#FreeTheNipple: Women Are Covering Their Offending Nipples With Male Ones

The short version of social media’s opinion on nipples is: Male nipples, good. Female nipples, bad.

The long version is that Facebook and Instagram currently allow photos of female nipples only if they’re actively breastfeeding or have post-mastectomy scars, but not in any other way, shape or form. 

Double standards! some people cried. Duh! said others. It was the regulation of female nipples that started the whole #FreeTheNipple movement in the first place, although that hashtag is now ENTIRELY NSFW, and has been taken over by hardcore porn.

We’re currently seeing an uplift in the #FreeTheNipple movement: women are protesting the double standards by posting photos to Instagram with their offensive female nipples covered up by perfectly allowed male nipples. 

This one was reported again. So here it is with two MALE NIPPLES stickers that I put on to cover my illegal FEMALE NIPPLES! So now you can’t say shit, this is so fucking wrong and this is not equality. #malenipples #freethenipple #freethenipplecampaign #freethenipple2015 #female #femalenipples #my #body #natural #fucksexism #sexism #feminist #feminism #bw #covered #with #nipplestickers #tydligen #buzzfeed ! @freethenipple

A photo posted by ?a l i n e n i l s s o n? (@alinenilsson) on Jul 5, 2015 at 5:46am PDT

@freethenipple #Freethenipple #Equality #JuggaloLove #Tattooed #MaleNipple #Aviano #Fitness #LoveLife #Freedom #IndependenceDay #Veterans #Adventure #Mountains

A photo posted by SGT Nip(ple) © (@nipple313) on Jul 5, 2015 at 1:37pm PDT

I dag har vi kjøpt oss nytt basseng, et såkalt Fill ‘n fun pool. Min søster nekta å flytte seg da jeg ville ta bilde av det for å legge ut på sosiale medier. Heldigvis fant jeg en #malenippletemplate så jeg fortsatt kunne legge ut bildet. #basseng #dagensinnkjøp #funinpool #splashandplay #malenipples #freethenipple #notfemalenipples

A photo posted by Siri (@siribifaller) on Jul 3, 2015 at 9:18am PDT

Male nipples are so lovely… ?? #freethenipple #malenipples #freethenipplecampaign #nipples @freethenipple

A photo posted by rekha Garton (@rekhagarton) on Jul 7, 2015 at 4:09am PDT

gee thanks male nipple template! how could I have ever posted this photo with out you!? also, shout out to this dude and the @thetatatop. you rock. #freethenipweho #thisisntover #notmuchdifference #boobs #manboobs #tatatop #malenippletemplate #july4 #fun #feminism #activism #cantstopwontstop #latergram

A photo posted by My name is Anna Goodman. (@annargoods) on Jul 6, 2015 at 5:34pm PDT

The male nipple template was actually created by L.A. based artist Micol Hebron last year, who chucked it up on Facebook with a cheery: “Use this acceptable nipple template to cover the offending female nipples with socially acceptable male nipples. You’re welcome.”

Hebron says that the ban is “a way of controlling women’s bodies, and disempowering us. It’s offensive because it turns the body into an object.” 

It’s a view shared by many feminists – though of course not all, because the millions of women who identify as feminists are lo and behold, different people with different views.

http://ameliability.tumblr.com/post/117436985331/speedlimit15-a-womans-body-is-not-for-you-if

In the past Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and most recently Chrissy Tegan have all had photos removed from Instagram for letting their nips fly free, with other famous names like Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, and Willow Smith supporting the movement.

FREE THE NIPPLE ?? #freethenipple

A photo posted by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne) on Jun 24, 2014 at 6:44pm PDT

As far as we’ve seen no celebs have joined in the male nipple action, but it’s probably only a matter of time.