Nipple. Some people flinch at the sound of that word, and others are completely fine with it. Men have nipples, women have nipples, even dogs have nipples. So why are people so uncomfortable with something that is so familiar? If someone were to search Free the Nipple online, they would find six topless women running down the busy city streets of New York City, wearing purple and pink capes. Free the Nipple is an equality movement that empowers women across the United States, and the globe, to stand up against female oppression and censorship. This movement is catching fire in the United States and raises awareness to issues that affect more than half the population. Women deserve the right to breastfeed their baby whenever it be necessary and Free the Nipple fights for women to gain that right in every state and country. Not only does it affect women’s lives, this movement touches people of every gender because it pushes society to confront the unmatched censorship between a woman’s body and violence.
It is completely understandable for people to have questions and concerns regarding this movement. Why do they have to be topless? Why is it necessary for them to be so ‘in your face’ about it? What’s wrong with the way things are now? These are all legitimate question that raise genuine concern. It is strange for a woman to be topless running down the street. That is a fact. If a man were to do it, it would be rationalized because maybe it is hot that day, or maybe he’s exercising. Men are shirtless on the beach and yet women are scrutinized for feeding their own child in public.
The real problem lies with how society views nudity in comparison to other issues. Violence is exploited every single day on television, in the newsstands, and online, and stories get recycled day in and day out. Yet if there were to be a ‘nip slip’ then it would be considered too graphic to show on the media front, and be talked about for days on end. Is that the message society wants to encourage? That violence is accepted but a woman’s body is not? This is why Free the Nipple is so important. It forges a discussion that forces people to take a step back and question why they are so uncomfortable with something as natural as breastfeeding, yet so compliant with the brashness of violence. The world we are living in today is constantly evolving and adjusting to revolutionary ideas people have to offer. Let your freak flag fly people, and free the nipple.
