In Defense of PETA's Naked Protest Tactics

Let me begin by noting that I am not a member of PETA, nor do I approve of all their tactics. In fact, I excoriate their financial support of ALF members. But I do believe that their naked protest tactics are often unfairly targeted, especially when other organizations engage in similar--or worse--campaigns.

The ethical superiority of vegetarianism is moot; some may hold this to be true, others may believe omnivores are the superior gastronomes. This article is not designed to encourage vegetarianism or edify animal rights. Rather, the purpose of this essay is to argue that PETA's naked protest tactics are both effective and more respectful than the tactics used by many other organizations and businesses.

The Effectiveness of PETA's Naked Protest Tactics

Cohesiveness among supporters. As demonstrated by the comments on Stephanie Manning's Do PETA's Naked Protest Tactics Work? article, the very nature of these campaigns arouse strong emotions. Although these protests seem to enrage and infuriate those who consider public nudity an immoral act, they also cause many animal rights activists to leap to the defense of the organization. As a result, PETA supporters unite with each other, and ultimately end up feeling even more dedicated to their cause.

Attention to the cause. PETA's naked campaigns are, primarily, for the purpose of raising awareness about the fur industry (although they've been known to use nudity for other issues, too.) In general, there's a larger proportion of the public that's opposed to fur--even some very famous fashion designers and celebrities refuse to wear it. Since the average person is more likely to endorse bans on fur as opposed to bans on meat, PETA's naked protest tactics draw attention to a cause that's likely to be supported.

Lots of publicity. There's no such thing as bad publicity. And anyone in the media can tell you that "sex sells." That message is clear the moment you open a magazine, turn on the TV or watch a movie. PETA intentionally uses shock tactics to get free press coverage, to draw in crowds and to generate additional publicity. Some may find their actions unsavory or immoral. But few could argue that their tactics fail to get attention.

PETA's Respect Compared to Other People

Respect for the right to protest. Many people believe that vegetarians should refrain from thrusting their ethics on to others, and that these protests are a disrespectful and shameful in-your-face attempt to sermonize to the public. Yet, in the same breath, those folks also state that PETA's naked campaigns are offensive and immoral. In effect, the folks opposed to PETA's naked protests want PETA to adhere to their morals (nakedness = offensive), but they do not wish to hear about PETA's ethics (meat = murder). Frankly, to avoid being a hypocrite, you have one of two options: You can either choose to live and let live, or you can exercise your right to criticize PETA and accept PETA's right to criticize you.

The morality of nakedness. The moral issue of nudity is simply a matter of opinion. Nudity is commonplace on other continents and in other countries, suggesting that nakedness as a disrespectful act has less to do with morals and more to do with societal norms. Which is worse: nakedness or violence? Yet violence reigns supreme on television and in movies. Indeed, even PG-13 films are often filled with bloodbaths of death and gore. Yet, for some reason, naked bodies are touted as more damaging to our kids.

The overall message. Although PETA's tactics might seem extreme to some, their overall message is one that's relatively benign: Stop animal cruelty. Although we each may have our own individual idea of what constitutes "cruelty"--for some it means leaving a pet dog in a hot car, for others it might mean wearing fur--it's still a sentiment that most people condone. However, other organizations, such as the KKK, are also permitted public protests and rallies. They spread messages of hate and violence, hand out pamphlets that refer to racial cleansings, and wear robes designed to inspire terror. Yet PETA's naked tactics continue to be targeted, whereas very few people take the time and energy to protest KKK rallies.

I opened an issue of Glamour magazine the other day and saw a spread with a naked woman, her breasts bared. PETA isn't the only one displaying photos and billboards of naked women with impunity. Other businesses and organizations regularly engage in this behavior. It simply gets less attention because rather than raising awareness about the cruelty of the fur industry, the other companies are simply trying to sell perfume or jewelry.