In Brazil this week, a study conducted by Brazil’s
Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), was
released which said 65.1 per cent of Brazilians either partially or
wholly believe that
“if dressed provocatively, women deserve to be
attacked and raped.”
The study also revealed that a 58.5 percent agree with the belief that ”if women knew how to behave, there would be less rape.”
A shocking revelation by the study showed that 66.5 percent of the
surveyed pool were in fact, women. The institute interviewed a
reflective sample of 3,810 Brazilians via questionnaire across 212
cities between May and June of 2013.
Instantly, Brazilian women took to social media and blogs to express
staat a conversation about the revelations from the study, creating
a Facebook event and hashtag to confront the outrage, which kept the story relevant and trending for more than 24 hours.
The hashtag is appropriately titled #NãoMereçoSerEstuprada, which translates to ‘#IDon’tDeserveToBeRaped.’
According to reports, women were encouraged to share photos of
themselves topless while covering their breasts with a sign that
showcased the aforementioned hashtag. The Facebook event also specified
that if women were uncomfortable posting topless photos, they should
pose fully clothed. The important thing, the journalist explained, was
that “they, as women, demonstrate that no one can claim ownership over
their bodies either than themselves.”
Here are some of the powerful images from the online protest:
