Are breastfeeding pictures pornographic? – Facebook thinks so
Breastfeeding is part of nature, of that there is no doubt. In fact, it could be argued that breastfeeding is the very essence of life, with a mother nurturing her young by feeding them in the most natural way possible. However, Facebook doesn’t seem to see it in quite the same way and has invoked a backlash by removing pictures of people breastfeeding from the site.
I’m not a parent, yet, and probably never will be through choice. So I must admit to having displayed a classic double-take in the past when I’ve seen a mother breastfeeding her child in public. It’s not that I’m offended, just taken aback by the event being done in a supermarket or on the bus. Once I get over the initial shock, I have no problem with it.
In the same way, I have no problem with seeing pictures of breastfeeding women on the Internet, although unlike some I’ve never actively sought them out. But some people clearly aren’t as open-minded or enlightened as I seem to be, and do have a problem when they see a breast expressing milk. In fact, they have such a problem that they complain to Facebook when they see such a sight.
The Washington Post reports how Facebook has recently removed quite an extensive collection of breastfeeding pictures from people’s profiles. You can actually see the “offending” photos by clicking this link. And people aren’t happy at having perfectly natural photographs being removed, and them being warned that they could be banned for similar behavior in the future.
Facebook users are now revolting over the decision, starting an online petition to have the decisions reversed and the policy changed. And some went even further, picketing Facebook’s Palo Alto headquarters over the weekend.
I do have some sympathy for Facebook because it’s likely only responding to complaints from other users rather than making wholesale decisions to ban the pictures itself. And most of the removed photos do violate site policy of not showing nipples or areola. But that doesn’t make the decision correct.
I’ve seen some terrible (although strangely fascinating) pictures on Facebook, from underage teenagers snogging and getting drunk, to people taking all sorts of prohibited substances. Are they really less harmful to society and your typical Facebook user than pictures of a woman breastfeeding her child? I think not, and most right-minded people would surely agree.
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December 30th, 2008
In many parts of the United States now, it is a legal right any woman has to nurse her baby wherever she wants to, pretty much. It was necessary to legislate this because women were being charged with felonies for public nudity and being asked to cover themselves or their babies. I wonder if Facebook isn’t in violation of some of these statutes, particularly if the images in question were taken from profiles of pro-breastfeeding activists or organizations.
Breastfeeding is by far the best way to nourish a baby, not just because of BPA in formula can liners and melamine in milk products from China, but also because human beings typically just do better as babies when they are breastfed. Breastfed babies have lower rates of disease, allergies, and later on they have lower rates of obesity and heart disease. Breastfeeding correlates slightly to higher IQ and various other things, as well.
(Women who choose or have to use formula instead can’t be criticized either, since the obstacles to breastfeeding are enormous and it’s just not possible for everyone–and almost all formula-fed babies do very well.)
Yet, despite these facts, even in today’s society, women confront ridiculous obstacles to breastfeeding. One of the biggest obstacles is when people see breastfeeding not as a healthy and natural (and traditional) way to feed a baby but as a sexually perverse activity. For these people a breast is sexual, so breastfeeding to them is sexual.
I would argue such people have a serious mental health issue that should be the target of professional medical attention; that would be more constructive than taking down completely asexual and actually quite sweet images of babies nursing from Facebook.
I say for shame on Facebook for making that much harder for breastfeeding to be seen as the normal, natural, and asexual activity that it is. It’s not conducive to healthy babies and a healthier society.
December 31st, 2008
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