In the world there is a huge number of movements that uphold certain ideals and values. Some of them are registered, others not. Some are almost unknown, others attract attention with loud shocking actions. Among the latter is the Ukrainian women's movement Femen.
Femen is an unregistered female Ukrainian movement, famous for its high-profile shares. Their distinctive feature is that during the course of the activist movement, they expose their breasts, thereby attracting the attention of others.
It would be a mistake to interpret Femen’s activity as purely feminist - that is, aimed at women obtaining all civil rights. Given the “calling card” of the group’s activists - breast exposure - this movement is referred to as radical exhibitionism by experts. Femen activists themselves call their main tasks the protection of women and their rights, the struggle for freedom of speech, against prostitution and sexual harassment. The main goal of the movement, according to activists, is the adoption of a law according to which not a prostitute, but a client who buys her services will be held accountable in Ukraine.
The Femen movement is not registered; there is no exact information on the number of its members. The figures are 40 people (activists participating in topless actions), 300 people (do not participate in such actions), and even 15, 000 - the total number of participants in the movement. But no more than 5-6 activists usually take part in real protests.
During the existence of the movement, its participants carry out a number of high-profile actions. One of the first was a rally outside the building of the Ministry of Education and Science in November 2009. Activists demanded an investigation into the sexual harassment of teachers of educational institutions to students. The incentive for the action was the arrest of the rector of one of the universities, suspected of filming porn films with the participation of minor girls.
Femen participants have repeatedly protested against female prostitution in Ukraine. In December 2009, they held a high-profile rally in Kiev near the InterContinental hotel, the occasion was the contest "Miss Ukraine Universe - 2009" (Miss Ukraine Universe). Activists "Femen" claimed that the models at the beauty contest are just a commodity.
Girls from Femen repeatedly held actions in defense of freedom of speech, opposed political regimes. One of the last was the rally in support of the Russian group Pussy Riot, four members of which were sentenced to two years in prison for holding a "punk prayer" in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In particular, a member of the movement Inna Shevchenko sawed off a wooden cross in the center of Kiev, thereby expressing her protest against religions that, in her words, encroach on women's freedom.
