What is Femen? It’s a feminist protest group which originated in Kiev, Ukraine. It began in 2008, was founded by Anna Hutsol, and consists mainly of female university students between the ages of 18 and 20, although there are a few men in the organization. The group original goals were to “develop leadership, intellectual and moral qualities” for Ukraine women. Among the things it’s protested in the past is the sex industry and prostitution, religions that discriminate against women, and anti-abortion legislation.
Some might call it a radical group because many of its protests are done topless. Of the members, about 20 perform topless protests while the rest (around 300) remain clothed.
Why topless? Because according to Inna Shevechenko, the leader of the group, it was only once they started protesting topless that people began to pay attention. She likens their nudity to a weapon that works in a peaceful way.
This week, Femen opened an international training camp in Paris to expand its operations to outside the Ukraine. The group picked Paris as its location for its international headquarters because Shevchenko called France the center of feminism. When I read about the training, it reminded me of the military a bit. It is mental as well as physical. Recruits must run, climb, and be ready to confront police during protests.
This week, Femen appeared before the Justice Ministry in France. Seven women dropped their coats, with words of protest painted on their bare breasts. The seven women were protesting a gang rape trial in which several of those accused were acquitted and the rest got suspended sentences. Shevchenko called Paris “not the capital of love, but the capital of rapists.” The group demanded that the accused rapists be put in jail and if not, the group would “catch them and castrate them.”
They got the attention of many, including Sister Marie Veronique, a Dominican nun, who stopped to pose with several protesters. Sister Marie Veronique said, “If this demonstration is against gang rape, I think they’re absolutely right to do this.”