A Mother Got Asked To Cover Up While Breastfeeding In A Museum, Her Response Was Golden
Welcome to (the end of) 2017's World Breastfeeding Week - a world in which women are still told to cover themselves when they are breastfeeding.
If there's one thing we know about motherhood (and being a woman full stop, to be honest) it's that you can never do anything right and everyone has an opinion on everything.
One of these things is breastfeeding. Whether you should breastfeed, why you shouldn't, how long you should do it, and where.
If you don't believe us, see the recent uproar regarding Beyoncé having a sip of booze (maybe, she could just be posing) two months after the birth of her twins and (maybe) whilst she is breastfeeding.
A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Aug 4, 2017 at 12:26pm PDT
And it's not just the Beyoncés of the world (though, we know there is only one), who have to deal with this kind of bulls*** - a woman breastfeeding her child in the courtyard of the London Victoria & Albert Museum was asked by a female member of staff to cover herself up.
She responded in the funniest, classiest way we could imagine, which didn't include her squirting the staff worker with her boob milk (unfortunately).
She shared what happened with the followers on her Twitter account, explaining that this request could be seen as hypocritical considering some of the statues and paintings in the museum…
Flashed a nanosecond of nipple while #breastfeeding and was asked to cover up in @V_and_A courtyard. Am perplexed.... pic.twitter.com/T6VIRQbgrC
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
On the upside, I had a lovely day at @v_and_a exploring depictions of breasts thru the ages and making lovely mammaries. I mean memories. pic.twitter.com/mMiL27WQZ8
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
'I will throw you out of this museum with your naked breasts!' 'But I'm made of marble!' 'Oh sorry you're fine then' @V_and_A pic.twitter.com/HL0py3vJ7I
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
'Excuse me madam, would you mind covering your breasts with this mask while you feed?' pic.twitter.com/yvRrcpbc3c
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
'All these naked breasts are putting people off their food' #vandaboob pic.twitter.com/jlo9CsIaDJ
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
Her hilarious tweets immediately got thousands of likes, retweets and positive comments, praising the mum for her refreshing attitude and not losing her s*** at the staff member.
V&A helped provide you with a depiction of breasts through the ages??! What was your conclusion?
- Marshall Oliver (@SimonSttj) August 6, 2017
that the @V_and_A could do a BRILLIANT exhibition exploring depictions of #breastfeeding and evolving social attitudes to it.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 6, 2017
Thanks all for support. I was so surprised partly because this was the first time it's ever happened to me in 3.5yrs of BF.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
Even former MP and current director of the V&A Tristram Hunt personally apologised to the mother for her ordeal and ensured the museum policy has and always will be that women can breastfeed wherever they like and they will look into this specific mistake.
.@vaguechera V sorry. Our policy is clear: women may breastfeed wherever they like, wherever they feel comfortable & shld not be disturbed.
- Tristram Hunt (@TristramHuntVA) August 5, 2017
thanks, apology accepted. Staff training maybe? Happy #WorldBreastfeedingWeek !
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
Unfortunately, because this is the Internet, alongside the positive responses, came the trolls.
You're clearly an attention seeker of the highest order. How many times are we going to hear same breastfeeding ploy played out in public?
- Teflon Wenger (@Drethegenius1) August 6, 2017
ah you got me! It's all a wicked plot to take over the world with ...errrm... milk.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 6, 2017
This thread perfectly demonstrates the mentality of the breastfeeding nazis. Aggressive accusations before the facts are even known.
- Scott Jelferson (@scottjelfs) August 5, 2017
Bingo! I think you are the first one to mention nazis. Here's your prize 🏆
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
Woman for nth time deliberately goes to famous museum, breastfeeds baby and goes talking to press when politely asked to cover up. Pathetic
- Teflon Wenger (@Drethegenius1) August 6, 2017
I didn't go to the press. I tweeted the museum. The Daily Mail turned up on my doorstep and hounded me.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 6, 2017
Latched baby = covered nipple #problemsolved
- Sarah Hlubik (@adefenestration) August 6, 2017
thrashing/distracted 1yr old = latch a bit hit and miss sometimes.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 6, 2017
Seems it was a provoked 'incident' and that obese toddler doesn't need to be fed every 5 minutes!
- Allards (@Allards) August 6, 2017
my one year old is a normal weight and feeds a couple of times a day. Have a lovely day.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 6, 2017
The mother responded with humour, despite people insisting she purposefully created a scene to push her agenda.
Thanks all for support. I was so surprised partly because this was the first time it's ever happened to me in 3.5yrs of BF.
- Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
She makes clear that she does not hold it against the museum and saw the funny side of the whole thing, pointing out that in three and a half years of breastfeeding her children, this had never happened before.
Kudos to this woke mum just trying to get her dose of culture whilst giving her kid its dose of milk. We've got your back , though it doesn't look like you need it.
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