Sometimes, I can get really worked up over things. (My Ex would argue I always get worked up over things.) But this one is just plain infuriating. After all, there is nothing I detest more than ignorance and stupidity.
Facebook has recently been removing breastfeeding photos they deem “sexually explicit” or “pornography.” These are women’s photos showing themselves breastfeeding their babies. In some of these photos you can reportedly - gasp! - see their nipples.
You know, it’s times like these that I am reminded that Facebook originated in the college dorm rooms of 19-year old boys. Are they giggling as they remove this “porn”? Emailing it to their buddies? I mean, get over it. Breasts are not sexual - they are food sources for babies. It is our society that sexualizes them…through actions just like this.
Facebook, if you’re going to remove breastfeeding photos, you really ought to remove bottle-feeding ones as well. Summed up by one of my favorite quotes, “If breastfeeding in public makes people uneasy because the breasts are considered sexual, then bottle-feeding must be the equivalent of whipping out a dildo.”
6 responses so far ↓
1 Jen W // Dec 31, 2008 at 9:51 am
So, I’m totally with you on the fact that breastfeeding is normal, natural etc. and have ZERO problem with anyone who breastfeeds in public. But why is someone posting breastfeeding pictures to FB? Is it pictures of a mom and her baby and she just happened to be breast feeding or are they specifically posting breastfeeding related pics? It it’s the latter, I’m not sure I get why they would do that.
2 Erica // Dec 31, 2008 at 1:39 pm
@ Jen - Oh, I agree. I haven’t seen the pics in question, so I am assuming they are part of an album of family / baby pics. It would seem weird to post specifically breastfeeding pics (unless it’s in response to this recent action).
3 Tara @ Tattoo Momma // Jan 1, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I remember several months ago, in early 2008 when Facebook started their breastfeeding rants. They were removing profiles and banning members over it.
Many pictures are in albums on facebook and breastfeeding support groups. It is not as if these mommies are just whipping out there boobs and posting them on guestbooks or anything that would make someone feel as if the pics were explicit.
These are members who strongly support breastfeeding, and they are not showing off the pictures to be nasty in any way, just simply showing off the woman in them.
As a breastfeeding mommy myself I totally support it. When a baby is ready to eat, you feed. If you happen to be in public, well so be it. Who wants to eat their dinner in the bathroom?
How about this…what if someone in Africa wanted to join Facebook and upload a self photo. Many tribes in Africa do not wear clothing. Facebook would ban them and call it sexually explicit, even though there was nothing sexual about their photo. Yet in their country it is perfectly normal, only here do people get excited over nudity and nature.
4 internet business // Jan 3, 2009 at 12:18 pm
its depend people opinion, but its ok cause facebook want the best for the member, drop e c and smile today
5 Heather // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:20 am
I’m done with my breastfeeding days, but these things still get me worked up. I always hated feeling like I should hide in a public toilet rather than feed my baby in public.
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