There are some serious issues with the "Free the Nipple" campaign that people are overlooking. Yes, of course, it’s great to be liberated and have equal rights as men. However, this campaign is targeted mostly towards white, thin, beautiful women and undermines the ‘everyday’ woman.
Lisa Esco, the founder of the movement, told TIME Magazine in 2013 that "being topless is what we had to do start a real dialogue about equality. This is not about being topless; this about equality, it’s about having that choice. A lot of people are not informed about the equal pay thing. Women still get paid 78 cents for every dollar a man makes, but very few people know about this. But if there’s a group of girls running around topless all over the United States rallying for equal pay, then it would be making headline news, don’t you think?"
Of course I agree with equal pay for women, but I’m still unsure of how showing my nipples will help that. Of course, the mission is part of a larger one to desexualize the woman’s body by creating some normalcy in nudity. But really, it’s a lesson in thin privilege.
When you go to a concert, or even see photos online of women "freeing the nipple," who is in the photo? Go ahead, Google it.
Of course there are a few people of color there, but for the most part, it’s white and thin women who feel confident enough to bare their skin. I’m all for inner confidence and self-appreciation, but it comes at a cost to the other people you are trying to protect: all women.
The champions of this campaign include Miley Cyrus, Naomi Campbell, and Scout Willis. All of these women have done some sort of modeling and have thin bodies, so no one bats an eye when they pose with a little nip slip.
In August, Miley Cyrus went on Jimmy Kimmel to discuss her trip to a nudist beach. In the interview, she said “it was insane, the people that were choosing to be nude! I saw so much. It was extremely questioning of maybe I may never... It was terrifying. Gravity is gnarly. After a certain point, gravity takes a toll that is just so unforgiving... It's insane.”
So, basically, ‘’feminist’’ Miley Cyrus is limiting her "Free the Nipple" campaign to only people who have perky tits and no fat rolls in sight.
This is the problem with the whole campaign. You want to campaign for equality? Fine. But be aware that chubby people may want to participate too.
