Jun 1, 2015-2015
Canada
Stop Grand Prostitution F1 Naked Protest
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ACTIVISTS/ACT.GROUPS/DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP
FEMEN
TARGET
Canadian Government; Montreal Government; Grand Prix of Canada/F1 Organizers
WIDELY HELD BELIEF
Sexual exploitation of women should stop.
CASE NARRATIVE
Issue and Opponent: Human trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is a huge industry in Montreal, Canada, which is even considered the sex capital of North America. The business of selling trafficked girls for sexual abuse is at a peak during the Formula One Grand Prix, a sports event that uses sexual exploitation to make its publicity. The money generated by the Grand Prix and the City of Montreal is made from the sexual exploitation of women, from the arrival of thousands of clients in town. Demand for prostitution doubles or triples each year around the event. The protesters demanded the recognition of prostitution as sex slavery, the immediate abolition of the sex industry, that the Grand Prix cease immediately its exploitation of women, and that the governments immediately stop all collaboration with sports events as long as they are an integral part of human traffic. Dilemma Action: In June 2015, two nude female members of FEMEN, a feminist activist organization, interrupted the procession of the Grand Prix opening event, topless, with text written on the front and back to bring attention to the sex slavery for which the event is being held responsible. They also screamed “Montreal is not a brothel” on top of a Formula One racing car. Outcome: Both women were dragged out of the racing track by private security guards. One of them was legally accused of mischief and disturbing the peace, but a judge in Montreal acquitted her of the charges. This was the first case against the FEMEN group to make it to trial in Canada. The international feminist organization, known for its topless protests around the globe, continues organizing similar activities.
PRIMARY STRUGGLE/GOAL
NONVIOLENT TACTICS USED
DA TACTICS USED
Protest disrobings
CASE NARRATIVE WRITER
SUCCESS METRICS
9 / 12
(EREP) Dilemma action got replicated by other movements
(MC) Media Coverage
(MSYMP) Media coverage was sympathetic to the activists
(OR) Opponent response
(PS) Dilemma action built sympathy with the public
(PUN) Punishment favored the activists
(REFR) Dilemma action reframed the narrative of the opponent
(RF) Dilemma action reduced fear and/or apathy among the activists
(SA) Dilemma action appealed to a broad segment of the public
PART OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN
1 / 3
Activist group continued working together after the action
RESOURCES
Project documentation
Dilemma Actions Coding Guidebook
Case study documentation
Dilemma_Actions_Analysis_Dataset
SOURCES
Femen. 2015. “Stop Grand Prostitution F1,” Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://femen.org/stop-grand-prostitution-f1/).
Smith, Charlie. 2015. “Video: Topless Femen protesters scream that Montreal is not a brothel,” Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.straight.com/blogra/465921/video-topless-femen-protesters-scream-montreal-not-brothel).
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/montreal-activist-who-staged-topless-protest-during-grand-prix-acquitted-of-charges0.3334703. Accessed April 15, 2022.
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