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by Amy Spangler
December 23, 2008
If you think what’s commonly seen/done/discussed isn’t perceived as normal, consider the cesarean birth rate. With rates approaching 50 percent in some communities, the ‘normal’ way to give birth (vaginally) is becoming the exception and the ‘abnormal’ way to give birth (c-section) is becoming the norm.
Anyone with knowledge of human history knows that the ‘normal’ way to feed a baby is to breastfeed and the ‘abnormal’ way to feed a baby is with a formula-filled bottle. For centuries, breastfeeding ensured the survival of the species—it’s why you and I are here today. During the 1900s, as more mothers made the decision not to breastfeed (for more on why read, Don’t Kill Your Baby by Jacqueline Wolf), bottle-feeding became increasingly more common until eventually bottle-feeding was perceived as ‘normal’ and breastfeeding as uncommonly rare.
When everybody does something—it’s perceived as normal. It’s the ‘doing’ by the masses that causes cultural change. Enter Kelli Roman. In an effort to muster the masses and shift Facebook’s perception of breastfeeding, Roman started a group called Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene! (Official Petition to Facebook). Her action was triggered by Facebook’s removal of an image of her breastfeeding her baby from her Facebook profile, without asking her permission. The result of Roman’s action can best be described as a ‘feeding frenzy.’ Over 60,000 mothers and fathers have joined to protest Facebook’s action. If you haven’t signed the petition yet, it’s not too late. On December 27, more than 60,000 women will replace their pictures on their Facebook profiles with pictures of breastfeeding mothers and babies.
Whether you agree or disagree with the protest, as a result of Facebook’s action, breastfeeding advocates worldwide are now united in a common purpose—ensuring that breastfeeding will be perceived as the ‘normal’ way to feed a baby, anytime, anywhere, anyplace, anyhow —even in your Facebook.
Breastfeeding will never be perceived as normal until it becomes common, and it will never be common as long as women are made to feel that they need to breastfeed out of the public eye. The discomfort people feel with breastfeeding is largely due to the fact that it is rarely seen. As a culture, we have allowed a normal, natural, human activity to be relegated to backrooms and bathrooms. The time to stand up is long overdue. I applaud the efforts of those on Facebook and proudly join them.
In case you missed it, Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt was quoted by UPI as saying, “These policies are designed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure, and trusted environment for all users, including the many children who use the site.”
If Schnitt is truly concerned about children, he’ll join the more than 60,000 women of Facebook who clearly understand that breastfeeding is all about children.
Copyright ©2012 baby gooroo, inc.
