To begin with – it’s not even my image to court controversy over. I found it when I was kicking about on the interwebs.
I just loved it. I loved the lushness of it – and the woman with the knock-out body, practicing yoga, a headstand no less, and breastfeeding. It was a juxtaposition I just had to love. It was endearing, funny – and it captured those special – and intimate moments you share with your children that no one else is usually privy to. It kind of felt like a privilege that the photo had been shared at all.
And of course, I uploaded it to my Facebook page.
I've heard different opinions about this picture. And whist some of my friends have expressed discomfort in it, they have remained wonderful and respectful that I have shared it and shared my thoughts with them - as have I enjoyed hearing their opinions also. But some.. well, I have just been onto my facebook page and found it has been deleted. So obviously somebody on my page has reported this.
But whyy?
I understand that NUDITY can be confronting to some people. I understand that yoga can be confronting to some people. I TOTALLY understand that booby multi-tasking can be SUPER confronting too. Combine all three and I am thinking that some people’s heads spin and they probably can’t work out which part of the equation is hurting their brain and making their wowser button click on.
That wonderful image of a woman doing what all women do – multi-tasking. And while I thought constructing a sandwich one-handed, talking to my mum with the phone tucked under my chin, and breastfeeding my baby simultaneously was some kind of feat Circus Oz would want to tap, this woman is quietly doing what she does. Breastfeeding and yoga-ing in her backyard stark naked.
I am a passionate advocate for breastfeeding. I don’t believe it should be hidden away, in a separate room, in the public toilets or under a cloth (because I can’t wrangle a cloth while I’m trying to breastfeed – it gets too complicated – props to those who can manage it – I just can’t). Whether you choose to, can or can’t breast feed, it’s a natural, everyday, beautiful part of life.
For the photo, I think some people can not see past a naked body to actually SEE the picture. Some families arnt comfortable with their bodies being shown, nakedness is hidden away. Every family is different. But just because you're not comfortable with nakedness does not automatically make nakedness sexual!
To me it speaks of the strength and confidence of the woman. Confidence to be photographed naked while standing on her head, the strength of her body to give birth to a new life and to be able to stand on her head! The focus and discipline she must have to be able to hold this pose speak not only of her physical strength, but also her mental strength, while to be breast feeding at the same time shows the nurturing love of a mother and well as a mother’s ability to multitask. I don’t understand why an image of a woman feeding her baby is deemed offensive, while most pop music videos reduce the female form to nothing more than a sexual object and everyone’s okay with it.
As I commented under this photo on my facebook page, I just think this photo is Art.. It just shows absolute beauty..
The only thing that is wrong here is the small minded responses some people had to the photo. Facebook should be ashamed of itself for being so riduclous about breastfeeeding photos. Why is it acceptable to let our daughters post pics of themselves in provocative poses wearing their underwear but not acceptable to look at this amazing photo which literally celebrates life, babies and motherhood….. So feed your babies, hold them like football if you like to. And if you can, feed them upside down in the nuddie. Just do it!!
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