Ukraine's Topless Warriors

[inkydoo]

Interesting article in The Atlantic about Femen, a feminist group in the Ukraine:

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/11/femen-ukraines-topless-warriors/265624/

Much of their original impetus was a reaction to Ukraine's growing sex industry, and while the article doesn't talk specifically about camming, it touches on similar issues. Figured some here would find it a worthwhile read.

 

[Jupiter551]

Bravo, all hot female activists should go topless

 

[Shaun__]

I have never liked activist who spend excessive amounts of time explaining to people how they are being taken advantage of and have to stop what they have chosen to do with their lives.

 

[AssCork]

Interesting that the "Femen" movement protests both over-conservatism (maintained by the Russian Orthodox church and it's ties to the local gov't) and the Ukrainina sex industry.
I do believe they're vying for a middle-ground, or to put it another way - They are topless-protesting for mediocrity (the fuck?).
Perhaps it's my Western bias, but I'm surprised a protest-group that employs bare-tactics to combat both of these trends is having success.

Regardless, I'm all for it. But I do find the conflicting dichotomy very interesting....akin to "fucking for virginity"

From the article;

Anti-Conservative (paraphrased)

...the patriarch...strode down the red carpet...Zhdanova ripped off her t-shirt, jumped over the rope, and sprinted towards him, raising her fists and shrieking...an incantation uttered by Russian Orthodox priests during exorcisms to drive the devil from the possessed.

(Video here)

Anti-Sex-Industry (paraphrased)

Founded in Kiev in 2008 to protest the country's burgeoning sex industry ("Ukraine is not a brothel!" was the slogan of their first -- and still clothed -- demonstration, which aimed to dissuade foreigners from visiting prostitutes in the capital), Femen has since evolved into a vanguard of militant activists who have dubbed themselves the...."watch-bitches of democracy"...some of whom demonstrate topless...

 

[Nordling]

Why do you think it's a dichotomy? I don't see any inconsistency between hating authoritarianism manifested in religious patriarchy and at the same time disliking objectification of women. You may not agree with the latter, but there's no dichotomy.

 

[bob]

interestingly....the article corroborates -politically- everything i've learned from ukrainian models.....sure, there are stories about the horrors of the "sex industry" in the ukraine.....i'm not real smart about it, so will reserve comment, other than to salute these women for taking their country by it's balls and squeezing a little.

but the fact is that -like many emerging mainly capitalistic-under-the-umbrella-of-new-found-"democracy" (aka freedom) regimes- is that opprotunities for most women is a sham....

and it is -sadly- what the idea of "emerging" is all about....it's gonna take time....cultural bias is not easily overcome

and it would take a lot more time if there wasn't a global media that brings the message of these women to a more mainstream audience

 

[inkydoo]

Interesting that the "Femen" movement protests both over-conservatism (maintained by the Russian Orthodox church and it's ties to the local gov't) and the Ukrainina sex industry.

Both groups exhibit similar behavior, devaluing the will of the individual (especially when those individuals are women) and maintaining power structures that exclusively place men (and generally misogynistic men) in positions to dictate expectations and behavior over others.

I think one of their recent protests demonstrates that any apparent dichotomy is only surface deep. I think this image sums it up quite nicely.