Feminism or Femen-ism

Where ever you live, probably you heard or saw one of the ”topless” demonstrations of Ukrainian-based activist group, FEMEN. This time, they were (for less than 2 minutes) at the Sultanahmet Square, right in the middle of Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosques, until taken into custody by the Turkish Police. The message they aimed to deliver were not clear as they were removed super rapidly by over-experienced security forces. But it is kind of obvious: It was the international women’s day and Turkey is notorious with its record on women’s rights. Yet, I couldn’t stop asking myself if the act of demonstration was more important than the message it supposed to convey, when seeing the professionally produced video, fashion-show like photo-shootings, and over simplified, dichotomic representation of ”violent muslims” versus ”naked, beautiful activists”…