Boobquake: Shaking those who oppress women by trying to shake the earth

In support of science, skepticism, silliness, and sassiness--as well as (the non-alliterative) rationality--and to strike a blow against superstition, misogyny, and the oppression of women, I am, as previously announced, participating in the bold Boobquake experiment today. 

It took a while for me to decide what to wear, trying to find the line between immodesty that will "lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society" leading to an increase in earthquakes and not being completely inappropriate when I do my grocery shopping.

I contemplated which top or dress would balance the necessary sexiness without being too slutty. I hope I made a good choice.

As to concerns I've heard expressed, "What if there is a major earthquake on Boobquake day? Isn't there a risk that you might end up confirming the claim that women dressing in ways that make men go wild leads to earthquakes?" my son's girlfriend, who is also participating in Boobquake today, has a wonderful answer: "Then men ought to really fear us. We women are truly powerful."

Boobquake: A call to cleavage

On her Blag Hag blog, Jen McCreight describes herself as a "liberal, geeky, nerdy, scientific, perverted atheist feminist," so I can't help but like her. And I'm joining her and thousands of other women for Boobquake on Monday, April 26.

Jen's call to cleavage came after a leading Iranian Muslim cleric, Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi, was quoted as saying, "Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes." 

In response to this yet another misogynistic claim, added to the others made by religious leaders and their followers for eons, that temptresses (which poor, poor, weak and utterly helpless men are powerless to resist) are the cause of the world's ills, from natural disasters such as earthquakes to the exile from Eden, Jen wrote:

On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. Yes, the one usually reserved for a night on the town. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of their breasts. Or short shorts, if that's your preferred form of immodesty. With the power of our scandalous bodies combined, we should surely produce an earthquake.

As a skeptic, feminist, and all-around ornery woman, I say to Sedighi and others of his women-fearing and women-blaming ilk: Pfffffftttt!

So, I intend to participate in Boobquake with great glee and my sass set in extreme mode.

1. Because I enjoy being silly and sassy and having the pearl clutchers wonder, "What's she up to now?!" And then worry, "And what will she do next?!"

2. Because I love mocking the eminently mockable, and ridiculing the ridiculous.

3. Because when someone tells me that I shouldn't do something (such as dress in a way they consider "immodestly"), I rather enjoy doing it.

4. Because all women should be able to wear what they want, not what others think they should wear, whether what they "ought" to wear is a burka, prairie dress, or thong.

Yeah, I've got the power of my boobs, and I'm going to wield that awesome power fiercely on Monday. I want to make the earth rock on Boobquake Day.