To demonstrate the impact of sexual harassment, a German women’s rights organization is highlighting bronze statues of naked women with breasts that are visibly lighter after years of being touched.
The group has placed giant white banners behind three bronze statues of naked women, with the tagline ‘Sexual Harassment Leaves A Mark’. These monuments demonstrate the widespread sexual harassment that women encounter daily. This action is part of the campaign called “Unsilence the Violence,” launched by the women’s rights organization Terre des Femmes, according to DW.
Two out of every three women face sexual harassment at some point in their lives
According to the group, two out of every three women face sexual harassment at some point in their lives, and these monuments highlight that story. Placards were placed behind the Juliet Capulet statue at Munich’s Marienplatz, the “Youth” statue in Bremen’s Hoetgerhof, and in front of the “Frau Rhein” statue, which is part of the Neptune fountain in central Berlin. Based on the status photographs, the bronze nude women’s breasts have turned lighter, indicating where they are frequently touched.
“Sexual harassment is a problem that is far too often trivialized or ignored,” Sina Tonk of Terre des Femmes said in a press release. “We must work together to ensure that the voices of victims are heard and that perpetrators are held accountable,” she added.
The three statues “visibly show the decades of assaults by passersby,”
According to the group, the images of the installations indicate that the naked women’s breasts have a significantly brighter shine than the rest of the statue, a result of “where they are most often touched.”
The three statues “visibly show the decades of assaults by passersby,” according to Terre des Femmes. The act leaves a mark, “just as it does for those affected by sexualized violence,” the organization stated.
According to the press release, passersby visiting these sculptures may scan the QR code on the placards to hear short recordings that allow the statues to speak out against the assault. However, a spokeswoman for the group indicated that the posters were removed due to permit concerns.
Notably, Terre des Femmes has spent over 40 years advocating against human rights violations against girls and women, gender discrimination, and women’s rights.