Logo for canvasopedia.org
Logo TactisForChange
Dilemma Actions MapCase StudiesMethodsIndexAbout UsContact Us

Jun 1, 2015-2015

Canada

Stop Grand Prostitution F1 Naked Protest

Share

ACTIVISTS/ACT.GROUPS/DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP

FEMEN

TARGET

Canadian Government; Montreal Government; Grand Prix of Canada/F1 Organizers

WIDELY HELD BELIEF

Sexual exploitation of women should stop.

CASE NARRATIVE

Issue and Opponent: Human trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is a huge industry in Montreal, Canada, which is even considered the sex capital of North America. The business of selling trafficked girls for sexual abuse is at a peak during the Formula One Grand Prix, a sports event that uses sexual exploitation to make its publicity. The money generated by the Grand Prix and the City of Montreal is made from the sexual exploitation of women, from the arrival of thousands of clients in town. Demand for prostitution doubles or triples each year around the event. The protesters demanded the recognition of prostitution as sex slavery, the immediate abolition of the sex industry, that the Grand Prix cease immediately its exploitation of women, and that the governments immediately stop all collaboration with sports events as long as they are an integral part of human traffic. Dilemma Action: In June 2015, two nude female members of FEMEN, a feminist activist organization, interrupted the procession of the Grand Prix opening event, topless, with text written on the front and back to bring attention to the sex slavery for which the event is being held responsible. They also screamed “Montreal is not a brothel” on top of a Formula One racing car. Outcome: Both women were dragged out of the racing track by private security guards. One of them was legally accused of mischief and disturbing the peace, but a judge in Montreal acquitted her of the charges. This was the first case against the FEMEN group to make it to trial in Canada. The international feminist organization, known for its topless protests around the globe, continues organizing similar activities.

PRIMARY STRUGGLE/GOAL

Accountability / Corruption

DA TACTICS USED

Protest disrobings

CASE NARRATIVE WRITER

SUCCESS METRICS

9 / 12

(EREP) Dilemma action got replicated by other movements

(MC) Media Coverage

(MSYMP) Media coverage was sympathetic to the activists

(OR) Opponent response

(PS) Dilemma action built sympathy with the public

(PUN) Punishment favored the activists

(REFR) Dilemma action reframed the narrative of the opponent

(RF) Dilemma action reduced fear and/or apathy among the activists

(SA) Dilemma action appealed to a broad segment of the public

PART OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN

1 / 3

Activist group continued working together after the action

RESOURCES

Project documentation

Dilemma Actions Coding Guidebook

Case study documentation

Dilemma_Actions_Analysis_Dataset

CC BY 4.0 Deed, Attribution 4.0 International

SOURCES

Femen. 2015. “Stop Grand Prostitution F1,” Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://femen.org/stop-grand-prostitution-f1/).

Smith, Charlie. 2015. “Video: Topless Femen protesters scream that Montreal is not a brothel,” Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.straight.com/blogra/465921/video-topless-femen-protesters-scream-montreal-not-brothel).

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/montreal-activist-who-staged-topless-protest-during-grand-prix-acquitted-of-charges0.3334703. Accessed April 15, 2022.

Related cases

Apr 29, 1991-1991

Central African Republic

CAR Pro-democracy Strike

On September 20, 1981, General Anre Kolingba overthrew the authority of President Dacko and consolidated his power by drafting a constitution. He was sworn into presid...

Economic justice
Pro-Democracy
ECONOMIC NONCOOPERAT...

/

General strike
Share

Read more

Nov 8, 2021-2021

United Kingdom

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, has generated criticism for the amount of corporate greenwashing it allows to be put on display. It is argued...

Environment
NONVIOLENT PROTEST A...

/

Humorous skits and p...

May 1, 1998-1998

Indonesia

During 1997 and 1998, the Indonesian economy suffered major crises due to the general poor monetary situation in Asia. Since the beginning of March 1998, all students ...

Human rights
Pro-Democracy
Citizens’ Noncoopera...

/

Sit-in

Subscribe to our newsletters to get full access to all materials on our website.

Logo for canvasopedia.org
Logo TactisForChange
Dilemma Actions MapCase StudiesMethodsIndexAbout UsContact Us

© 2025 Tactics4 Change. All rights reserved. Read our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.