I do not have a lot to add to the growing controversy about Facebook banning photos of mothers breastfeeding, while still allowing the proliferation of things like pro-ana (anorexia) sites, other than to say
Huh?
Come on, Facebook, our culture accepts far more titillating images on a regular basis in newspaper tabloids availiable on the newstand, for Christ’s sake. Can you say "nipple slip" and "crotch shot?" Hell, you can probably get those in 10 seconds or less with Brittany, Paris, Lindsay or an inebriated coed, with no baby in sight.
Truly, it is time our culture got over the whole Madonna-Whore complex. Women are NOT simply one or the other. We are both mothers and sexual beings, and when a breastfeeding mom is feeding her child, she’s a mother. Sure, she got there by being a sexual being, but when she’s feeding her baby, it ain’t about you.
Get over your boob fixation. Really.
Mostly for professional reasons I did not breastfeed my son, now 7. My job was very demanding and I was on the road a lot, starting when he was just 3 months old. And he has developed just fine.
But my reasons were my own personal reasons, just as every woman’s are.
If you would not frown on someone feeding a baby a bottle, then you should not frown on a woman breastfeeding. And vice-versa. It is the same damn thing — feeding a child. And if you would frown on a mother feeding a child, what sort of person are you?
Where would you be if your mother hadn’t fed you?
Tags: breastfeeding, facebook sucks
amen to the facebook breastfeeding thing.
I recently moved to Edmonton Alberta Canada (from Idaho & Montana) & was surprised to see boobies on regular cable TV after 8pm. And I’ve been amazed at the women at the mall, on the buses & in the shops very frequently don’t use the blanket coverup you see so much in the US during breastfeeding.
Have the young 20’s boys who run facebook never been out of the US to see how oversexualized the breast is there in comparison to the rest of the world?
I don’t know why people get up in arms over something as simple and innocent as breast feeding.
Yet a woman can wear a low cut shirt with her boobs spilling out, shorts up to her crotch, and high heels to a family place such as Disney World and no one says a word.
I am a public relations student at Auburn and I have a Facebook account. I am shocked to hear about this because I have seen many-a-profile picture of an inappropriate nature — scantily clad girls, underage drinking, etc.
I think this is a bad move on Facebook’s part. These mothers are clearly not posting their breastfeeding pictures to gain attention in a sexual way. Why then, is it OK for young girls to post pictures of a very sexual nature, as well as pictures of blatant underage drinking? This double standard is unacceptable. I believe Facebook took some flack recently for also allowing Islamic hate groups to form on the site.
Perhaps Facebook should get its priorities in order and take care of the real problems on its site, rather than picking on the new mothers. This is going to cause a lot more bad publicity than good when more people hear about it. I’ll be sure to spread the word.
Posting photos of breastfeeding moms does not translate to sex, thank you very much. I bet a lot of Facebook users– whether they’re mothers or not– are raising their eyebrows over this issue. And you do have a point. “Nipple slips” and “crotch shots” are all over media and yet those are the ones that are being ignored. It’s quite interesting, actually. I honestly think those sort of images are being permitted simply because they can be classified as “accidental” shots and they come along with excuses. It makes me wonder if Facebook is just afraid of breastfeeding moms and taking a stand.
Ah, the eternal debate over what constitutes a “sex” picture of a woman. Used to be, and mostly still is, anything showing her nipples. Because, of course, nipples are the sexual object, correct? I mean, big, full, flowing breasts are nothing… without that nipple. Cleavage is coveted, as long as the nipple isn’t showing. Well, as long as it’s covered up.
So, breast feeding becomes sexual because we all know what the baby is feeding from.
This country is so backwards when it comes to women’s breasts, it’s hardly worth the breath to complain about these incidents. Facebook has a lot of growing up to do… in many areas. As a social networking site, the folks who are part of it have a big voice. Don’t let Facebook dictate your standards.
Babies breastfeeding are a beautiful site. Anorexic teens are not.
Of course, that’s my opinion. And, since opinion seems to be what counts… those who share that opinion can influence what happens to this issue at Facebook.
Let’s be honest here, Facebook was not developed for the breast-feeding mom, or moms in general. The site was designed to be a connection between COLLEGE STUDENTS; to share pictures, parties, and class info.
While the site has grown and people other than college students are using it, the regulations must be changed to reflect that. I agree that there isn’t much regulation going on concerning typical college-student activities, but could it be that the simple act of breast feeding makes the 20-something developers blush? I think so.
Why would anyone want a picture of their boob on the internet anyways? Shouldn’t that be a private moment between the mother and her child? I have no problem with public breast feeding, but posting it on the internet makes me think these women are begging for attention.
Patty:
Thanks for your comment. As I recall, the pictures on Facebook were on people’s profiles and in groups specifically about breastfeeding. People who weren’t interested in the topic had plenty of opportunities to look away.
I am by no means an expert, but breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Many of these groups exist to help women with issues, and certainly, to support their decisions. Pictures help this in many ways.
Breastfeeding has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with feeding a child. No reason to blush and no reason to ban. I’ll leave it to the experts to tell you more, if you are really interested.
As to pictures of boobs, I can almost guarantee that the pictures posted by the legions of college students you mentioned expose far more breast that the average breastfeeding mom.
That’s the point.
Susan:
Thanks for taking the time to write back to me! I am new to the blogging world, so your responding made my day!
I understand that Facebook has groups dedicated to specific callings, and I’m sure you understand that when Facebook started, those groups were dedicated to different universities or funny things like the “I love beerpong.” It’s great that these social media groups are growing and giving everyone the opportunity to share common interests.
In my opinion, there are other methods of getting information on breastfeeding, like doctors, books, or even medically-dedicated websites. It’s nice that people can connect and share, but people also need to realize that more than just other people in your respective groups are seeing the pictures. I think that is the whole reason for breastfeeding pictures being banned. Any kind of nudity (including collegiate) is banned as well, but maybe they take more leniencies because the site started out as a college network. Not cool. Maybe it’s just good PR- hey, we’re talking about it!
Thanks for the blogging fun ☺
Patty – I definitely don’t think it is good PR.
Equating breastfeeding with nudity creates a false dichotomy. Breastfeeding *in public* is legal in all 50 US states. Facebook is banning pictures of a legal public activity while allowing things like pro-anorexia groups. Not to mention pedophiles.
As to Facebook’s roots in college social networks, I get it, I really do. But… Facebook made the decision to expand and it has to deal with all the ramifications of that decision like adults, not frat boys. In the not too distant future, the college students in Facebook now will be the ones making parenting decisions. Like whether or not to breastfeed. Does Facebook want them to go somewhere else at that point for their social network?
Your post is both insightful and protective of the world’s mothers and babies. Unfortunately, the world at large is not always filled with empathetic and respectful people. This is the problem with entrusting social networking sites with our most precious moments and photos. I’ve responded to your argument on my blog, if you would like to view the full post: http://dianegaines.blogspot.com/
Susan-
I’m sorry if you mistook my comment for being serious about this issues making for good PR. I suppose I need to work on my sarcasim on paper. You make some very good points, and while I do not agree with all of them, I do agree that this is not good PR. Nor was it a good marketing move. I also agree that Facebook needs to handle their decision making process like adults. I think they are doing this- and this decision is protecting the women who are currently posting these pictures from preditors.
To be honest, I belive that social networking will get to the point where, instead of different groups, we will be using differnent social networking groups dedicated to certian interests. This may be a good thing for these people with such specific needs from a social network. It also may help to protect those who do want to share intimate things like breastfeeding with others.
Patty (and anyone else)
I’m not a breastfeeding activist. I do however call bullshit when I see it. This was a bad business decision on stupid grounds.
Breastfeeding is not intimate in a sexual sense, and the sooner people get this out of their heads the better. It’s about food and the relationship between mother and child.
The whole idea that sexual predators are getting off on pictures of moms breastfeeding their kids is more than a bit ridiculous, in my NSHO. Next someone will be telling me that the pictures I took of my kid in the fast food joint are inappropriate. PLEASE.
People are only going to have time for a few social networks, and they are going to go where their friends are. Facebook wants to cede a significant portion of the current and future online population to another social network? Dumb, but hey, it’s their right.