If you’re on Facebook and you follow any of the natural parenting groups there, you’ve probably heard about the breastfeeding pictures problem.
The issue has to do with Facebook removing pictures of breastfeeding mothers as “sexually explicit content.” Some moms have had their accounts flagged or shut down–even though Facebook’s official policy states that breastfeeding pictures are okay.
Personally, I think even their official policy leaves something to be desired–they say that a “fully exposed breast where the child is not actively engaged in nursing” violates their policies, but many states have laws exempting breastfeeding mothers from indecency laws, “irrespective of whether the nipple is exposed incidentally to breastfeeding.” It’s normal for a baby to pop on and off, and seeing a woman’s nipple while she’s breastfeeding shouldn’t be that big a deal. Really.
So, of course, some moms have decided to protest this policy with a nurse-in. And not just a virtual nurse-in of pictures on Facebook (there’s already been one of those), but an actual physical nurse-in at Facebook headquarters, where all the Facebook employees work. And, wouldn’t you know it, it turns out there’s a Facebook headquarters in Atlanta.
Now, even though I love breastfeeding, and even though I breastfeed uncovered in public all the time, I’m not sure that I would consider myself a “lactivist” (that’s a lactation activist, for those of you who aren’t up-to-date on all the latest natural mama lingo). I do want our society’s attitude toward breastfeeding to change, but I don’t really like making a big deal of it, mostly because the way I think things need to change is by making it not a big deal. I mean, if my baby is hungry, or upset, or just generally fussy, I’m going to offer him the boob. I’m going to do that no matter where I am, no matter who’s watching, and I’m not going to cover it up because I’m lazy and getting a blanket out is too much work. I don’t mind people seeing it because I think people need to see it so they’ll realize it’s normal and not a big deal. But doing activism about people’s attitudes is kind of counterproductive in my mind. Activism about legislation–now that I can get behind, especially legislation that would actually make it easier for women to breastfeed like paid maternity leave. But going out and actively trying to change people’s mindsets about breastfeeding?–it seems silly. Offending people doesn’t change their mindsets–it only makes them more set in their ways.
Despite that, I actually kind of like the idea of a nurse-in. I’ve never been to one (although many of my playgroup meetings may as well have been one, especially if we happened to meet somewhere like the park instead of somebody’s house), but it sounds fun. I think it would be fun to go hang out in a public place with a bunch of other moms and meet some cool people and make friends and chat about how fun breastfeeding is. Oh, and breastfeed while I’m doing it, because, you know, my baby will want to eat at some point during that time.
So the nurse-in at the Atlanta Facebook headquarters is next Monday, from noon to 3 pm, at the headquarters on Marietta Street downtown. I think I’d like to go. Anybody else thinking about it?
Or, as crunchy mamas say, Do you want to carpool to the nurse-in?
If I do decide to go, I have to decide whether to bring Anastasia with me or not. If I do, she will definitely want to nurse when she sees all those babies on boobs. Which would mean I would either have a screaming preschooler or I’d be tandem nursing a baby and a three year old on the steps of the Facebook headquarters. I can’t do that without both boobs pretty much fully exposed. Something tells me that would push me squarely into the category of lactivist.
And I would probably have to take a picture of that.
facebook headquarters nurse-in: breastfeeding pictures are not obscene http://t.co/tDY574HE
Too bad I will be at the beach! I would totally go.
facebook headquarters nurse-in: breastfeeding pictures are not … http://t.co/W60sEB3M #organic #baby
My impression of nurse-ins was that they were to make people (particularly the employees) aware of the company’s policy on breastfeeding. It seems many rank-and-file employees of stores, restaurants, and obviously Facebook, are not aware that their company has a policy supportive of breastfeeding. As such I would think they are useful, but I haven’t been to one. I might consider going on Monday. Looks like FB HQ is right across from Georgia Tech.
That said, my goodness, I can’t believe what detail we have to go into to describe whether boob-baring is ok. Something has to be covering the nipple. That something can be a nursing child’s mouth. Oh, wait, it’s ok if we accidentally see the nipple on its way to or from the child’s mouth (defined as in, was or will be in the child’s mouth within 2 seconds? 10 seconds? 5 minutes?). It’s all so dumb.
Oh, and one more thing. I’ve heard it said that in many ways Facebook reflects Mark Zuckerberg personally; for instance, the colors are all blue and black and white because he is red-green colorblind. Is it possible that Mark Zuckerberg himself is yucked out by breastfeeding but just doesn’t want the general public to know? Speculation, of course, but somehow it wouldn’t surprise me.
Ha! Kristen, I have to admit, I had exactly the same thought about Mark Zuckerberg. Rude to think, but probably true.
And all those details about boob-baring–YES! My point exactly. It’s stupid. It shouldn’t be such a big deal.
“Offending people doesn’t change their mindsets–it only makes them more set in their ways.” – So true!!
The idea of nurse-ins has always bugged me because many of them are set in places where they stand to create a a big pain in the ass for people who can do nothing to change the policies in question. For example, do the workers making minimum wage at Target really need shoppers avoiding the store because of a nurse-in? While I’m all for civil disobedience I think it has to be handled in such a way that those who are able to affect change are the ones targeted. I have never said anything about this before, though, out of fear of being labeled “anti-breastfeeding” – which is completely untrue, but combine it w/ the fact that I am not breastfeeding and people will think they’ve got me figured out. 😛
Amber, the fact that it’s at the headquarters is what makes me want to go. Because according to Facebook, the pictures that have been taken down incorrectly were deleted by employees who weren’t educated about the policy. Facebook also said it wasn’t going to make any effort to educate its employees. So this is a case where a nurse-in seems like it might actually serve a purpose: educating the employees who are the ones taking down pictures when they shouldn’t.
And thanks! I think Teddy’s little arm wrinkles are the cutest part of this picture. 🙂
On another note, the back of Teddy’s head is sooo cute in that pic!!
I agree about the FB nurse-in… just pointing out that I think they can be more or less effective depending on where they are held.
I was thinking abotu this some more last night… even teh local FB nurse-in may not be effective… *shrug* it depends on where the people who have the ability to change policies are located . For FB that’s probably Silicon Valley. I was thinking about when people got pissed at WebMD because Similac sponsored a breastfeeding HealthZone. If they had staged a nurse-in at Colony Square, it would have all been for naught… the sales team is in New York. Anyway, I’m probably nit picking… just thinking out loud!
Well, since the official policy is that breastfeeding pictures are allowed, and the problem is supposedly caused by employees who aren’t informed about the policy, then I think educating the employees via a nurse-in could actually be pretty effective. It doesn’t look like I’m going to go, though. :/ I’m not too keen on nursing outdoors in this cold!
We just moved from Atlanta last year or we would be there! You should make some of these boobie hats for the babies to wear 🙂
http://blogs.babycenter.com/products_and_prizes/boob-hats-for-babies-boobie-beanie-giveaway/