Facebook has recently been the poster child for some serious sexualization of the human body. The historic photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, of a nine-year-old girl fleeing a napalm attack during the Vietnam War is undoubtedly one of the most important photos of all time. Published by the New York Times in June of 1972, the photo played a large role in altering the public's view on the Vietnam War.
After being posted to Facebook by multiple parties, Facebook removed the photo and posts, practically immediately, claiming that the nude girl in the photo was a violation of community standards and should have been blurred. Since the incident, Espen Egil Hasen, editor in chief of the Aftenposten, Norway's largest newspaper, published a letter directed to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, regarding the situation—a letter that when posted to Facebook, was also deleted.
As of Friday, September 9, Facebook has noted that they will allow for the posting of the photo upon making the distinction that it is in fact a historic image. Prior to coming to this conclusion, Facebook based their decision for removing the photo on the explanation that, "..it's difficult to create a distinction between allowing a photograph of a nude child in one instance and not others," said a Facebook spokesperson to The Guardian.
Even though society seems to finally be more comfortable with aspects of life that should have been accepted in the first place, nudity is still a concept that sparks heavy controversy. The natural act of breastfeeding is still seen by some as a shameful thing that should be done in private. A woman's nipple is still, in some unknown, mysterious way, different than that of a man's. And now, a historic documentary photo depicting the horrific aftermath of a napalm attack during the Vietnam War has been seen for nothing more than a photo of a naked child.
Just because the human body can be associated with sexual acts doesn't mean that's its sole purpose. If seeing anything in relation to a naked body only sparks indecent thoughts, a question regarding the level of maturity comes into play. With a picture so historic and notable as that of the napalm girl, one can only wonder why it was even a question as to whether the photo should have been removed.
With the world becoming more and more accepting, it seems only fit that we learn to accept the most natural and genuine form of ourselves. Of course there are instances in which nudity shouldn't be allowed or seen as appropriate, but in terms of such simple and basic cases, there shouldn't be a question.
