Considering breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world, it’s a wonder how so many still view the act of mothers breastfeeding in public as controversial. In the US, particularly, it was just this year that public breastfeeding became legal in all 50 states. Though the law has spoken, many still have qualms on the issue. Last month, model Chrissy Teigen received mixed reactions for posting a photo of herself nursing her child on Instagram.
While several netizens shamed her for publicizing an act they deemed should be done only in private, many also came to her defense saying that the model has posted racy photos in the past which showed much more than this, without them being called out as offensive—which only goes to show how society treats women’s breasts as mere sexualized objects exclusive for the male gaze. Of course, the model was perfectly capable of shutting down her critics too, in her own hilarious way.
More recently, moms have become more creative in dealing with detractors. This week, news surfaced about a mom told to cover up while she was breastfeeding her child at a diner. Instead of covering her breasts, she wittily covered her face.
Locally, we are fortunately more open to this idea. We even have a government-supported annual event encouraging women to breastfeed. This year, the event amassed over 1500 participants who publicly nursed their children as part of the campaign backed by the World Health Organization and UN Children’s Fund to raise awareness on infant mortality. Described by one as “an empowering moment,” the campaign promotes breast milk over formula and calls for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies until six months.
Watch the clip below, courtesy of Brut, to see how it turned out.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about public breastfeeding too.
Art by Marian Hukom
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