A Mother's 'Nanosecond of Nipple,' Then a Tweetstorm

Mom breastfeeding in London museum takes to Twitter after being asked to cover up
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 7, 2017 8:47 AM CDT
Breastfeeding Mom Swipes at Museum's Naked Hypocrisy
"Perplexed."   (Twitter)

Surrounded by stone breasts, one mom was pressured to cover up her own. NPR reports on a breastfeeding mother who was asked by a staffer at London's Victoria and Albert Museum to cover up while trying to feed her 1-year-old in a museum courtyard over the weekend. But instead of meekly complying, the woman took to Twitter to vent, noting she was "perplexed" by the request after she "flashed a nanosecond of nipple." "I had been attempting to be discreet and to feed under a cardigan, but with a distracted 1-year-old it can be challenging," the mom so far identified only as @vaguechera tells the BBC. She says even though the museum worker was polite, the entire incident was "intrusive, unpleasant, and embarrassing for me, as well as obviously ludicrous."

Especially considering all of the bare breasts on display throughout the museum, which she pointed out in her next few snarky tweets. "If people really want an eyeful of boob, there are plenty to choose from, mostly far more exquisite than mine and unimpeded by a writhing toddler," she noted, per the Independent. After her tweets, she had to field what she called plenty of "vitriol" online by those who disagreed with her decision to feed her baby in public. The director of the museum eventually apologized via Twitter, tweeting, "Our policy is clear: women may breastfeed wherever they like, wherever they feel comfortable & shld not be disturbed." The museum also offered its mea culpa, adding it has "quiet spaces for those who would prefer privacy." The Guardian notes the museum staffer's request came during World Breastfeeding Week. (More breastfeeding stories.)

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