Why Does Facebook Hate Breastfeeding? Feminist Breeder Edition
Last week I saw a Facebook update on my page that made me smile: a toddler nursing while holding a piece a bacon. The update from The Feminist Breeder read:
Accompanied by this picture:
I didn't think twice about it and went on with my day.
Not everybody did. A woman complained to Facebook and two days later the post was removed by Facebook and Gina Crosely-Corcoron, AKA the Feminst Breeder, was banned for three days for "inappropriate content".
As Gina explains in her post titled "Facebook Strikes Again, Suspended Over An Awesome Breastfeeding Photo", 1,500 people "liked" the post and 40 people shared it. But one disgruntled reader (I have to ask, what was she doing on a page called the Feminist Breeder?) complained to Facebook and Gina was banned.
She vowed to come back stronger when she returned and collected 72 breastfeeding photos to post every hour for three days. None of the photos break Facebook's Terms of Service about showing the nipple, including the first photo that got removed.
Approximately 12 hours after her re-instatement Gina was once again banned from Facebook, but this time she was ready. Guest admins are posting breastfeeding photos on her FB page. Women all over the Internet are also posting their own breastfeeding photos as profile pics and on their walls in support. They are running a campaign to normalize breastfeeding, with or without the help of Zuckerberg and his lactating-hating crew.
Whether or not you are a fan of public breastfeeding, it is hard to understand Facebook's hypocrisy over this issue. Facebook is well-known for removing breastfeeding pictures, many of which are from women who are just innocently sharing photos.
In response to some of the controversy, Facebook states on their warnings and blocks page:
We agree that breastfeeding is natural and beautiful, and we're very glad to know that it is important for mothers to share their experiences with others on Facebook. The vast majority of these photos are compliant with our policies, and we will not take action on them.
Photos that show a fully exposed breast where the child is not actively engaged in nursing do violate Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. These policies are based on the same standards which apply to television and print media.
It seems that Facebook is vigilant on the breastfeeding front, taking down photos that do NOT break their own guidelines. But the company still allows many, many pages that fulfill no purpose other than to show off pictures of breasts for a (one assumes) male audience. (For example read the comments on The Feminist Breeder page.) Those pages are not being taken down, despite complaints.
Why?
You know the old saying, “actions speak louder than words?” Facebook keeps insisting that breastfeeding is “natural and important.” They also keep removing pictures of women engaging in it. What’s the deal?
Yes, Facebook what is the big deal? Why do you hate breastfeeding? Why the hypocrisy?
UPDATE: Facebook re-instated Gina and told her to "enjoy the site". But Gina says she is fed up with the misogyny on the site and is going to opt out. Read her update here.
Image: The Feminist Breeder
Want more chaos? Last year, I lived in terror of teenagers. Still do.
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