Bara Bröst

Bara Bröst is a neo- feminist action alliance in Sweden that was founded in 2007. The primary goal is that women are allowed to show themselves with a bare upper body (" topless ") to the same extent as men . From the perspective of the alliance, the different treatment of women constitutes discrimination. The activists' main point of criticism is the prohibition of bare-breasted bathing for women in Swedish swimming pools.

The words bara bröst have a double meaning, namely just breasts , but also bare breasts . A comparable play on words would be “just breasts”.

After great media interest in 2007, things became quieter around the alliance in 2008. Since 2009, when Malmö allowed bathing without a shirt, which was not well received, nothing has been known of actions by the alliance or reactions by the authorities. The alliance's website was last updated in August 2008 and went offline in the second half of 2010.

Goals and self-image

Bara Bröst sees itself as a politically and religiously independent network that does not regard societal norms that are equally valid for both sexes, such as any definition of decency, as discrimination and campaigns against them. From the perspective of the alliance, the situation must be changed so that in all places where the appearance of bare-chested men is accepted, women are also allowed to do so.

In the broader context, Bara Bröst sees this issue as a symbolic question. She shows that society sexualizes the female body, while this does not apply to the male body. Women are required to be able to deal with exposed men's bodies in public, while the reverse is not required of men.

Another disadvantage is seen in the fact that the bare breast is only tolerated if it is for commercial purposes.

criticism

The network is criticized from the feminist side because it only turns against the sexualization of the female body and not against sexualization in general. This reduces the issue to a question of equality between men and women. Consequently, it must also be possible to bathe completely naked.

The alliance was also criticized by the National Socialist organization Svenska Motståndsrörelsen (Swedish Resistance Movement).

Course of activities

founding

The reason for the establishment of the alliance was the expulsion of two students from a swimming pool in Uppsala in September 2007 for bathing with their bare chests. They had already started to wear tops in the summer. However, the management of the Uppsala bath refused to lift the ban because of fear of sexual harassment of women in the bath. The two students saw this as discrimination and turned to the responsible ombudsman of the Swedish government.

Protest actions and immediate reactions

The activists began in September 2007 in groups to go to swimming pools in numerous Swedish cities and bathe there without a shirt.

In Malmö , seven activists jumped bare-breasted into the bathing water. They were expelled from the bathroom, allegedly for "hygienic reasons". In Lund also seven women took part in such an action. In Sandviken there were even 17 activists who stormed the swimming pool. Further actions were carried out in Uppsala and Stockholm . Each time the lifeguard was reprimanded. In Uppsala, three reasons were given for the reprimand: safety in the swimming pool, hygiene and decency, and customs, the latter being the most important reason.

The group then reported the lifeguards to the Swedish Anti-Discrimination Agency, which initially refused to investigate the complaint. In response to the complaint in Malmö, the pool attendant there said that this had never been a problem in his 30 years as a professional, but that the pool would act accordingly if the ombudsman decides against the ban.

On November 30, 2007, the authorities decided not to pursue the complaint any further. From the point of view of the ombudsman, the situation does not constitute discrimination within the meaning of the law. The regulations must be decided locally. In any case, there would be no claim to compensation.

The Swedish Lifeguard Association refused to take part in a televised debate with the activists in November 2007.

successes

In January 2008 , Sundsvall was the first Swedish city to explicitly allow “topless” swimming in its swimming pool. However, the swimming pool manager said that this only applies as long as there are no conflicts with other bathers. According to initial reports, the regulation is being implemented.

In June 2009 Malmö also allowed bathing without a top.

Media coverage

The activities of the alliance attracted a lot of attention from the Swedish and international media.

In Sweden itself, the topic was repeatedly taken up in all national media.

Commentators shared their views on the action alliance. In the largest Scandinavian newspaper, Aftonbladet , columnist Mian Lodalen said that the ombudsman's negative decision made the question a problem that it was not before. She spoke out against a topless ban and argued that so far it has mostly not been a problem and that society is surrounded by exposed women every day. In a counter-comment in the same newspaper, Mia Hinndal Bellander described it as "crazy" to turn this question into an equality issue. The different clothing regulations for men and women are due to the fact that the bodies are different. In addition, breasts have a sexual function and send sexual signals.

Other commentators pointed out that the dispute was excessive and that it did not lead to better economic and social equality for women.

In the German-speaking region, numerous national media reported on the alliance, including the Süddeutsche Zeitung , Die Welt , the Neue Zürcher Zeitung , Die Zeit and the television station Sat.1 .

There were also media reports in the United States and Australia , including the Washington Post and the Brisbane Times .

According to the network itself, they have also been reported in Ireland , France , Spain , Portugal , Denmark , Norway , Canada , Romania and the Netherlands .

International

The Topfreedom movement , which is active in the USA and Canada , has been around for a long time . There is also the Topfree Equal Rights Association (TERA) in Canada, which has shown solidarity with Bara Bröst.

There are now “Bara Bröst” alliances in the neighboring countries of Norway and Denmark . In December 2007 a group of women in Copenhagen bathed without a top. At the end of March 2008, the Socialistisk Folkeparti took up the topic in the Culture and Leisure Committee of the City of Copenhagen and suggested that bathing without a top be allowed at certain times.