Are you offended by this image? Midwife is shocked after her breastfeeding photograph is reported on social media – but not for the reason you might think
- Melbourne midwife Amberley Harris caused an outcry on Facebook with a photo
- It was a breastfeeding picture of her friend Ellen with her two children in frame
- But instead of being criticised for the feeding itself, it was her daughter’s nipples
- The six-year-old wasn’t wearing a top in the photo which sparked debate
Midwife Amberley Harris didn’t think twice about sharing a breastfeeding photo of her friend Ellen on Facebook.
The Melbourne-based mother showcased the image this week in a bid to raise awareness about the low breastfeeding rates around the world, an issue she is currently crowdfunding a documentary about.
But instead of the focus being on the issue, Ms Harris discovered friends and family were unable to share the link because it ‘breaches community guidelines’; and one was even banned from the social media website for 24 hours for sharing the image.
What made things worse is that it wasn’t the breastfeeding or the bared bosom that caused an outcry but that her friend’s six-year-old daughter was topless.
Midwife Amberley Harris didn’t think twice about sharing a breastfeeding photo of her friend Ellen (pictured) on Facebook
‘This whole situation over the past 48 hours with family and friends trying to share my post has been absolute madness,’ Ms Harris told Femail.
‘People have been reported. People have had posts removed. People have been banned. The post with the link to the campaign apparently breaches community guidelines.’
Ms Harris’ followers believe the ban came about because of restrictions on material that could be considered as sexual exploitation of children.
Femail has reached out to Facebook for comment.
‘When I first saw this I assumed this was about the fierce mama, my darling girlfriend Ellen, breastfeeding and I was equally exasperated as I was deflated,’ she said.
‘But given Facebook says themselves in the guidelines that photos of women actively engaging in breastfeeding are okay, it became clear the issue here was likely with the little girl standing to Ellen’s left.’
That little girl is Ellen’s six-year-old daughter Quinn who had her ‘nipples in the frame’.
‘The sexualisation of female breasts and nipples is a major issue when it comes to societal acceptance of breastfeeding,’ Ms Harris said.
Immediately Ms Harris (pictured) assumed Facebook had and issue with the breastfeeding part of the image, even though they expressly allow such photos to be shared
But the upset has encouraged Ms Harris even more in her quest to share the documentary, which will explain what measures we can take to make breastfeeding more commonplace
‘As I continue to work tirelessly championing the breastfeeding mothers of the world, these are the barriers they, and I, are up against and it’s on days like today I realise these issues run deep. So very deep.’
But the upset has encouraged Ms Harris even more in her quest to share the documentary, which will explain what measures we can take to make breastfeeding more commonplace.
‘If these past 48 hours are anything to go by, the world so needs this project to come to life,’ she said.
You can donate towards Ms Harris’ documentary here.