Free the nipple
Free the Nipple is an equality movement focused upon the double standards regarding the censorship of female breasts started by activist and filmmaker Lina Esco.[1] The campaign is not a crusade that exclusively advocates for women to bare their chests at any and all given times; rather, it seeks to strip society of its tendencies toward the sexualization of the female upper body, addressing hypocrisies and inconsistencies in American culture and legal systems that enforce its taboos. Ultimately, the campaign resolves to decriminalize female toplessness in the US and empower women across western nations in a greater effort toward global gender equality.
History
Despite changes in statutes and regulations legalizing toplessness for women in a number of states, women are still at risk for being charged with public indecency, disturbing the peace, or lewd behavior.[2] As a case in point, a Phoenix Feeley was arrested and incarcerated for being topless in the state of New York in the year 2005. Because these charges were proven erroneous—considering female toplessness had been legal for nearly 15 years in the state of New York—Feeley was released and later received $29,000 in damages.[3]
In 2015, the campaign received attention in Iceland and was supported by MP Björt Ólafsdottir, who posted a photo of herself topless, in solidarity with a trolled teenage activist[4]
Indecent exposure laws
According to nudity and public decency laws in America, New York, Hawaii, Maine, Ohio, and Texas are the select handful of states that have explicitly legalized toplessness of both men and women in public places. Conversely, most states in the US note either explicitly or implicitly that any kind of exposure of the female areola is an act of indecent exposure and therefore a criminal offense. Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington are the only states whose laws expressly differentiate breast-feeding mothers from performances of "public lewdness."[5]
It is not inherently illegal to be topless in the United Kingdom. In 2009, the Metropolitan Police of London told the BBC 'it was not a crime to appear naked in public'[6] In the UK, it is technically legal to sunbathe naked on any beach, and naked bike rides occur each year in London.[7] However, Stephen Gough has spent several years in prison in Scotland for breaching an order preventing him being naked in public. In Eugene, Oregon it is totally legal to be topless downtown.
Online censorship
A reflection of American culture, Internet culture too perpetuates and enforces taboos surrounding the female nipple as many social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram prohibit any and all "graphic content" that pictures a woman's areola.[8] Instagram's Community Guideline's demands of its users, "Keep your clothes on." However, this rule seems only to apply to images that contain women's nipples as they are promptly removed by Instagram unless the areola itself is covered. Contrastingly, photos featuring topless men are generally not subject to this regulation. Chelsea Handler,[9] Miley Cyrus,[10] Rihanna and Scout Willis[11] have each received backlash from Instagram for sharing photos of their chests exposed. Willow Smith also had a post removed because it pictured her wearing a shirt with a pair of women's nipples printed on it, though the shirt itself was fairly conservative in cut.[12]
The #freethenipple hashtag on Instagram has been hijacked by hardcore porn, which campaigners have urged users to report to Instagram
Film
In 2014, director Lina Esco released her American feature film Free the Nipple. The film is centered around a group of young, passionate women who take to the streets of New York City as they protest the many legal and cultural taboos regarding female breasts by way of publicity stunts, graffiti installations, and First Amendment lawyers. Originally shot in 2012, the film was nearly impossible to release which therefore prompted Esco to start the movement in December 2013. [13][14]
References
- ^ Jenny Kutner (2014-12-16). ""Maybe America just needs a big blast of boobies": Lina Esco tells Salon about her topless crusade to free the nipple". Salon.com. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
- ^ Gerson Uffalussy, Jennifer. "The Weird, Wild Legal History of Breasts and Nipples". Yahoo, California, 12 December 2014. Retrieved on 20 January 2015.
- ^ NBC News. "NYC pays $29,000 over topless arrest" Associated Press, New York, 18 June 2007. Retrieved on 1 March 2015.
- ^ http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/06/free-the-nipple-liberation-photos-breasts
- ^ HG.org. "Nudity and Public Decency Laws in America". HG.org. Retrieved on 20 January 2015.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8235959.stm
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/33092812/this-is-where-you-can-be-naked-in-public-in-the-uk
- ^ Esco, Lina. "Facebook Wages War on the Nipple" Huffington Post, New York, 7 January 2014. Retrieved on 20 January 2015.
- ^ Marcotte, Amanda. "Chelsea Handler Stands Up for Freed Nipples". [The Slate Group], 31 October 2014. Retrieved on 20 January 2015.
- ^ Hathaway, Jay. "Miley Cyrus Frees Her Nipples in Topless Instagram Photo". [Gawker], New York, 29 December 2014. Retrieved on 2 March 2015.
- ^ Rosenfield, Kat. "Rihanna Joins Scout Willis In #FreeTheNipple Topless Instagram Campaign". [MTV], New York, 29 May 2014. Retrieved on 2 March 2015.
- ^ Bacardi, Francesca. "Willow Smith's "Topless" Picture Is the Latest Instagram Naked Photo Controversy". [E! Online], California, 22 January 2015. Retrieved on 2 March 2015.
- ^ Esco, Lina. Free the Nipple. Disruptive Films Inc., 2014. Retrieved on 20 January 2015.
- ^ "The Naked Truth Behind the 'Free the Nipple' Movement". Etonline.com. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2015-04-04.