It's a sad fact that people still viewing breastfeeding in an archaic, outmoded manner. Mothers everywhere are still being shamed left, right and centre for the (apparently) heinous crime of making sure that their children are fed in public. Indeed, many people still treat this perfectly natural act of maternal care as if it were some kind of lewd exhibitionism, and people have even come to blows over the issue. Thankfully however, the cultural perception of breastfeeding is starting to change (albeit slowly) and women are beginning to throw shade back at their haters. I can't say I blame them.
Now we might have seen the best response to breastfeeding shamers ever posted on social media, courtesy of a mother and activist named Ashley Kaidel, who hails from Florida. Ashley decided to upload a picture to Facebook of herself breastfeeding her son in a public restaurant, where she had to contend with a number of other patrons who weren't happy with her, as well as prejudiced social media users. However, in an articulate post, she outlines precisely why it's so ridiculous for mothers to be derided for public breastfeeding.
"In the picture, it appears I'm staring off into the distance. In reality, I'm staring into the eyes of a woman staring at me. She is looking at me with disgust and shaking her head with judgement in an attempt to shame me and indirectly tell me without words that I am wrong and need to cover myself ..."
"Breast feeding mothers are protected under law to breast feed any way, any how and any where they're allowed to be in all circumstances otherwise ... I do this for the person that has the mentality 'Boobs are to be covered. They're for your husbands eyes only. They're intimate. It's a personal/private thing to feed your baby. Cover up out of respect. My kids don't need to see that. Walk out of the room' ... Breasts were made to sustain your baby's life before they were made to bring pleasure to any other man, woman, partner or spouse. Their sole purpose is to make food and dispense it straight into a baby's mouth."
She added, "No person should be isolated and shunned because they're eating, especially when you yourself are eating while ridiculing how someone else is eating. Is it not certainly easier to avert your eyes from a displeasing sight rather than suggest or demand a mother and child remove themselves from your presence? How pompous and selfish is this? Just look away. It's simple to do so. No harm done at all.”
Yup; to be honest I can't see anything wrong with her line of reasoning there, and so hopefully her post will inspire others to take a stand. In fact, even a Sports Illustrated model is doing her part to get rid of the stigma.
