"Assigning Sexual Meaning to Women's Breasts... Gender Discrimination and Human Rights Violation"
"The No-Bra Movement Controversy Itself Reflects Excessive Social Attention to Women's Bodies"
On June 2, 2018, the women's group Bulkkot FeminAction held a protest in Gangnam, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] MBC announcer Lim Hyun-joo posted a lengthy message on her Instagram on the 14th detailing her participation in the 'No Bra Challenge' and her thoughts on it, sparking controversy.
The term 'No Bra' refers to 'No Bra' or '? Bra,' meaning going about daily life without wearing a bra.
'No Bra' has long been a subject of debate. The reason is that not wearing a bra can make nipples protrude, which may embarrass viewers and be perceived as sexually provocative.
Given this situation, women are campaigning to eliminate the social atmosphere that views the female body as a sexual object. The intent is to resist the social prejudice where a man’s bare upper body is seen as healthy and attractive, while a woman’s breasts are interpreted solely through a sexual lens.
Announcer Lim criticized, saying, "Can we say there are many people who would naturally treat women who go braless without any discomfort? Before judging right or wrong, it is understandable to feel awkward simply because it is unfamiliar. However, we have witnessed through various cases that no bra has been made an object of unconditional criticism."
On June 2, 2018, members of 'Bulkkot FeminAction' staged a topless protest in front of Facebook Korea in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. They stated, "Facebook deletes women's nude photos by classifying them as obscene material, while it does not delete men's nude photos. This kind of discrimination must end," and argued, "Just as men's nudity is allowed, women's nudity should also be permitted." [Image source=Yonhap News]
◆ Burning Bras Demanding Gender Equality and Sexual Harassment Prohibition
The earliest known 'No Bra Movement' campaign occurred in September 1968 during the Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City, USA.
Outside the venue, about 200 women opposing the pageant performed a demonstration by throwing skirts, underwear, and fake eyelashes into a trash can they named the 'Freedom Trash Can.' They also burned all their bras in an event called 'Bra Burning.'
In 2009, an international women's rights organization formed in Ukraine protested for women's rights while exposing their chests and wearing flower crowns. In 2015, the 'Free The Nipple' movement arose in the United States, resisting public authorities regulating breast exposure.
In June last year, thousands of women in Switzerland went on strike demanding equal pay, gender equality, and a ban on sexual harassment. During the strike, women occupied roads for a day and burned their bras.
Taking off bras goes beyond simply not wearing underwear; it symbolizes resistance against social prejudices that oppress women.
◆ No Bra Movement Still Surrounded by Social Prejudice and Conflict
In June 2018, Facebook Korea deleted a photo posted by the women's group 'Bulkkot FeminAction' that included female nipples, citing obscenity. After criticism that women's bodies were being viewed solely as sexual objects, Facebook officially apologized and restored the deleted post.
Prior to this, worldwide challenges to Facebook’s ban on 'female nipples' had been ongoing. In 2015, the #freethenipplecampaign circulated online, mocking the policy by digitally adding male nipples to photos of topless women.
This campaign advocates for allowing breast exposure (free the nipple).
Controversies surrounding the 'No Bra Movement' continue to intensify. A female office worker in her 30s, Ms. A, said, "The social perspective on male toplessness versus female breast exposure is obviously skewed without needing explanation. The No Bra Movement is a voice against the sexualization of women's bodies."
Another female office worker in her 30s, Ms. B, expressed frustration, saying, "Whether or not to wear a bra is a personal choice. But the discriminatory gaze that inevitably follows that choice can only be borne by the woman who made it. This is discrimination."
There are differing opinions. Mr. C, a male office worker in his mid-30s, said, "I agree with women's opinions, but our society has certain norms, and men and women cannot be treated the same." He added, "I hope the No Bra Movement changes its approach."
◆ "The View That Women's Breasts Are Sexual Must Be Eradicated"
Bulkkot FeminAction, which led the No Bra Movement, explained the purpose of their topless events on their Facebook page: "We expose armpit hair and nipples to challenge social conventions." They stated, "What we assert is that unconditionally assigning sexual meaning to women's breasts regardless of context and controlling them is discrimination against women and a violation of human rights."
They continued, "We want to eliminate the perception that women's breasts are pornographic or equivalent to genitalia," adding, "Because of the sexualized gaze on women's breasts, women have controlled themselves by either covering their breasts or revealing them sexually. This gaze is a culture that must be eradicated and will be the first step toward viewing women without sexual context."
Some experts interpret the controversy over the No Bra Movement itself as revealing excessive social attention to women's bodies.
Professor Yoon Kim Ji-young of Konkuk University’s Body Culture Research Institute analyzed on YTN Radio's 'No Young-hee's Start Morning,' saying, "The fact that this issue is debated so fiercely clearly shows that women's bodies are the most important issue in our society."
She added, "Female celebrities and women's bodies are constantly dissected and judged down to the nanometer level from head to toe. In this reality, the fact that some parts of a woman's body can be exposed while others are unilaterally defined as obscene highlights how male-centered this issue is, which the No Bra debate has ignited."
She also pointed out, "The opinion that No Bra is 'embarrassing' unilaterally defines women's bodies as existing solely to stimulate male sexual desire."
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