Naked truth about women

HUNDREDS of young women have dropped their underpants to keep their sisters out of harm's way.

Pictures of 250 naked Rhodes University students and staff have been on display at the Cape Town City Hall this week.

They are part of the My Body, My Choice exhibition hosted by the university and Cape Town in observation of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.

The naked women bear cheeky messages on their bodies and on placards in solidarity with abused women and children.

"More than just three holes, two hands and a heartbeat," read one message.

The exhibition is the brain child of Rhodes University student services officer Larissa Klazinga. She described it as a protest against a patriarchal world which "commodifies and objectifies women's bodies". She said "we live in a rape society" where women are often blamed for being abused.

"Patriarchy is pervasive, to the point where rather, than identifying it as an oppressive ideology, it is simply deemed 'the natural order', much like 'scientific' racism became the pervasive European belief that white people are 'naturally' superior to black people," said Klazinga.

"This form of 'othering' results in a complete inability to view objectifications as wrong, let alone a form of oppression."

Danielle Bowler, a former Rhodes student, works as a volunteer at the exhibition.

"Women are never allowed in society to speak about their own bodies, how much they can reveal. In these images they take power over their bodies," said Bowler.

Klazinga said the women's ages ranged between 18 and 50.

She said she was being inundated by women who wanted to pose naked for the cause.

The exhibition is in its fourth year and has collected more than 300 pictures to date.

"We have had to limit numbers now because of capacity. Each photograph takes about 15 minutes to take because you want to make sure it is right and the model is happy. It takes a bit of time and resources," said Klazinga.

More than 150 people had viewed the exhibition since Tuesday.

It is the first time the exhibition has left the confines of Rhodes University.

Grant Pascoe, the councillor responsible for tourism and events, said the exhibit was a " mechanism for social transformation".