Caroline Werner, a 37-year-old model and entrepreneur from Brazil, became very popular. This happened after she was caught with her dogs without a top shirt near the sea in Balneário Camboriú city, which is on the coastal side of the south part of Brazil, by doing. She grabbed everyone’s attention.
In May 2023, Werner changed her mind and decided to remove and tie her shirt around the waist as she walked from a beach. A lot of cops stopped her, put handcuffs on her, and made her get into a van. They took her to the police station, where they gave her an extra shirt to cover more parts of her body.
Model Caroline Werner blasts Brazil’s legal system and culture
Werner, who has her bikini line and has traveled around the world, has criticized Brazil’s legal system and culture for being patriarchal, violent, and repressive. She questions whether Brazil’s constitution, which guarantees gender equality, applies to women who want to have the same freedom as men to be shirtless in public.
Caroline Werner says that being topless is a natural and normal practice in many countries and that a woman’s body should not be objectified and hypersexualized. She argues that she did not commit any obscene act and that she was exercising her right to express herself.
The Controversy
Werner got a call to appear in court for doing something dirty. This is what the law calls “naughty actions” that are done in places where people can see them, even if they’re outdoor spots or easily noticed by others. But this rule doesn’t say exactly what an “obscene act” means, and it allows judges some freedom when deciding cases like Werner’s’ If found guilty, Werner might get three months to a year in prison. The Santa Catarina state police are dealing with the case. They gave her a deal, but Werner said she didn’t go to it.
The Reaction
Werner’s arrest sparked a heated debate on social media. People widely shared and commented on videos of her walking topless with her dogs. Some people supported Werner’s stance and praised her for challenging the double standards and sexism in Brazil. They argued for the same freedom as men to be shirtless in public and called the law outdated and oppressive. They also pointed out the hypocrisy of Brazil’s culture, which celebrates nudity and sexuality in some contexts but criminalizes it in others.
But some people didn’t like what Werner did. They claimed that she didn’t follow the rules or behave well in public. They said she just wanted attention and fame, telling others that she wasn’t a good example for young girls. Also, They think she is putting herself in danger of harassment due to her actions. They said she was hurting the religious and good values of Brazil, which is mostly Catholic. They told her that she should follow the rules and standards of where she lives, saying there are right times and spots for showing bare chests.
The Analysis
Werner’s case highlights the complex and contradictory nature of Brazil’s relationship with nudity and sexuality. On the one hand, Brazil is known for its carnival, where lots of people wear fun and bare costumes. They dance and have a good time in the streets with many other folks, too. Brazil is also a popular place for people from all over the world to visit. It’s known for its nice beaches and sunny weather, where you often see people wearing bikinis or thongs.
However, Brazil is a traditional and God-fearing country. The Catholic Church still heavily controls it and often tells people what to believe or think in terms of social rules, including old behavior expectations. Brazil is also a country that has trouble with lots of violence, mostly against women. They deal with things like bad treatment and all kinds of sexual attacks every day.
Caroline Werner case also raises questions about the role and limits of the law in regulating nudity and sexuality. How should the law define and enforce what is obscene and what is not? How should the law balance the rights and interests of individuals and groups in a diverse and pluralistic society? These are some of the questions that Werner’s case invites us to think about and that will likely continue to generate controversy and debate in Brazil and beyond.