Why are only our nipples censored?

“Women and men are equal in rights and obligations. Freedoms that are available to one group must be available to all.” With this basic and necessary reflection, the Manilo Livre Movement manifesto, launched this week in São Paulo, begins. The premise is simple: make society reflect on this selective censorship, which prohibits the display of the female nipple (and ONLY the female nipple).

The action is provocative: spreading photos of naked breasts, male and female, through the streets. “Many people find this discussion silly, but I think it is emblematic, because the reason why the female breast cannot be shown is the gaze of men. I mean, because of male desire, are we going to deprive women of the freedom to enjoy their bodies as they please? We need to question that”, believes psychologist Letícia Bahia, who idealized the project together with photographer Julia Rodrigues.

Since Saturday (12) the movement’s street signs can be seen throughout the capital of São Paulo in places such as Largo da Batata, Rua Augusta, Avenida Vital Brasil and Praça 14 Bis, but the project intends to be global. The #mamilolivre website is available in 14 languages ​​and invites everyone to print the images or take other photos to spread nipples around.

The Brazilian project joins forces with two North American movements: Free The Nipple and TaTa Top. Created by a group of friends in New York, Free The Nipple is today the biggest movement for the freedom of female nipples. The initiative has even won a film of the same name and is now supported by celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne and Lena Dunham. It all started in 2005 when a woman was arrested in Manhattan for being topless, and the state of NY had allowed the practice 15 years before! Because of this, several women decided to protest with their breasts on display and summon allies around the country. According to data from the campaign, today 37 American states still prohibit the display of female nipples, including for breastfeeding purposes.

In support of Free The Nipple, the TaTa Top movement eventually spawned a bikini top brand featuring hyper-realistic nipple prints. The idea came up in Chicago, when a group of friends revolted when they found out that German tourists had been arrested in the US for showing their breasts on a beach. In Germany (as well as in several European countries) female topless, and even the total nudity of men and women, is no longer a big taboo. There, it is possible to see naked bodies in several lakes, beaches and even in urban parks.

In July of that year, American artist Micol Hebron again drew attention to the subject by having a photo with exposed breasts censored on social networks. Disgusted, she posted an image of a male nipple saying “If you post pictures of women topless, please use this image of an acceptable male nipple to cover up your unacceptable female nipples. Thank you for making the world safer.” The protest soon went viral and was joined by women around the world.

And here in Brazil… wouldn’t it be paradoxical to have so much modesty around the nipples, even when wearing the smallest bikinis in the world? “I don’t see a paradox. In fact, if you think about it from the point of view of patriarchy, it’s absolutely consistent. Nudity is allowed in erotic contexts, in situations where male pleasure is at stake. Any newsstand has more nudity than the #mamilolivre panels; female bodies grace the stage of TV shows; women with little clothing, or even naked, are one of the main attractions of Carnival. But if a woman decides to tan her breasts, or even breastfeeds in public, it’s a scandal!”, problematizes Letícia Bahia.

And as expected, unfortunately #mamilolivre is also already reaping the fruits of censorship. While this article was being written, Letícia’s and the movement’s accounts were blocked on Facebook. Coincidentally, on the same day the project was launched, Bahian singer Karina Buhr also had her account blocked. The punishment was due to a post showing the cover of the album Selvática, in which she herself appears with her breasts uncovered. It’s Witch Hunt 2.0!

Would the same thing happen if these images were covered in ~acceptable male nipples~? Is it not time for all of us to question how valid the selective rules imposed on our bodies are? What goes for some shouldn’t go for everyone and ALL?

So can you, Mark Zuckerberg?