In the age of social media, where information spreads at lightning speed, it’s easy for content to be taken out of context, leading to widespread misinformation.
A recent viral video is a perfect example of this phenomenon, as it falsely portrayed a Swiss feminist protest as a rally supporting polygamy in Venezuela.
The Viral Video: What People Are Saying
The video in question shows a group of women marching through the streets, topless, while holding placards.
https://twitter.com/OOCprogresismo2/status/1780691290427994159
It quickly went viral, with many social media users believing that the women were protesting in favor of polygamous marriages in Venezuela.
Posts on platforms like X included captions such as,
Single Ladies in Venezuela protesting against One Man One Wife. They are saying that a man should at least have 3 women minimum.
This narrative, while sensational, is entirely misleading.
The Reality: A Protest for Gender Equality in Switzerland
A fact-check by a netizen reveals that the video does not depict a protest in Venezuela.
Instead, it shows a demonstration in Switzerland from June 2019.
The women in the video were part of a nationwide strike in Switzerland, advocating for gender equality, wage parity, and the right to have autonomy over their bodies.
The protest, which took place in cities across Switzerland, was organized to highlight ongoing gender discrimination, including wage inequality and workplace harassment.
Despite the approval of the Gender Equality Act in 1996, which aimed to ban workplace discrimination, Swiss women continued to earn 20% less than men for the same work.
This persistent inequality prompted a resurgence of feminist activism, culminating in the 2019 protests.
Decoding the Placards: The True Message
The placards carried by the women further clarify the true nature of the protest.
One large banner in the video, written in French, read “No to hypertextualization. Let’s free the areolas,” signaling the women’s demand for freedom over their bodies.
Another placard read, “mon corps est sexuel si je veux; politique si je veux; couvert si je veux; nu si je veux,” which translates to, “my body is sexual if I want; political if I want; covered if I want; naked if I want.”
These messages underscore the protest’s focus on bodily autonomy and gender equality, rather than any support for polygamous marriage.
The Importance of Verifying Information
This incident highlights the dangers of misinformation in the digital age.
The viral video was widely shared with misleading captions, causing many to believe a narrative that was far from the truth.
It’s a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and critically evaluating the information we encounter online.
Social media can be a powerful tool for sharing news and stories, but it can also amplify falsehoods.
By taking the time to verify the source and context of content, we can help prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that the truth is heard.