Rain Dove plays basketball topless in video to make a statement about Instagram’s nudity rules
Model Rain Dove poses for a portrait in the London Fashion Week venue in Soho in central London on February 23, 2016. (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty)
Rain Dove has posted a video to Instagram playing a basketball game topless to protest Instagram’s “female nudity” rules.
At present, Instagram users cannot post a video of themselves topless if they have their nipples exposed, unless they are breastfeeding.
Model Dove, who is genderfluid, took to the basketball court to protest the gender-restrictive rules.
Rain Dove models as both genders (Rain Dove)
Playing a basketball game with pro player Crissa Ace.
“Let me DD-fend myself,” Rain Dove wrote in the post addressed to Instagram.
“Sure, I may have my DD Breasts out. Nipples shining in the sun. But this is simply a game of basketball between two humans.”
“#1: Your guidelines say “Female nipples”. I do not identify as “female”. Or “male”. So I am not violating your guidelines,” they continue.
“#2 Even if I did identify as “Female”- “Females” can have Pecs. “Males” can have Breasts. And if You argue only people with pecs are considered “Male” bodied- Pecs can be bigger than Breasts and vice versa. Both can also lactate. Both can also be fetishized. What’s so different?”
“#3 What is considered “nudity” or “naked” changes culturally globally. In some places eye contact direct to camera is considered sexual. Showing your shoulders is considered lewd. Hugs are considered worse than kisses. Etc. Aren’t you a globally reaching company? Who’s opinion is controlling what is considered sexual? Can we have a chat one on one?” they conclude.
To date, the video which was posted on Wednesday still remains on the social media platform.
As well as modelling, Rain Dove is a gender-inclusive campaigner.
Androgynous model Rain Dove poses for a portrait in the London Fashion Week venue in Soho in central London on February 23, 2016 (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Rejecting the binaries of male and female, they describe themselves as a “gender capitalist.”
The identity means that the model profits from using both male and female expressions of themselves in order to make money.
The androgynous model in action (Rain Dove)
“A gender capitalist is someone who takes advantage of opportunities given to people based on their perceived sex or gender,” Dove said in an interview with Bustle.
“When I’m a gender capitalist in the fashion world, I basically can go to any casting that I want to, as long as somebody likes my face.”
How did this story make you feel?
