Everyone should explore the fine art of the nude selfie. Taking a risque photo of yourself is a radical act of self love and self acceptance; it is empowering and liberating to celebrate how damn fine you are. Once in a while, you might take a selfie so good that you are inspired to share it with someone else who can appreciate your beauty. However, what if things go sour between you and this person you have entrusted with such a photo?
When a nude photo leaks, people often place the blame on the person in the photo, remarking: “If you didn’t want photos of your tits and ass spread all over the internet, you shouldn’t have taken or sent such a photo in the first place.” So why is it that the victims are not blamed in other forms of privacy invasion? If my credit card information gets stolen, was I asking for it because I have a credit card? Sharing these highly sensitive images is a much more nefarious invasion because of the intense betrayal of trust and of the intent behind it to humiliate and shame the person in the photo.
When a relationship breaks down in a catastrophically unhealthy way, an ex-partner could be bitter enough to resort to using what is now known as “revenge porn.” A 2013 study by McAfee in the U.S. found that one in 10 ex-partners have threatened to expose intimate images their ex sent them during the relationship, and 60 per cent of those partners follow through with their threats.
If you put your trust in someone enough to send them a nude photo of yourself and they betrayed you, don’t despair! You live in the true north strong and free where the non-consensual distribution of intimate images is punishable by law. While you cannot penalize someone for sharing photos of you that are simply unflattering, it is within your rights to seek legal action if someone shares a nude or even partial-nude photo of you that was consensually taken.
However, our neighbours to the south are not so fortunate. Only 17 states find the non-consensual distribution of intimate images a criminal offence. Women are taking matters into their own hands by copyrighting photos of themselves that they send to their partners so they can sue for copyright infringement if the images get leaked.
So is there any way to safely send a nude selfie to your partner? One of the best ways you can protect yourself in case the worst does happen is to never include your face or identifiable markings, such as tattoos or birthmarks, in the photo. Secondly, if the relationship does end, you should both assure one another that you have deleted all racy photos that were exchanged during your time together. Delete them in front of each other if that gives you a greater peace of mind. This should go without saying, but you should never under any circumstances send an unsolicited nude photo of yourself to someone. Even if you want to send a photo to your partner, make sure that they agree to it first, otherwise it could be considered sexual harassment.
Nude selfies can be wonderful. However, if you decide to share it with someone, take the proper precautions to protect yourself. If you have been a victim of having intimate images of yourself being spread without your consent there are a number of steps you can take. You can document all the places these photos are posted, remove the photos from social media sites and search engine results, contact the authorities, and seek legal counsel. Most importantly, remember that this is not your fault. The fact that you took that photo and willingly sent it to someone you trusted does not mean you deserve to have those images viewed by others.
Illustrator: Kayt Hine
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.
