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<p>Feminist movements around the world have long fought for women's right to bodily autonomy, but the ways in which these struggles manifest can vary drastically between the Global South and the Global North. The movements of the former often emerge from a history of colonialism and caste, where struggles are entwined with demands for basic human dignity and survival and the latter, in a context where many legal and political rights have already been won, shifting the focus to personal freedom and selfexpression. This paper delves into a comparative study of two seemingly opposite yet deeply connected movements: the <i>Maaru Marakkal Samaram</i> (Breast Cloth Revolt) of the Dalit women of Kerala and the Free the Nipple movement in the West. At first glance, these movements appear to be fighting for entirely different causes—one for the right to cover the breast, the other for the freedom to uncover it. However, at their core, both challenge the sexualization and policing of women’s bodies, asserting that clothing, or the lack thereof, should be a woman’s right and choice. The study adopts a feminist lens to explore how societal structures in the Global South and Global North differently sexualize and regulate the female body. The paper employs a qualitative research methodology, using archival sources and historical records for the <i>Maaru Marakkal Samaram</i> and contemporary media reports, social media analysis, and feminist literature to examine the Free the Nipple movement. By juxtaposing these movements, the paper demonstrates how indigenous feminism, though rooted in similar struggles for bodily autonomy, manifests differently based on socio-political, historical, and cultural contexts. This study highlights how the Global South's fight for dignity and coverage contrasts with the Global North's battle for visibility and freedom, ultimately contributing to a broader understanding of gender politics across geographies.</p>

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Divergent Feminisms: Veils and Visibility Contrasting Feminist Battles in the Global South and North Through the Maaru Marakkal Samaram (Breast Cloth Movement) and Free the Nipple Movements

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月18日

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  • Megha Joshy Mathew

摘要

Feminist movements around the world have long fought for women's right to bodily autonomy, but the ways in which these struggles manifest can vary drastically between the Global South and the Global North. The movements of the former often emerge from a history of colonialism and caste, where struggles are entwined with demands for basic human dignity and survival and the latter, in a context where many legal and political rights have already been won, shifting the focus to personal freedom and selfexpression. This paper delves into a comparative study of two seemingly opposite yet deeply connected movements: the Maaru Marakkal Samaram (Breast Cloth Revolt) of the Dalit women of Kerala and the Free the Nipple movement in the West. At first glance, these movements appear to be fighting for entirely different causes—one for the right to cover the breast, the other for the freedom to uncover it. However, at their core, both challenge the sexualization and policing of women’s bodies, asserting that clothing, or the lack thereof, should be a woman’s right and choice. The study adopts a feminist lens to explore how societal structures in the Global South and Global North differently sexualize and regulate the female body. The paper employs a qualitative research methodology, using archival sources and historical records for the Maaru Marakkal Samaram and contemporary media reports, social media analysis, and feminist literature to examine the Free the Nipple movement. By juxtaposing these movements, the paper demonstrates how indigenous feminism, though rooted in similar struggles for bodily autonomy, manifests differently based on socio-political, historical, and cultural contexts. This study highlights how the Global South's fight for dignity and coverage contrasts with the Global North's battle for visibility and freedom, ultimately contributing to a broader understanding of gender politics across geographies.