Thursday, March 26, 2015
It's about equality #FreetheNipple
While reading about Alison's struggles to wear clothes "meant" for men (particularly on page 73), I couldn't help but relate it to the Free the Nipple campaign that is occurring in our society right now. In case you aren't aware, the campaign is an equality movement focused on addressing the double standards of female breasts censorship. Just as Alison should have the freedom to wear whatever she wants without feeling ashamed, my breast shouldn't be over sexualized to the point of censorship, especially not when a man's nipple can be displayed freely. Here is a video discussing the movement in more detail, if you are interested: #FreetheNipple
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I'm really glad you shared this! I had not heard of this movement before but I think it is an incredibly legitimate cause. Throughout _Fun Home_ Alison is made to wear clothes she is uncomfortable with and cover herself in normatively-gendered ways, by her father who is also being censored in his own right. It is fascinating that clothing can censor or stifle one's bodily autonomy and identity expression in such dramatic ways. On page 73, we witness how happy Alison is when she is allowed to bare her chest like the boys her age. I imagine she and many other women would express the same joy in 2015 if this activity were legal in places other than NYC.
ReplyDeleteI feel this is a valid point. Throughout the book we see her drawing pictures of the young Alison without a shirt on, and she looks like a boy. Maybe this masculine resemblance is why we Westerners think that it is okay up until maturation of the female body. I would really love to check this movement out and some of their campaigns Morgan!! I think it is also interesting to note that during the powerpoint presentation, our speaker had mentioned that it was difficult for Bechdel to draw herself. Many of the drawings make her seem like a male. I wonder if this is because the male benefactor of herself was more dominant in her imagination and creativity with her literature.
ReplyDeleteI too have never heard about this campaign so thank you for introducing us to something new. Above me Eileen stated, "It is fascinating that clothing can censor or stifle one's bodily autonomy and identity expression in such dramatic ways." I can truly attest to this based on the fact that at the beginning of Fun Home I could have sworn that the young Alison illustrated in the opening pages was a boy. Once I properly made the connection that she was actually female, it started to remind me of myself when I was that age. I was considered to be very tom-boyish in my younger years based on the way I dressed. I grew up as the only girl in my neighborhood which led me to feel more comfortable around the boys in school instead of the girls. Eventually I grew out of my tom-boy stage and got more in touch with my feminine side, but it interesting to think of the progression of body image and how I was perceived to be more boyish when I was younger based on what I chose to wear and who I hung out with.
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