Let That Sink In

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled “upskirting,” or taking a picture under a woman’s dress without her knowledge, is legal.

Stop. Reread, previous sentence. Now take a moment and let that sink in.

According to CNN, the highest court in Massachusetts declared “women who were secretly photographed while riding public transportation in Boston were not nude or partially nude – and that furtive photos that may have shown their undergarments are therefore legal.”

Stop. Reread previous statement. Now take a moment and let that sink in.

“A female passenger on a MBTA trolley who is wearing a skirt, dress, or the like covering these parts of her body is not a person who is ‘partially nude,’ no matter what is or is not underneath the skirt by way of underwear or other clothing,” wrote Justice Margot Botsford of the state Supreme Judicial Court.

Stop. Reread previous statement. Now take a moment and let that sink in.

Okay, get the picture? Women leaving their home in “feminine attire” risk their right to privacy. Or in other words, what is under a woman’s clothing is fair game to the public.

@KavitaChanne from Fox Sports tweets after the ruling, “I’m always on alert for #upskirting offenders when in close quarters. Is that weird?!?”

Yes, @KavitaChanne. Happy you asked. That is weird. Scratch that. The fact that these thoughts come naturally is more than weird. It is offensive to you and any individual making the personal decision of what clothing to wear.

Thoughts and rulings like these present a red flag to the inequalities still evident within our society. Maybe it is natural for a woman wearing a skirt to constantly be cautious of those around her, but when did wearing a skirt become an open invitation for a photo shoot of what is between our legs?

In a small defense for the court, there is no current law specifically stating this exact behavior is illegal. However, with the rise of technology and best judgment forward, it may be time to consider it.

Merriam-Webster online encyclopedia defines sexual harassment as “unsolicited verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may embrace any sexually motivated behavior considered offensive by the recipient.”

Stop. Reread previous definition. NOW FIGHT FOR EQUALITY.

UPDATE: According to CNN Massachusetts "upskirting" ban becomes law. 

Senate President Therese Murray said in a prepared statement, "We are sending a message that to take a photo or video of a woman under her clothing is morally reprehensible and, in Massachusetts, we will put you in jail for doing it. We will need to revisit this law again and again as technology continues to evolve and ensure that we are providing the necessary protections."