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Illustration Highlights How Women Are Shamed No Matter What They Wear

As a woman, self-expression through wardrobe can be a lose-lose situation. (Photo: Getty)
As a woman, self-expression through wardrobe can be a lose-lose situation. (Photo: Getty Images)

When it comes to wardrobe choices, women can’t seem to win, and a new infographic that shrewdly illustrates this point has gone viral.

The graphic, titled “Lottery of Indecency,” was created by a French artist, @LaSauvageJaune on Twitter, in light of the highly publicized “burkini ban” introduced in the artist’s country recently. The law forbids women from wearing burkinis, conservative swimsuits that some Muslim women choose for the beach. Burkinis got their name for being swimwear (not quite bikinis) inspired by traditional Muslim burqas, which cover a woman’s entire body, leaving only her eyes and hands exposed.

In the illustration, the artist shows a woman wearing customary religious garb on the left, to demonstrate how some women are ridiculed for covering up too much. “You have a headscarf? Argh my eyes! You’re clearly submissive,” reads a caption pointing to her head. “Burkini? A wetsuit but there’s ‘burk’ in it so it’s forbidden. Undress yourself,” reads the commentary pointing to her midsection. A third criticism reads, “Long skirt? Too many religious connotations. You don’t belong in this school.”

On the right, the artist flips the script, representing a scantily clad woman and pointing to the various ways women are slut-shamed for their attire — and for their actual bodies. “You look like a whore with your makeup,” reads a caption up top. “If you’re not wearing makeup, you’re neglecting yourself.” A line at her chest reads, “OH MY GOD A (woman’s) nipple! Cover that up. You should be ashamed. You have no self-respect.” At her waist, a comment reads, “Short skirt? Too many sexual connotations. Don’t be surprised if you get raped.”

The final comment takes a sarcastic swipe at the figure’s legs. “Urgh body hair (on a woman) is dirty. Aren’t you ashamed? Go shave!”

The infographic, posted to the artist’s Twitter, has received almost 1,500 likes and 2,000 retweets as of this story. “I reckon common sense indicates people should stop policing women’s bodies,” wrote one commenter. “Good impact on the stupidity we observe every day, Thank you,” wrote another.

But not everyone is loving the viral image. “What utter tripe. This isn’t to do with shaming women,” one user, who appears to be a woman, commented. Some of the negative comments seem to reinforce the statement the illustration is trying to make. One user wrote: “Both of these opinions are extreme. Why not trying [sic] to relax? Do not wear burk and do not walk around naked.” Another user retorted, “Why don’t you relax and stop getting all upset about what women wear?”

The artist has made no other statement beyond the commentary in her work.

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