Freedom Trash Can

The “freedom trash can” was part of the 1968 feminist protest at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. Women gathered on the Atlantic City boardwalk outside the pageant to protest the annual judging of women according to physical beauty standards. Among other actions, the protesters had a freedom trash can into which they threw girdles, high-heeled shoes, copies of Playboy magazine, hair curlers and other items that represented society’s objectification of women. Contrary to the popular myth about 1960s feminists, there were no bras burned, although some bras were deposited into the freedom trash can.