When this photographer shared an image of nude mum’s breastfeeding their babies on Facebook, they didn’t censor her. We did.
Jade Beall is passionate about photographing and celebrating bodies of diversity. Particularly, the beautiful and very real bodies of postpartum mothers.
The mother of one regularly shares un-photoshopped images of mum’s posing nude with their newborns on Facebook. Often they’re breastfeeding, but Jade always abides by the site’s rules and censors the nipples.
Except this time she didn’t.
So when Jade posted the below image and forgot to blur out ONE of the nipples, someone reported her to Facebook.
The post had received plenty of positive feedback with over 3,000 shares and 9,000 likes but it also included cruel comments and was eventually reported.
No stranger to being banned by the social media site, Jade acted quickly by removing the image and replaced it with the offending nipple blurred out.
Read more:What took this star so long to #FreeTheNipple?
Following the incident she said it wasn’t Facebook’s fault for what transpired, but rather the public’s discomfort with women celebrating imperfect bodies.
“When we see a woman with the untypical body type feeling empowered and vulnerable to pose for an artist, it’s like somehow I break the rules of what is acceptable for how much skin a woman ‘should’ show,” the photographer told The Huffington Post.
“And to show her allowing her breasts to be used in a completely un-sexualised manner, that really rocks the boat.”
To see more of Jade Beall’s beautiful images, click-through the gallery below…
In a statement included with the replaced image, Jade wrote:
I took this photo to celebrate women. NOT to say this is how women should or shouldn’t breastfeed. THIS IS MY ART. This is how I want to make a photograph. This is a CELEBRATION of un-photoshopped skin and shapes and of divine sisterhood.
The women in this photo posed for me because they trust me and desire freedom from self-loathing and are searching to heal their stories of not being good enough. Because they want to learn to love the skin they are in and they want YOU to feel SEEN too. Yes, YOU! We are all unique and beautiful and different and we are all made of the stuff of LOVE.
Jade said she was originally inspired to photograph postpartum mothers after giving birth herself. The photographer explained that she had re-visited a place of self-loathing after becoming a mum and wanted to empower other women who might feel the same.
Read more: Some say this picture is beautiful. Others say it’s “sexualising” breastfeeding.
“I have a particular fondness for women who’ve just given birth and are left with these very different looking bodies from when you started… and I wanted to inspire others to put your bikini on, go to the pool, you too are beautiful!” she told Huff Post Live.
Couldn’t agree more, Jade. The more we celebrate bodies of diversity, the more women will be able to accept their own.
Top Comments
"Some say it's beautiful, some say it's sexualising" the vast majority could not care less.
I am utterly and completely bored to death with women yelling about their right to breast feed. And yes, of course this is what this woman is doing.
We get it. I have never - nope, not once ever - seen anyone comment or remark in public on a woman breastfeeding, neither negative or positive. Cue hysterical anecdotes claiming otherwise.
I breastfed too. I don't care what you do. Most of the time most of us just don't care or notice. The occasional time this is otherwise, deal with it through the law as you have a legal right to breastfeed which is not in any danger of going away. I will come to your defence in the exceptionally unlikely event someone tries to stop you in public.
Fine, you want to publish humdrum photos of women without clothes on. Good for you. Please just get on with it and stop expecting accolades. It is your right to breastfeed and post dull photos about breastfeeding. It is our right not to cheer for you, lead a parade for you or care.
Mmmhmm except it's woman through history like Jade Beall who keep the conversation flowing about women's rights and who question societal values and who help to ensure that we even have those laws you're talking about that protect our ability to breastfeed whenever and wherever. So be bored if you want while others go on spreading a positive message and empowering others.
Intimate - beautiful - natural - mothering - nurturing - love.