The spike in popularity for the Free the Nipple movement seems to have come from Scout Willis, the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, who walked around New York topless.
People want to “free the female nipple” as an effort to achieve equality between men and women and their bodies.
Some women are tired of the sexualization of nipples and want the stigma against women’s nipples removed from the public mindset.
A documentary, released in December 2014, “Free the Nipple,” piqued the public’s interest. The documentary is based on true events in New York City.
In the documentary, the character Liv, who is played by Lola Kirk, describes how the female nipple should not be seen as something obscene and should not be illegal if exposed.
“What I can’t get my head around is that the nipple is the first thing we see when we are born. It nourishes us. Then somehow, the symbol of life becomes illegal,” she said in the film.
“I mean, my own mother was kicked out of church for breastfeeding me, and what’s even more annoying is while we are allowed to see murder, violence, and war on every channel, Janet Jackson’s nipple slips and it becomes the f**king crime of the century.”
MCCC student Clara Younglove agrees that breasts are not sexual, but she still doesn’t want to see them.
“I wouldn’t want to look at other women’s stuff, but at the same time [nipples] shouldn’t be sexualized, they aren’t sexual organs,” she said.
Student Kevin Stewart disagrees that breasts are indeed sexual.
“They may not be clinically considered sexual organs, but I find them highly erotic,” he said.
Many MCCC students feel that there should be equality for women, including the option to go topless, especially if they’re breastfeeding. But they still see a need for restrictions.
Student Phoenix Vaive thinks that as long as being topless is for a function, she understands the issue.
“I think it’s silly for Americans to adopt other cultures as a trend. In Africa it serves as a function for nursing mothers. If it is for women who breastfeed, then it makes sense,” she said.
“I do think that it is an equality issue because women are sexualized way more than men are. You’re fed from a boob and people can’t get over it.”
Student Kyle Bryant thinks that it wouldn’t matter if women went topless on the streets, but they should follow the same restrictions as men when entering businesses or restaurants.
“I think it can be appropriate in certain settings. I don’t see a real need for them to be nude, but on the streets it’s not hurting anyone. Now letting it into businesses and establishing rules would be difficult,” he said.
Some students are surprised that it is even an issue. Sam Boudrie thought that this was dealt with years ago.
“It’s like the civil rights movement, this is something we did years ago and we seemed to have already handled this issue of equality. I don’t think there should be a movement, it should just be,” he said.
There are a few students who disagree with the movement and think breasts are meant to be covered. Dawn Witmer is one of them.
“Adolescent boys wouldn’t know how to handle that. I, for one, wouldn’t want to do it and I would end up staring,” she said.
Marissa Drew also thinks that breasts are not meant for public situations.
“I feel like women’s chests are private. It would make me uncomfortable seeing that,” she said.
Overall, it appears the majority of students would not be bothered if women were to free their nipples.
This is summed up by Robie Heikkila.
“It’s just a nipple,” he said.