Iana (Yana) Zhdanova is a Ukrainian feminist and social activist who since the 2000s has been a leading member of the radical feminist protest group FEMEN. The movement became known for organizing controversial bare-breasted protests against inequality between men and women, prostitution, sex industry, dictatorship, homophobia and other political and social issues.
Zhdanova at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv in August 2013
Zhdanova (center) with Oksana Shachko (left) and Sasha Shevchenko at the Courthouse of Kyiv on 28 July 2013
Zhdanova protesting against Lukashenko in Kyiv on 1 July 2012
Zhdanova at the Olympiyskaïa Square in Kyiv on the 1 July 2012
Femen is a Ukrainian radical feminist activist group whose goal is to protect women's rights. The organization became internationally known for organizing controversial topless protests against sex tourism, religious institutions, sexism, homophobia, and other social, national, and international topics. Founded in Ukraine, the group is now based in France. Femen describes its ideology as being "sextremism, atheism and feminism".
A Femen activist in front of the Security Service of Ukraine headquarters
Femen protest in Kyiv, 9 November 2009. Early protests were provocative but not topless.
Femen protest in Kyiv during the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election against the election of Victor Yanukovych. The signs read "The War Begins Today" and "Stop Raping the Country."
Femen protest against EURO 2012 on 8 June 2012
