Femen

'Ukraine is not a brothel!' This was the first cry of rage uttered by Femen during Euro 2012. Bare-breasted and crowned with flowers, perched on their high heels, Femen transform their bodies into instruments of political expression through slogans and drawings flaunted on their skin. Humour, drama, courage and shock tactics are their weapons. Since 2008, this 'gang of four' Inna, Sasha, Oksana and Anna has been developing a spectacular, radical, new feminism. First in Ukraine and then around the world, they are struggling to obtain better conditions for women, but they also fight poverty, discrimination, dictatorships and the dictates of religion. These women scale church steeples and climb into embassies, burst into television studios and invade polling stations. Some of them have served time in jail, been prosecuted for hooliganism in their home country and are banned from living in other states. But thanks to extraordinary media coverage, the movement is gaining imitators and supporters in France, Germany, Brazil and elsewhere. Inna, Sasha, Oksana and Anna have an extraordinary story and here they tell it in their own words, and at the same time express their hopes and ambitions for women throughout the world.

'Ukraine is not a brothel!' This was the first cry of rage utteredby Femen during Euro 2012.Bare-breasted and crowned with flowers, perched on their highheels, Femen transform their bodies into instruments of politicalexpression through slogans and drawings flaunted on their skin.Humour, drama, courage and shock tactics are their weapons.Since 2008, this 'gang of four' - Inna, Sasha, Oksana andAnna - has been developing a spectacular, radical, newfeminism. First in Ukraine and then around the world, they arestruggling to obtain better conditions for women, but they alsofight poverty, discrimination, dictatorships and the dictates ofreligion. These women scale church steeples and climb intoembassies, burst into television studios and invade pollingstations. Some of them have served time in jail, been prosecutedfor 'hooliganism' in their home country and are bannedfrom living in other states. But thanks to extraordinary mediacoverage, the movement is gaining imitators and supporters inFrance, Germany, Brazil and elsewhere.Inna, Sasha, Oksana and Anna have an extraordinary story and herethey tell it in their own words, and at the same time express theirhopes and ambitions for women throughout the world.

Manifesto viiA Movement of Free Women: Preface by GaliaAckerman xiiiPart I: The Gang of Four1. Inna, a Quiet Hooligan 32. Anna, the Instigator 133. Sasha, the Shy One 244. Oksana, the Iconoclast 34Part II: Action5. 'Ukraine Is Not a Brothel' 436. No More Nice Quiet Protests 687. Femen Goes All Out 898. In Belarus: A Dramatic Experience 1059. Femen Gets Radical 11710. 'I'm Stealing Putin's Vote!' 12211. Naked Rather Than in a Niqab! 12812. Femen France 15013. Our Dreams, Our Ideals, Our Men 161One Year Later: Afterword by Galia Ackerman 168Notes 182