Cleavage in science means “the splitting of minerals along natural planes of weakness.” However, it’s much different from “Cleavage for Science.” The latter cleavage addressed here is ordinary body cleavage, which we are most familiar with.
“The promiscuity of women is directly related to the increase of earthquakes worldwide,” according to a message delivered on April 26, 2010, by Hojatoleslam Kazim Sadeghi, an Iranian cleric and prayer leader, according to Iranian media. As absurd as this may sound, during a prayer session in Teheran, he continued to say, “Many women who do not dress modestly… lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity, and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes.”
When Jen McCreight, a genetics student at the time at Purdue University and a self-proclaimed nerdy, Geeky, scientific, perverted, feminist, atheist, and liberal, heard about Sedghi’s message, she decided to test his theory by initiating a worldwide event called “Boobquake.”
She turned to her supernatural thinking blog to notify her followers that “In the name of science, she was offering her boobs.” Although Boobquake was intended as a joke, McCreight says she never thought it would get so much attention.
Still, she concurred, “I guess humorous responses to ‘hateful’ comments can be valuable.”
“It’s time for a Boobquake,” she wrote,”On Monday, April 26, 2010, I will wear my most cleavage-showing shirt. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of the breasts. We should produce an earthquake with the power of our scandalous bodies combined.”
Her idea took the internet by storm. The hashtag #boobquake became a trending term on Twitter. Tens of thousands of women nationwide happily signed up on Facebook, pledging their participation and support in showing more of their skin.
She added, “When someone makes a statement that you can scientifically test, that immodest clothing causes earthquakes, then we should go ahead and test it. It’s tongue-in-cheek, but I think that light-hearted mockery is sometimes the best way to deal with things like this.”
Taiwan had a minor earthquake that day, but the participants dismissed it since Taiwan is known for its ceaseless earthquakes. Though some criticized the event for objectifying women, overall, it was a successful, fun event.
