but women hesitate because of discomfort from the accusatory stares. It’s still socially unacceptable in our culture for women to bare their breasts. As a woman, I respect what FEMEN is trying to do, although I also agree that women want to feel sexy and we equate our own bodies with that. It is not only men sexualizing women, it’s women sexualizing themselves as well. We know that our sexuality can hold great power over men, and many women use that to their advantage. We cannot have it both ways.