Facebook Nurse-In

Did you know that Facebook censors pictures?  Any obscene pictures are removed and the offending account closed if the behavior continues.  Unfortunately, Facebook decided years ago that photos of women breastfeeding their babies are obscene.  

Obscene? Really???

While many women have used this as a reason to boycott Facebook, I've been torn.  Though I'm not on Facebook often, it's the only way I can connect to many of the friends we've made who live afar- friends from high school, friends from Germany, and friends from grad school who have scattered across the globe.  It's something I've considered, but not something I've been ready to give up yet.  I much prefer going the route of other lactivists who just continue to post breastfeeding photos on Facebook.  After all, that requires Facebook to pay someone to spend time removing so-called obscene photos of mothers feeding their children naturally.  The problem with my route of action is that it was more a route of inaction.  I hadn't ever joined a breastfeeding Facebook group or posted photos of myself nursing.  


Until last night.


Despite boycotts and  the work of lactivists to educate (or just irritate) the people behind Facebook, the breastfeeding censorship was an issue again this past week when Facebook deleted the breastfeeding support group The Leaky B@@b.  After receiving complaints, Facebook reinstated the account, then deleted it again, and then reinstated it again (it's currently active if you'd like to Like it). 


Still, Facebook's actions this past week stirred up a good amount of drama.  My favorite response is this Facebook "Nurse-In", a week-long event. The event's site encourages women to change their profile photo to a photo of themselves nursing or, for those who support breastfeeding but aren't currently or those who prefer cyber modesty, the International Breastfeeding symbol.

I am officially Attending the nurse-in, and I posted one of my favorite photos of Tye nursing in the comments section.

Then I changed my profile picture to this, another of my favorites.

I don't think anyone but a breastfeeding mama will know that I'm actually nursing in this photo, but for those of us who know, it's a beautiful shot.  


I guess these actions put me in the Lactivist category, don't they?  They aren't much, but along with over 7,000 other members attending the nurse-in, our actions just might be enough to be recognized by Facebook.  Which would go a long way in relieving my Facebook guilt.