Alexandra Shevchenko Explained

Olexandra Shevchenko
Олександра Шевченко
Birth Date:1988 4, df=y
Occupation:Activist
Movement:FEMEN

Olexandra Shevchenko[1] [2] [3] (Ukrainian: Олександра Шевченко; born 24 April 1988) is a member of the Ukrainian radical feminist protest group FEMEN, which regularly demonstrates topless against manifestations of patriarchy, dictatorship, religion, and the sex industry.[4] [5]

Early life

Shevchenko was born and grew up in Khmelnytskyi (in Ukraine).[6]

FEMEN

Anna Hutsol formed FEMEN in Kyiv on 10 April 2008, with her two friends from their hometown of Khmelnytskyi, Olexandra Shevchenko and Oksana Shachko.[7] They initially protested about issues effecting women students, but rapidly moved on to demonstrating against the sexual exploitation of Ukrainian women.[8] It was in late August 2009 that Oksana Shachko became the first member of the group to bare her breasts during a protest, but it was not until 2010 that this approach became the usual tactic in FEMEN demonstrations, justified on the grounds that without the media attention generated by topless protests their message would not be heard.[9]

In 2011, international news agencies started to pay more attention to this unusual group of Feminist protesters,[10] [11]

In late 2011, Shevchenko, along with Inna Shevchenko and Jenia Kraizman, took their protest onto the international stage. On 31 October 2011 they demonstrated dressed as French maids in Paris against Dominique Strauss-Kahn,[12] on 5 November 2011 they protested against Silvio Berlusconi in Rome,[13] the following day they protested against the Pope outside St. Peters,[14] and on 10 November protested against prostitution in Zurich.[15] On 9 December 2011 Shevchenko was in Moscow demonstrating against Vladimir Putin outside Christ the Saviour Cathedral.[16]

In 2013, Shevchenko established a training facility for FEMEN Germany in Berlin.

On 9 February 2013, Shevchenko protested against female genital mutilation at the Berlin Film Festival - she had the words 'Stop Cutting my Pussy' written across her bare chest.

On 6 March 2013, FEMEN activists (including Shevchenko) in cooperation with French writer Galia Ackerman released their first book called 'FEMEN' published by Calmann-Lévy in French.[17]

In August 2013, Shevchenko fled out of Ukraine.[18] [19] [20]

Bibliography

Filmography

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304082625/http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2012/03/01/the-femen-phenomenon "The Femen Phenomenon"
  2. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20028797 "Ukraine's Femen: Topless protests 'help feminist cause'"
  3. https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/718259 "UKRAINE: Ukrainian Femen activist Oleksandra Shevchenko, who was recently deported from Tunisia, is arrested with two fellow protesters after staging an anti-Lukashenko topless protest in Kiev"
  4. Web site: Jeffrey Tayler . The Woman Behind Femen's Topless Protest Movement - Jeffrey Tayler . The Atlantic . 13 March 2013 . 6 September 2013.
  5. Web site: FEMEN . FEMEN . 6 September 2013.
  6. Web site: Neufeld . Dialika . Femen Activists Get Naked to Raise Political Awareness - SPIEGEL ONLINE . Spiegel.de . 11 May 2012 . 6 September 2013.
  7. Web site: Garanich . Gleb . The femen phenomenon | Photographers Blog . https://web.archive.org/web/20120304082625/http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2012/03/01/the-femen-phenomenon . dead . 4 March 2012 . Blogs.reuters.com . 6 September 2013.
  8. Web site: Piotr Pogorzelski . New Eastern Europe - Ukraine is not a Brothel . Neweasterneurope.eu . 6 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130906062354/http://www.neweasterneurope.eu/node/42 . 6 September 2013 . dead.
  9. Femen Les féministes venues du froid, Paris Match (18 February 2012)
  10. Web site: Bidder . Benjamin . Kiev's Topless Protestors: 'The Entire Ukraine Is a Brothel' - SPIEGEL ONLINE . Spiegel.de . 5 May 2011 . 6 September 2013.
  11. News: Unorthodox protest in Ukraine: Indecent exposure . The Economist. 20 May 2011 . 6 September 2013.
  12. Web site: Des féministes ukrainiennes manifestent contre DSK - L'EXPRESS . Lexpress.fr . 1 November 2011 . 6 September 2013.
  13. Web site: Ukrainian Femen Protesters . Photos.independent.ie . 6 September 2013 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120621133646/http://photos.independent.ie/gallery/Ukraine_Feminist_Protesters_/slideshow/Topless_Ukrainian_Activists/008J9Ob5j3chH . 21 June 2012.
  14. Web site: Bikyamasr: Ukraine woman strips at Vatican for rights, anti-Berlusconi . 7 November 2011 . Kyivpost.com . 6 September 2013.
  15. Web site: FEMEN - Zurich is not a Brothel! (NSFW) . Mizozo.com . 6 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130416060342/http://www.mizozo.com/world/11/2011/10/femen-zurich-is-not-a-brothel-nsfw.html . 16 April 2013 . dead.
  16. Web site: 'Femen' Stage Naked Protest Against Putin in Moscow [PHOTOS] - IBTimes UK |work=International Business Times|date=9 December 2011 |accessdate=6 September 2013].
  17. Web site: FEMEN Book (2013) . FEMEN.info . 6 March 2013 . 23 March 2013 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130326174637/http://femen.info/books/femen-book-2013/ . 26 March 2013.
  18. У колишньому офісі Femen відкрили книжкову крамницю In the former office Femen opened a bookstore, Ukrayinska Pravda (23 October 2013)
  19. Активістки Femen втекли з України Femen activists fled from Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda (31 August 2013)
  20. Femen закриє офіс в Україні, але діяльність не припинить Femen closes office in Ukraine, however, the activities do not stop, Ukrayinska Pravda (27 August 2013)
  21. Web site: Femen Book (2013) | FEMEN / ФЕМЕН . Femen.info . 6 September 2013 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130326174637/http://femen.info/books/femen-book-2013/ . 26 March 2013.
  22. Web site: Nos seins, nos armes (2012) - Documentaire - L'essentiel - Télérama.fr . 2 March 2013 . Television.telerama.fr . 29 September 2013.