Women proudly shed their clothes for a photographic exhibition to protest against the objectification of their bodies and violence against women and children.
Women proudly shed their clothes for a photographic exhibition to protest against the objectification of their bodies and violence against women and children.
Titled My Body, My Choice, the experience of togetherness also strengthened the bonds between the women through physical openness and laughter.
“A woman’s body is always seen as an excuse to violate her; it is portrayed as weak or sexualised,” said the exhibition coordinator, Beth Vale.
Second year BSc student, Charlotte Reichhardt says “[The photo shoot is about] women finding common ground with each other and the common ground is that we have bodies and we want to do with them what we want.”
Women giggled about Twilight star Kristen Stewart’s new blonde hair and debated the merits of vegetarianism while decorating posters for their photos.
The amount of flesh exposed was the personal choice of each participant. Poster slogans ranged from “My body is mine” to “Beauty from ashes”.
Inspired participants
Second year journalism student, Cat Pennels said, “I got involved because it is a cause that is close to my heart, being a rape survivor myself, it’s also a lot of fun and when it gets to the exhibition it’s awesome.”
Fourth year Journalism student, Leigh Raymond said, “I’ve been doing ballet since I was three so I always thought my body was never good enough, so getting naked was a big, big deal.”
“There is an intimate relationship between photographer and subject,” said photographer Carileigh Hansen. “You can tell if they feel uncomfortable.”
Music, snacks and talented fourth year journalism photographers were on hand to make sure each participant was happy and excited about her photograph.
The future
The exhibition has gone digital to save on printing costs and to accommodate over 100 pictures that have resulted from combining with photographic prints from 2009.
The photographs are accompanied by a sound clip of the women explaining their personal motivations for stripping off.
My Body, My Choice organisers hope the exhibit will travel to Johannesburg and possibly be compiled into a book.
Do you think that women stripping off to protest abuse of women and children merely perpetuates abuse?
