Page f March 4, 2009

CAMPUS

PANTHER POST

_ Facebook bans photos of mothers breastfeeding

Facebook group forms to fight against decision, after a mother was kicked off for 19 days for photos of her breastfeeding her child

By Jillian Hamilton

New mothers are criticizing social networking website Facebook for the removal of Facebook photos featuring breastfeeding.

Emma Kwasnica had her account suspended for 19 days because of the “ob- scene” photos she posted of herself breastfeeding her two daughters.

In a message sent to Kwas- nica, Facebook said it only suspended her account be- cause the photos showed too much of the breast.

“These policies are de- signed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for all users, including the many children who use the site,” the letter stated.

Several other members have received warnings about similar types of photos.

A Facebook group peti- tion called “Hey, Facebook,

breastfeeding is not obscene!

(Official petition to Face- book)” has about 185,000 members.

Melanie Walsh-Fraser, a volunteer with the La Leche League of Charlottetown and a mother, heard about the Facebook photo ban and wasn’t happy.

“Tt is unfortunate that a pic- ture of a woman nursing her baby would be deemed ob- scene, since breastfeeding is a normal way to feed and comfort a baby,” she said.

Bans of breastfeeding pho-

tos probably won't have an affect on whether or not young mothers decide to breastfeed, she said.

“One possible concern is that young women and new mothers might get the im- pression that breastfeeding is disapproved of and might be discouraged from breast- feeding for that reason.”

More often, the media will show pictures of babies be- ing bottle-fed.

“And that can suggest that bottles are the normal way to feed babies,” she said.

Walsh-Fraser said she hopes Facebook will change

its regulations to suit these

types of photos.

“Tt is hard to say since we

don’t know how many peo-

ple are actually involved in making these decisions.”

She does think, however, these types of groups are one way of spreading a positive message about breastfeed- ing.

“It is wonderful that people are communicating this mes- sage to the Facebook staff. However, it is hard to say if the petition will have any ef- fect.”

La Leche League Canada is a national organization of volunteers who provide information and encourage- ment to women who want to breastfeed their babies.

Jillian Tyrer, a Montreal teacher and mother to a 13-month-old, __deliberate- ly posts photos of herself

breastfe ding ‘the ‘group as a way of protesting the photo regulations.

“It’s like a person going on a hunger strike to protest war. He is not fighting for the right to starve himself, he is using the tactic of depriv- ing himself of food to make a point.”

Group member Helen Thomas of New York City said Facebook is within its legal right to remove pic- tures it finds offensive or in- appropriate.

“Their terms of use still give them the right to scruti- nize any content that is post- ed and the right to remove it as they see fit.”

Facebook may change their photo policies eventually,

Thomas said.

“Especially if they feel pres- sured to do so through the campaigning efforts of the breastfeeding advocates.”

Group member Michele Doolan of Madison, Wis. said the removal of breast- feeding photos is a little much and there is absolutely nothing obscene about it.

“Some of the photos banned are less revealing than other photos of women who are posed, revealing as much as possible for the sake of sex, and yet they remain. If you’re going to ban one breast, you should ban them all.”

A representative from Face- book declined to comment.

Hamilton is a journalism student at Holland College