By Isabel Wilson-
A mother whose privacy was shattered when she stumbled upon a video of herself breastfeeding her baby on Facebook is the talk of the week.
The incident has ignited a firestorm of discussion in many circles, surrounding the ongoing challenges faced by mothers who breastfeed in public.
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Izabele Lomax (pictured)thought she was privately feeding her 9-week-old son, Baker, under a beach umbrella as they enjoyed with family an outing weeks ago. She negligently forgot she was actually in public, where members of the public are free to film anything in sight and circulate for the world’s consumption.
The next day, she was scrolling through one of her mom groups on Facebook when she saw a post that shamed women for breastfeeding in public being condemned.
Upon taking a closer look, Lomax recognized herself and Baker, whose faces had been blurred from the person who shared it in her group and took a closer look.
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She took to Tiktok to highlight her experience, saying:
”I was scrolling on Facebook and saw a video of myself breastfeeding my baby at the beach
Apparently, moms are still copping flak for breastfeeding their little ones in public.
Yep, whether they’re at a theme park, on a plane, or at the park, it’s like there’s no winning for moms when it comes to where and how they feed their babies (like we have that much of a say in it…)
And the worst part is, the shaming is often done by OTHER PARENTS.
Oh, but wait, there’s more!
Some people just can’t resist whipping out their phones either, recording you, sans permission, of course, and sharing it on social media for the world to scrutinize.
This heart-wrenching account of public shaming has taken social media by storm, resonating with mothers worldwide and serving as a stark reminder of the hurdles they encounter on their motherhood journey.
The video incident underscores a pervasive issue that mothers continue to face – the societal judgment and criticism of breastfeeding in public spaces. Whether they’re at a theme park, on an airplane, or simply enjoying time at the park, mothers often find themselves at the receiving end of disapproving glances and unsolicited commentary.
The incident resonates with mothers who have grappled with the complexities of nourishing their babies while navigating a world that is sometimes unforgiving in its judgment.
Some defenders of the mother consider one of the most disheartening aspects of this incident is that the shaming often originates from other parents.
Michaela Higgins, a 32 mother of three told The Eye Of Media.Com : ”The very community that should be supportive and understanding often perpetuates the cycle of judgment. This phenomenon not only erodes the solidarity among parents but also perpetuates the notion that mothers must adhere to specific norms dictated by others.
‘The person shaming this woman should have considered that this mother must have felt the need to feed her baby where she was, otherwise she would not have done so. Maternal instincts take over in certain situations, and mothers priortize the needs of their children over theirs, especially when they are babies.
‘Exposing the woman’s boobs to the whole world aint cool at all”
‘Surely this incident raises questions about empathy, compassion, and the importance of fostering a supportive environment for mothers navigating the demanding terrain of parenting’.
The Power of Social Media
The mother’s discovery of the video on Facebook reverberated across social media platforms, making it one of the most viral news stories of the week.
Ava Robinson, a 30 year old teacher from Washington DC said: ”I think this was really bad, and shows how low some will stoop just to get attention. A poor mother is feeding her baby at a beech, and some clown thinks it is funny to spread that on social media. It is appalling and very inconsiderate.
‘Social media’s ability to magnify and amplify stories in real time has allowed this incident to transcend borders, reaching mothers across the globe who have faced similar challenges. The collective outrage and empathy expressed online highlights the urgency to address the prevailing stigma attached to breastfeeding in public spaces.
‘The incident serves as a stark reminder of the boundaries that are sometimes transgressed in the digital age, however because the woman was in a public place, she has no legal grounds for objection to being filmed. Morally speaking, it was simply not right, especially as the rest of the media jumped on the story, further spreading and providing a platform for the social media woman’s ill advised and selfish judgement”.
The media has a right to share stories in public interest, especially those that raise discussions and debate. Privacy under circumstances are expected even in a public place, but not protected by law. This reality lays the options before all in a public place who engage in activities they consider private.
However, Brook Harris, a 26 year old computer analyst, said: ” I think the social media dude or female was right to share the image if that gives them a kick and they want to make a point. Yes, the mother was caring for her young child, but she should do that indoors.
”As a mother she knows at some point her child will want to drink milk on their mother’s breast, so it’s either the mother stays home, or gets a baby sitter or family friend to look after her baby if she wants to go to the beach.
‘People can film anything in a public place, and ok its not thoughtful to film a mother feeding her child, but a responsible mother must recognize that their are such people out there
‘The world has all different types of people, really different in many ways, and that’s what makes life exciting. They say it would be a boring world if we were all the same.
‘Whatever makes you a writer asking me these questions(pointing to me) is very different to my world experience, and the same goes to whoever shared that video. They thought it was fun to share it, and that’s all there is to it.
‘Those criticizing that person is different to me, because in my mind, I think both parties can be criticized, or it can just be seen as one of those things.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the boundaries that are sometimes transgressed in the digital age, however because the woman was in a public place, she has no legal grounds for objection to being filmed. Morally speaking, it was simply not right, especially as the rest of the media jumped on the story, further spreading and providing a platform for the social media woman’s ill advised and selfish judgement”.
The media has a right to share stories in public interest, especially those that raise discussions and debate. Privacy under circumstances are expected even in a public place, but not protected by law. This reality lays the options before all in a public place who engage in activities they consider private.
As mothers strive to provide nourishment and care for their children, the incident highlights the importance of respecting their privacy and autonomy. The act of capturing and sharing such intimate moments without consent raises questions about ethics, consent, and the broader implications of digital surveillance in our lives.
Empathy And Solidarity
Sophia Moore, a 29 year old accountant and mother of three from Washington, said: ”The viral nature of this incident has underscored the importance of cultivating empathy and solidarity within the parenting community. Rather than perpetuating a culture of judgment, parents should unite in support of each other’s choices and challenges.
The incident’s viral nature underscores the power of social media in amplifying voices and concerns, as well as the need for digital ethics and privacy considerations. Ultimately, the incident serves as a rallying cry for empathy, solidarity, and support within the parenting community, as we collectively strive to create an environment where every mother can nourish her child with confidence and dignity.
The way Lomax discovered she was all over social media shocked her to the core.
“What is wrong with people? Cover up”
New mom Isabel, 24, was scrolling Facebook like she does every morning when she came across a video of herself at the beach, topless and breastfeeding her baby.
The caption on the video said: “I’m not shaming women who breastfeed their babies.
“I’m shaming the woman who breastfed in public with no respect to cover themselves up and just let their boobs hang out (nipple included) for everyone to see! COVER TF UP !!!”
The post continued, “I shouldn’t have to cover my son’s eyes and explain why your boobs are out and quite frankly, I don’t want to see it either. Have some respect!”
And finally, it concluded: “For real cover yourself up, what the f**k is wrong with people?”
“Imagine waking up and seeing this video of yourself”
After discovering the post, Isabel took to her TikTok to expose the woman who shamed her and defended her side of the story.
In the clip, Isabele appears topless, breastfeeding her baby (an iconic way to make a clap-back video if we do say so ourselves.)
“Imagine waking up, getting on Facebook, and seeing this video of yourself yesterday at the beach,” she began the viral clip which now has over half a million likes.
“Not only did this woman walk past me multiple times with her son, you had every opportunity in the world to say something to me. Not that I would have cared or stopped what I was doing, but you instead choose to post a video of me and my child on Facebook, publicly for the world to see,” she continued.
I was forced to stop breastfeeding on a plane — despite medical advice
People in the comments praised the mom for her response while also sharing their own similar experiences.
“YES, GIRL! Feed your baby any way you choose. You are doing AMAZING,” one commenter wrote.
“Beautiful! I teach my boys it’s amazing that moms can do this and they can see it but don’t stare because it’s impolite,” another woman said.
Someone else replied, “I always tell people to put a shirt over their head so they don’t have to see me breastfeed lol or they can go to the bathroom to eat while she eats at the table.”
“I nurse publicly and have for eight months now and this is my worst nightmare. I can’t imagine how you felt, I’m so sorry,” posted a fellow mom.
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