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Boobquake: Will You Participate?
Posted April 25, 2010

You may remember hearing news of an Iranian cleric's, Hojatoleslam Kazim Sadeghi, outrageous statement recently warning that women who dress immodestly can cause earthquakes.  Sadeghi was quoted as saying, "Many women who do not dress modestly...lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes."  Women around the world have shared their responses to the ridiculousness of this statement, but one woman has decided to take action.

Jennifer McCreight, a 22-year-old Purdue University student, created a Facebook page devoted to something she calls "Boobquake".  McCreight has humorously declared Monday to be a day for women around the country to prove Sadeghi wrong.  She urges women to dress provocatively in an attempt to prove that "immodest" women can not cause an earthquake.  McCreight writes, "help fight supernatural thinking and the oppression of women, just by showing your cleavage."

McCreight has taken to her blog, Blag Hag along with Facebook and Twitter to spread the word about Boobquake.  As of Thursday there were more than 50,000 "confirmed guests" on the Facebook page. 

An article from CNN discusses some critics of McCreight that have voiced concern she is not taking the oppression of women seriously.  McCreight responds to the critics on her blog, she writes "It's not supposed to be serious activism that is going to revolutionize women's rights, but just a bit of fun juvenile humor.  I'm a firm believer that when someone says something so stupid and hateful, serious discourse isn't going to accomplish anything - sometimes lighthearted mockery is worthwhile."

What do you think of Jennifer McCreight's response to the Iranian cleric's statement?

Will you participate in "Boobquake" in order to prove women who dress provocatively do not cause earthquakes?

21 Comments
sammyrox says: on Apr 25, 2010
Well, all I can say is I hope there aren't any significant earthquakes tomorrow, or the suppression of Iranian women will likely be further justified by people silly enough to believe these stories.
msfriendly says: on Apr 27, 2010
How 'bout that earthquake that happened that day in the China sea! Timing is everything...now they will have their theory "confirmed" ; )
Orchid25 says: on Apr 27, 2010
I think it's funny. Although I don't believe it has or will ever cause an earthquake... I really don't want to see every woman walking around in barely any clothes. I see that enough already!
kay914 says: on Apr 27, 2010
i wish our younger women would respect their bodies. i agree with the ridiculousness of the original statement, but degrading ourselves in the name of a cause backfires and further lowers the image of US woman. let's make our voices heard in a mature and serious manner.
idahospud says: on Apr 27, 2010
This is so stupid,I do not even have words.I think the Iranian cleric was smoking too much opium.
Foofie5 says: on Apr 27, 2010
I think it is silly. Like above we do already have half dressed women walking around. No matter how you look you should be taken seriously.
Byteme says: on Apr 28, 2010
We are now in the year 2010 and I cannot believe my eyes and ears! It just amazes me that anyone could even believe such nonsense in the first place. Even more amazing is why anyone would feel so compelled to disprove it and create 'boobquake' .
cybrown551 says: on Apr 28, 2010
I don't think that I would dress provocatively however, I know that she does have a point and that women has been treated unfairly and they have been accused for man indiscretions and the mistakes that men make. And I believe that it is about time that man take responsibilities for their own actions and stop believing that it is women who causes them to behave a certain way.
ponderingprincess says: on Apr 29, 2010
wow all I can say is wow, no I won't be participating
Kaykay0711 says: on Apr 30, 2010
It seems that the first part of his thought is at minimum, to be considered. (Sadeghi was quoted as saying, "Many women who do not dress modestly...lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society) I can't say that I relate to the earthquake bit but at the same time, do we as women need to dress provocatively to prove a point? What point, exactly? I see the idea that this young woman is thinking she is promoting but the internet can be a big, scary place. I totally disagree and am thrilled that I don't have any young, impressionable daughters.
MyEmptyCanvas says: on Apr 30, 2010
I can see her point. I did not participate in it though and as far as I could tell there was no earthquake during their boob show-off so I guess their point was proven, along with the fact that people should think before speaking.
QueenOfPlastic says: on Apr 30, 2010
I'm flat chested, so I guess I only created a ripple instead of a boobquake ;-)
jjoyce says: on May 06, 2010
I think both accounts are stupid and only exemplifies the stereotype of women as objects. I'm tired of being bombarded with half dressed women who claim to want respect. If women want to excel and move away from being sex objects, it has to stop. You can still be beautiful yet elegant. Timeless not trashy. Gorgeous without being naked. A little to the imagination is much more enticing than giving it all up. The Iranian leader is an idiot but then so is the idea of a boobquake. I would hate to see if men decided to do their own type of quake .... ugh. Let's act with dignity and respect.
oldbluepearl says: on May 17, 2010
Being sexy is NOT degrading! Whatever your idea of sexy is, BE THAT! It is empowering to feel sexy! And to feel sexy is to be sexy!
ANemeth says: on May 18, 2010
As women we have breasts and butts and legs that attract men and even if we dress in a provactative manner does not mean that we are trying to lead men astray. Women are beautiful creatures and so what if we want to show off our curves. Im not saying that we all should go out and wear the shortest dress or bare our boobs to the world but for a man to say that it is a womans fault that men get distracted by a lillte bit of skin is rediculous. Jennifers "boobquake movement is hilarious and a great way to laugh at someones ignorance! = )
supermommy828 says: on May 19, 2010
wow thats politically funny. i dont' know how some people can believe that clevage can cause an earthquake. i understand the underlying message that provocative women can corrupt men but only if men are looking to be corrupted as well.
mommaduck says: on May 19, 2010
I think her response was great. I will participate from in my house
Gin257 says: on May 21, 2010
I think its really funny and lighthearted. Good for her.
doolmusicfan says: on May 24, 2010
It might be considered funny to some, but in light of the women who must endure those rigid dress codes it's quite sad and disheartening. To think that men must bend down to such depths to keep women under there power and control based on irrational fears like these is just insane! Men in Iran are so afraid to become corrupted yet it is their own way of thinking that leads them to this corruption. However making light of these women's suffering of wearing a compulsory hijab, chador, or burka isn't the way to help them. How will Jennifer's response by dressing 'provacatively' in any way help? It isn't going to change their lives at all. It would be better for Jennifer to use her energy in some other way to do some good in the world, instead of making fun of the very serious situation that the Iranian women have to face on a daily basis. I'm sure they dont' find anything funny about this.
Ghostbunnyy says: on Jul 27, 2010
I think that she's right you really can not take what he said too seriously. You just have to laugh it off and not let it get you down.
quixoticallychaotic says: 6 days ago
I dress well and provocatively on a regular basis. You can dress nicely and be sexy at the same time. hell, you can wear a very modest outfit and scream sex. It's all in how you work it.
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