To Boobquake or Not to Boobquake

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This week, a leading Iranian cleric decreed that women who dress sexy cause earthquakes by spreading promiscuity — which apparently is pathogenic, you guys!

“When promiscuity spreads, earthquakes increase,” the prayer leader, Hojatoleslam Kazim Sadeghi, said in a video posted on YouTube.

Enraged, Jen McCreight (@jennifurret) over at Blag Hag decided to put this claim to the test:

In the name of science, I offer my boobs. On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. [...] 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. If not, I’m sure Sedighi can come up with a rational explanation for why the ground didn’t rumble.

So, who’s with me? I may be a D cup, but that will probably only produce a slight tremor on its own. If you’ll be joining me on Twitter, use the tag #boobquake! Or join the Facebook event!

Sounds like our kind of party. But there are other implications as well, as Beth Mann at Salon has pointed out:

Unfortunately, it seems to be turning into something else, with many men chiming in, with their “show us your tits” camera-ready attitude. Women on parade again … sigh. Since when did we “stick it to the man” by wearing low-cut shirts or short shorts? [...] Women should be able to wear what they want. That’s a given. Women should be able to sexually express themselves how they see fit. [...] Unfortunately, we live in a world that sees that kind of freedom of expression as a photo opportunity or another cheap thrill. All parties must be on board and in celebration of the cause in a way that doesn’t include lasciviousness, latent female hatred or sexual over-saturation. If not, then all we’ve got is “Girls Gone Wild” with a cause slapped on it.

To bookquake or not to boobquake, that is the question. Which side are you on?

Image from the Flox archives.