Controversy around breastfeeding is as natural as breastfeeding itself is. The latest front in the battle for public breastfeeding is Facebook, where the website regularly identifies photos of mothers nursing their babies as obscene.
Now the moms are fighting back. According to the PI, there is now a Facebook group called "Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!" and now has about 65,000 members. On top of that, there is a new piece of activism on the horizon: a virtual nurse-in. Today, supporters of breastfeeding are being asked to change their online photo to show a breastfeeding mom, and to change their status to "Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!"
The official response from Facebook states that an image of a "fully exposed breast" may be removed "to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for all users, including the many children who use the site."
Protesting for the right to breastfeed in public is not new. Public breastfeeding can still be cited as indecent exposure in many states in the US. In 2005, a woman was given a $50 ticket for nursing in public, even though she was behind two beach umbrellas and a towel. The Colorado legislature changed the laws after that case. That same year, Barbara Walters inspired a "nurse-in" at ABC after she said a nursing mother made her uncomfortable on a plane. "Nurse-ins" have also occurred after incidents at Burger King, Starbucks, and Applebees, to name a few.
In Washington state, as it now is in many states, anywhere a woman is allowed to be, she is allowed to breastfeed. There is now a law on the books that states that public breastfeeding does not constitute indecent exposure. Other states, like Texas and North Dakota, however, do not protect women who breastfeed in public.
It will be interesting to see how the Facebook protest is received, as many users are young and don't like that the social networking site has broadened it's membership to include people outside of college. Whatever the result, this latest frontier in the battle for breastfeeding will no doubt be a little different from here on out.
To read the Seattle PI article, click here.
To read the laws around breastfeeding in every state, click here.
Comments
breast feeding is natural, but that doesn't mean we need it in our faces constantly. Facebook is a private business, who can decide what they allow in their business. If they do not want photo's of woman breast feeding then that is their right. Personally, I have to wonder why any parent would put a photo of their child breast feeding online, knowing that the Internet is full of sickos who will get off on such photo's. While it is natural, it should also be a private thing between a mother and a child, not a public exhibition shown for all the world to see.
So a mother has to be ashamed because she is feeding her baby? Its not those pics that were dirty, the filth was in the viewer's (FB mods) mind. When a woman is a nursing mother, she is in the purest stage of her life. And anyone who finds it objectionable definitely needs to see a psychiatrist because that person is undoubtedly a sick pervert.
Cover it up, delete it, or don't use the site. It's a SERVICE, and a free one at that. You're not paying for it. I personally don't have a problem with it and think that Facebook and Myspace are being silly. BUT, it's not mine nor your decision. It's not your space, it's not your server. They do not owe you an account. I could understand if it were the government telling you that you can't have pictures or that Facebook isn't allowed to allow you to post the pictures; that, I would understand all the outrage. But it is a private entity. You can't force them to let you post anything on their space anymore than I can force you to keep my pictures on your hard drive. Maybe they should be ashamed, but it is their choice, not yours. They are offering a service to you for free. What they provide or do not provide is up to them. You don't like it? You want your pictures posted? Fine, you can do that. Get your own server. Get your own site. It's not hard. They are not stopping you from doing it. They're just saying that you can't do it on they're property. ...I don't know how to make this any more common sense.
I think the outrage is silly. Certain things are best kept out of public view. If we allow breast feeding, what is the argument for not allowing pictures of people peeing ?
For a woman to share her breast feeding, that is her right. Facebook chose not to allow it on their website, that is their right.
Since Facebook did not allow this, they could offer an alternative, I don't condemn either group. But, I do believe Facebook was not professional or respectful in the matter.
I see no exploitation in this milestone in a woman’s life, what harm is in that? We share many parts of our lives, what is the harm in sharing this achievement?
Obscenity is in the eye of the beholder, "If thine eye offends thee, then pluck it out!"
Relax America, care of an infant will NOT cause irreparable harm to ANYONE...
Hmmm. As with everything, there are undoubtedly many, many sides to this story. I breastfed in public, modestly covered. I would have been furious had someone tried to take away that right. However, while I would really rather that my teenage son did not have access to a "fully exposed breast" via Facebook, I'm fairly certain that not one of his Facebook friends will be breastfeeding in her profile pic.
One last thought. Is it just me, or is it a little weird to post a picture of yourself nursing your child for all the world to see?
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