9/5/12
At first glance, Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist punk-rock collective, looks like an angst-ridden female puppet show, that most might find hard to take seriously. Clad in tattered knit masks and brightly colored dresses, Pussy Riot has recently caused quite a wave in Russia, acting out against the Russian Orthodox Church and the re-election of President Vladimir Putin. Staging improvised performances that later are uploaded as music videos to the internet, for the entire world to see. Currently, 3 members of the band are incarcerated, after being charged with “hooliganism” during their last performance, which interrupted service within the Russian church.
Fighting for women’s rights, and speaking out against the corrupt government of Russia, these women are far from my previous assumption. These women are educated, passionate, maybe even blasphemous to some, all the while being mothers. They have been sentenced to 2 years in jail, after speaking out for what they believe in, something we as Americans take for granted all too much. Freedom of Speech is something I believe every human should have the right to. Had these women had the right to Freedom of Speech, perhaps they wouldn’t be currently incarcerated.
Speech isn’t the only right Pussy Riot is fighting for, these women know what it is like to be a female, and all the choices that we must make as females in regards to our bodies and reproductive organs. In Russia, women’s rights are far from our American views. (Post, “Women’s Rights in Russia”) Women of Russia are told to be housewives and mothers, to cook and clean, nothing more. They don’t have a say in the outcomes of their lives, let alone their bodies. As Americans, with our freedom of speech, you would hope we have the same liberal views as far as Female Rights, yet currently as our presidential race is nearing an end, we are seeing the same fight. Our presidential candidates are