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I have recently succumbed to Facebook. It is such an easy of catching up with people who you haven't seen in a while (even quite a while) and even with those who you do see fairly regularly (because you can send them short messages and 'gifts' one-handed while settling a baby with your other).However, it has recently come to my attention that Facebook removes photos of breastfeeding from the site because they are "obscene".
Frankly that is an obscene policy. Breastfeeding is not only something that needs to be encouraged so that as many babies as possible can get the best start in life, it is also something that defies the disgusting male tendency to objectify and sexualise woman. The only way that anyone could view such a necessary and natural act as breastfeeding as "obscene" is if they were incapable of viewing a woman's breasts as anything but a sexual object - rather than as a source of food, nuture and life for a new life.
It is just so disgusting to me that any one individual could feel justified in having this attitude, but for a corporation to not only adopt such an attitude, but to actually take action on it by removing photographs of breastfeeding, well, that is just outrageous.
Frankly someone should sue Facebook for breaching the Anti-Discrimination Act.
In the meantime, the League of Maternal Justice is promoting a virtual "feed-in" on 10 October 2007 at 10am:
We're asking women around the world to speak out - and squirt out! - against the banning of breastfeeding pictures on Facebook, as well as against the constant onslaught of negative attention toward breastfeeding mothers in public spaces and in the media.
That's right. We're staging a virtual nurse-in!
On October 10 at 10am (your time), women around the US and Canada and - we hope - the world will breastfeed for justice. We'll nurse our babies or bottle-feed our babies or reminisce about doing either of those things and we'll post pictures and video, all together, and let the world know that there is no shame, only power, in caring for our children.
Spread the word by placing a button on your blog, and then set up your web cam to live broadcast on your blog on October 10 at 10am (your time). If you don't have a web cam, but have a video recorder, post some breastfeeding video! Load it up on YouTube and tag it "The Great Virtual Breast Fest" on October 10!
If you don't have a web cam/video camera or you are not currently nursing, send us your breastfeeding pictures, along with your blog url (if you have one -- non-bloggers are WELCOME and strongly encouraged to participate!). We'll be creating a video montage of pictures that you can embed onto your blog. (If you've already written a post with pictures, please still send us a photo!)
So not to exclude our non-breastfeeding friends, you can participate by writing a post - even a blurb will do - about why you support women's right to nourish their children whenever and whatever and in whatever manner they wish.
We love your boobs too!
Whatever you're planning on doing as part of the Breast Fest, make sure to let us know how you're participating by emailing The Boob Squad. Want to breastfeed live but need a webcam? Plan on putting video up? Sending us some pics?
How you can participate:
1) Nurse live on your blog via a webcam at 10am YOUR time
2) Place recorded video of you breastfeeding on your blog at 10am YOUR time
3) Place the LMJ Breastfeeding Montage (available 10/8) on your blog at 10am YOUR time Up and through 10/10, please help us spread the word by writing posts and linking our site with the button codes.
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