Feminists In Paris Walk Top-less to Protest Right-Wing Fascism, Triggering the MAGAs and MRAs

In a bold act of both political protest and reclamation of the public space, hundreds of women in Paris, known to be members of the feminist group Femen, marched the streets top-less to protest the global rise of right-wing fascism. They were part of the tens of thousands of people who took to streets on the occasion of Internecinal Women’s Day in Paris.

The collective organizing the rallies, Grève féministe (“Feminist Strike”), said 250,000 people had taken to the streets across France at some 150 demonstrations, with 120,000 people in Paris alone. Though, Police put the turnout in Paris at 47,000 people (France 24)

The Femen activists marched topless with either the US or the Russian national flag, marked with a swastika, painted on their chests.

A video of the top-less activists have been going viral on social media in which women of various body types can be seen bare chested raising angry slogans and making the hand gestures of the Nazi salute. The words “Fascist epidemic” can also be seen painted on their bodies.

Apart from the political statement the protest is also a bold way to reclaim women’s access to public space which is fraught with sexual violence. Here is one rare occasion when women’s bodies are not subject to sexualization and exploitation. You can see a naked body but you will dare not sexualize her because here she is the one who has total control of the narrative. She is an angry protestor speaking up against the right-wing politics and fascism both of which are anti-women.

This is not the first time that feminists have put up a nude protest. The group FEMEN is known for such top-less and purported anarchist protests. It is their way of provoking a response and putting attention to women’s issues.

In the Indian state of Manipur, brave women posed naked with placards in their hands which read “Indian Army Rape Us” to protest against The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The act grants unchecked powers to the military which have been often misused by the forces deployed in Manipur. There have been particular allegations of sexual violence by armed forces against local women. Women across history has staged thought provoking eyeball grabbing angry protests including arson and rioting.

But the Paris protest is different because it is not just about women’s issues but a protest against global geo-politics that affects us all. And that’s the triggering part for Men’s Rights Activists and Right-Wing groups like the MAGA supporters in US and Hindutva supporters in India.

The internet is seeing a barrage of hate comments against the top-less feminist march. They are being slut-shamed, body-shamed and called by labels such as ugly and moron. Most of the hate seems to be coming from US based accounts since the group targeted Donald Trum, Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin. Many of the hate comments are also from other women.

“Morons. Uneducated, out of shape, unattractive idiots,” writes X handle Melissa Roberts.

“As A Women I Am Disgusted & Appalled. Its Women Like This That Are Putting Us Back Decades,” says an account with a blue tick and who describes herself as “Mom of 3 Fighting For Our Children Uncomfortable Conversations”

Women have always been objectified and sexualized by the world systems and norms created by men. The male artists made nude painting, the male dominated advertising industry placed women’s naked/semi-naked bodies next to things they want to sell to men like cars and bikes. Women are stripped and paraded naked by men to punish her or her community.

The one time a women bares are body for political protest, men get triggered.