Intersectionality in feminism

Intersectionality: why “free the nipple,” is not that progressive

Miley Cyrus’s support and participation in going braless was so feminist. She's literally doing so much for the community and challenging toxic restraints. Isn’t she? Because why wouldn’t taking your bra off and posting with ‘#freethenipple, a movement that neglects women of different ethnicities, be the perfect face of feminism?

For a long time, the lingerie industry has been profiting from women in the name of comfort. When in actuality, most modern bras encourage and conform to men’s views of what a chest should look like. This led to bras being uncomfortable and nothing but a product of extreme body standards and hyper-consumerism. As a rebellion against this ideology of constraint bras, the “Free the nipple,” movement set out in the late 2000s. This movement obviously aims to dismantle standards of what a woman’s body should be like or how it should be presented, and it is something that affects many. On the other hand, how privileged are you if your biggest struggle with sexism is the bra industry? Of course, it is an issue that needs to be resolved however it shouldn't be the priority in one’s mind as an activist.

Many modern-day feminists only seem to tackle issues that affect privileged women. Such activism as such only brings attention to surface-level issues that don't even have solemn impacts. Women of colour (WOC) and their issues are constantly dismissed, ignored and downplayed. Sexism does not affect all equally. An issue that affects white women negatively, affects WOC even further as they experience overlapping oppression regarding both race and gender. The “Free the nipple (FTP),” movement is a prime example of why Intersectionality in feminism is important or as a matter of fact, in all forms of activism . The movement fails to acknowledge diversity as it is one led by and aimed for white women. For instance, the protests within this movement taking place in the west, specifically in the US, consisting of topless or braless women fighting against the sexualization they face. The majority of these protests are surrounded by the police for safety reasons and to avoid any sort of assault. However this ‘protection’ is only provided to white women. For example, black women in these protests are treated with racial prejudice due to prolonged systemic racism inculcated in society .Laura Patterson, a writer, held a study in 2016 where she interviewed several people in a topless protest. One of her informants, who was black, stated that they felt vulnerable and the experience was not liberating. Similarly, another informant mentioned how if the protest had more black women, then the police force present, instead of providing safety, would rather wait on them to make wrong move as an excuse to arrest them. Furthermore, the entire concept of wearing revealing clothing as a display of liberty and feminism is also extremely exclusive. To begin with, not every woman views that as a freeing experience and expression of oneself. Secondly, not everyone lives in a supportive environment to be able to do that. Many reside in countries where their culture prevents them from taking part in movements as such publicly.

The lack of intersectional feminism is somewhat rooted in white women not acknowledging their racial privilege and regarding their struggle as equivalent to that of women of colour. In addition, this is generally found within other groups as well. For instance, white men who are part of the LGBTQ+ often community disregard their upper hand in terms of race and gender behind their sexuality as a means to not hold the responsibility for how they might be a part of a problem that affects women and people of colour.

This article is not just relative to the topless protests but any and all forms of activism. Significant movements in society should be more inclusive and recognize the strain of all those affected. It is essential for intersectionality to be a part of feminism as otherwise, it alienates, separates, and divides communities from each other.