Hello, all !
Quick update : after 19 days spent in oblivion, Facebook reinstated my account (in its entirety - so, all my research, posts, links, photos, etc. were returned to me !). Sadly, however, Facebook continue to randomly delete users' breastfeeding photos (without warning), and terminate member accounts.
Once again, I will just say that *my* answer is NOT to simply take it lying down and to leave Facebook and find another BF-friendly site; *my* answer is to get Facebook to change their harmful, discriminatory and stigmatising policy against breastfeeding (images), and to get them to do what is RIGHT (note, too, that they are leaving untouched, so many other sorts of truly harmful and offensive content - and again, don't kid yourself if you think Facebook is 'pure and pristine' - porn and images of lewd, sexual acts absolutely ABOUND on Facebook, and yet somehow, breastfeeding photos are offensive !? Understand, friends, that it is this blatant DOUBLE STANDARD that is unacceptable to so many of us). Regardless, I believe we're on our way to seeing positive change. They reinstated my account after all, didn't they... ?
I have now been involved as an administrator in organising the next "step", another Facebook event : a second 'virtual' nurse-in scheduled for February 21st, complete with a new component, a LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN (which is clearly explained on the MILC event page, here : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?si...id=74481493344)
So please help me, and consider attending our next, 'virtual' (online) nurse-in, in protest of Facebook's discriminatory policy. We have a promotional video for the protest up and running now on YouTube, here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE_xBRzV4Sk
Please circulate this video link as widely as possible, sharing it --and the MILC event page link-- with ALL of your relevant e-mail lists & contacts (feel free to simply forward this e-mail message onward...). We had almost 11,000 participants for the December 27th protest, and we'd like to have at least as many this time around. Furthermore, the official online petition group's membership has now grown to well over 200,000 ! ("Hey Facebook, breastfeeding is NOT obscene !" : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2517126532)
If you are already a Facebook user, please go NOW to the event page, and click on 'attending' to join in and show your support :
(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?si...id=74481493344)
I would also ask that you invite **everyone on your friends list**, as you do NOT need to be female, or currently lactating, in order to participate. You simply need to change your profile picture for one day to an image of breastfeeding, whether it be a photo of you, a friend, any mammal nursing her young... or an art depiction of breastfeeding, or a breastfeeding sculpture. AND REMEMBER : You do not need to *BE* or *GO* anywhere (heck, I can guarantee that I'll be in my pyjamas for the day ! :-) Just a few clicks of your mouse, and you're THERE, nobly supporting the cause, and perhaps paving the way to history-making ! :-)
Breastfeeding babies the world over thank you in advance for your support... because when *we* win, BABIES win !
Much love and gratitude,
-Emma, in Montréal
PS To clarify the group's philosophy, here are some statements that have been suggested to include in your letter :
*Women post breastfeeding photos because they want to demonstrate or celebrate breastfeeding, just as they do other aspects of their lives.
*Women post breastfeeding photos because breastfeeding is a normal part of their day and what they do as mothers.
*Women post breastfeeding photos because others want to see their children doing things that are healthy and important, such as eating. Breastfeeding has well-known unsurpassable benefits for the health of children and mothers in nutrition, disease prevention, and emotional bonding.
*Breastfeeding is not inherently a private or intimate activity. Almost all American states have passed laws promoting breastfeeding and allowing it in public in the manner a woman chooses.
*Facebook's deletion of many breastfeeding photos goes against the main biological purpose of women's breasts and how they function. Its posting of ads in which scantily clad women use sex to sell things makes it even
harder for women to counter the harmful public prejudice against breastfeeding.
*Facebook's deletion of many breastfeeding photos stigmatizes breastfeeding. Its description of some ways of doing it as obscene is wrong and demeans and insults women.
*Because of the quantity of breastfeeding photos on Facebook, its deletion of some implies telling women how not to breastfeed. Because of Facebook's scope and error, that is harmful to the public good.
*Women with large areolas cannot latch a child on without exposing some skin which Facebook has arbitrarily deemed bad to show. Regardless of physique, latching on and off are necessary parts of the breastfeeding process.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not nude.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not obscene.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not pornographic.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not performing a sexual act. Their breasts and parts of them are not classified as sex organs. Their breasts are mammary glands which lactate for the optimal survival of humans.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, do not harm children. What harms children is their not seeing how breasts are used for feeding children.
* Include the request that Facebook leave all breastfeeding pictures in place, that is the most important point in this campaign.
*******************************
In another thread on this very board, someone suggested that (some ?) photos of breastfeeding *were*, indeed, "depictions of nudity". I am disappointed that on the MDC Lactivist board, of ALL places, this harmful attitude exists at all. :-(
FOR THE RECORD : A woman breastfeeding her baby (or an image of this) can NOT --and SHOULD not-- ever be classified as a "depiction of nudity". She is simply *feeding her baby*. Please re-think your words, because they stigmatise breastfeeding, and women who breastfeed - this is NOT helpful to the "cause".
Quick update : after 19 days spent in oblivion, Facebook reinstated my account (in its entirety - so, all my research, posts, links, photos, etc. were returned to me !). Sadly, however, Facebook continue to randomly delete users' breastfeeding photos (without warning), and terminate member accounts.
Once again, I will just say that *my* answer is NOT to simply take it lying down and to leave Facebook and find another BF-friendly site; *my* answer is to get Facebook to change their harmful, discriminatory and stigmatising policy against breastfeeding (images), and to get them to do what is RIGHT (note, too, that they are leaving untouched, so many other sorts of truly harmful and offensive content - and again, don't kid yourself if you think Facebook is 'pure and pristine' - porn and images of lewd, sexual acts absolutely ABOUND on Facebook, and yet somehow, breastfeeding photos are offensive !? Understand, friends, that it is this blatant DOUBLE STANDARD that is unacceptable to so many of us). Regardless, I believe we're on our way to seeing positive change. They reinstated my account after all, didn't they... ?
I have now been involved as an administrator in organising the next "step", another Facebook event : a second 'virtual' nurse-in scheduled for February 21st, complete with a new component, a LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN (which is clearly explained on the MILC event page, here : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?si...id=74481493344)
So please help me, and consider attending our next, 'virtual' (online) nurse-in, in protest of Facebook's discriminatory policy. We have a promotional video for the protest up and running now on YouTube, here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE_xBRzV4Sk
Please circulate this video link as widely as possible, sharing it --and the MILC event page link-- with ALL of your relevant e-mail lists & contacts (feel free to simply forward this e-mail message onward...). We had almost 11,000 participants for the December 27th protest, and we'd like to have at least as many this time around. Furthermore, the official online petition group's membership has now grown to well over 200,000 ! ("Hey Facebook, breastfeeding is NOT obscene !" : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2517126532)
If you are already a Facebook user, please go NOW to the event page, and click on 'attending' to join in and show your support :
(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?si...id=74481493344)
I would also ask that you invite **everyone on your friends list**, as you do NOT need to be female, or currently lactating, in order to participate. You simply need to change your profile picture for one day to an image of breastfeeding, whether it be a photo of you, a friend, any mammal nursing her young... or an art depiction of breastfeeding, or a breastfeeding sculpture. AND REMEMBER : You do not need to *BE* or *GO* anywhere (heck, I can guarantee that I'll be in my pyjamas for the day ! :-) Just a few clicks of your mouse, and you're THERE, nobly supporting the cause, and perhaps paving the way to history-making ! :-)
Breastfeeding babies the world over thank you in advance for your support... because when *we* win, BABIES win !
Much love and gratitude,
-Emma, in Montréal
PS To clarify the group's philosophy, here are some statements that have been suggested to include in your letter :
*Women post breastfeeding photos because they want to demonstrate or celebrate breastfeeding, just as they do other aspects of their lives.
*Women post breastfeeding photos because breastfeeding is a normal part of their day and what they do as mothers.
*Women post breastfeeding photos because others want to see their children doing things that are healthy and important, such as eating. Breastfeeding has well-known unsurpassable benefits for the health of children and mothers in nutrition, disease prevention, and emotional bonding.
*Breastfeeding is not inherently a private or intimate activity. Almost all American states have passed laws promoting breastfeeding and allowing it in public in the manner a woman chooses.
*Facebook's deletion of many breastfeeding photos goes against the main biological purpose of women's breasts and how they function. Its posting of ads in which scantily clad women use sex to sell things makes it even
harder for women to counter the harmful public prejudice against breastfeeding.
*Facebook's deletion of many breastfeeding photos stigmatizes breastfeeding. Its description of some ways of doing it as obscene is wrong and demeans and insults women.
*Because of the quantity of breastfeeding photos on Facebook, its deletion of some implies telling women how not to breastfeed. Because of Facebook's scope and error, that is harmful to the public good.
*Women with large areolas cannot latch a child on without exposing some skin which Facebook has arbitrarily deemed bad to show. Regardless of physique, latching on and off are necessary parts of the breastfeeding process.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not nude.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not obscene.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not pornographic.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, are not performing a sexual act. Their breasts and parts of them are not classified as sex organs. Their breasts are mammary glands which lactate for the optimal survival of humans.
*Women breastfeeding, with or without much breast exposure, do not harm children. What harms children is their not seeing how breasts are used for feeding children.
* Include the request that Facebook leave all breastfeeding pictures in place, that is the most important point in this campaign.
*******************************
In another thread on this very board, someone suggested that (some ?) photos of breastfeeding *were*, indeed, "depictions of nudity". I am disappointed that on the MDC Lactivist board, of ALL places, this harmful attitude exists at all. :-(
FOR THE RECORD : A woman breastfeeding her baby (or an image of this) can NOT --and SHOULD not-- ever be classified as a "depiction of nudity". She is simply *feeding her baby*. Please re-think your words, because they stigmatise breastfeeding, and women who breastfeed - this is NOT helpful to the "cause".
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