It’s World Breastfeeding Week, the first week of World Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and we are experiencing yet another 2021 letdown (see what we did there?). Usually, at this time of year, we get to see tons of photos from around the world, as breastfeeding parents participate in celebrations and sit-ins with their babies firmly latched to their primary source of nourishment and comfort. This year, as with 2020, although the Global Big Latch On held virtual meetups, things weren’t exactly the same.
By no means do we blame any mothers for not wanting to expose their children and their breasts to big crowds, of course. We’ll leave any in-person mass demonstrations for the masked grownups and bigger kids. But we do miss seeing those glowing faces and pudgy cheeks. We were so uplifted by those images of women reminding the world that breastfeeding is not an obscene or sexual act, but actually the most natural thing in the world.
That’s when we decided to give in to nostalgia. Since breastfeeding demonstrations have been going on for more than a decade across the world, we decided to look back at photos from them, as well as other protest events. As we did, we realized how much they really have accomplished in just a few short years, changing attitudes about nursing in public and even getting governments to change laws. In the U.S., for example, it is now legal to breastfeed in public in all 50 states.
Still, there are some grumpy old prudes who will try to tell you to cover up or go to a bathroom. That’s why we’ve got to keep at it — once the pandemic truly passes, anyway. In the meantime, we can pretend that these photos, taken in China, the U.K., Mexico, Greece, the U.S., and more, are from this week. Heck, some of these pics weren’t even from Breastfeeding Week but from demonstrations held at other times of the year. We really can’t tell, you know, since breastfeeding never goes out of style.
This story was originally published in August 2020.
California Baby
This little guy took a break from his meal at an event in Merced, Calif., in 2006, to play with his aunt. He also had a minute to flirt with the camera.
Victoria’s Dark Secret
Moms in Ohio protested after news that breastfeeding women had been kicked out of Victoria’s Secret locations in Massachusetts and Wisconsin in 2006.
Getting the Message Across
These women in the Philippines certainly knew how to show their support for laws that restrict the marketing of baby formula in 2007.
Lactose Intolerance
A Vancouver H&M was flooded with breastfeeding protesters after a nursing mom had been asked to leave.
Not Obscene
This mom at the H&M demonstration may have a future in bathroom stall art.
Bebe au Lait
Another happy customer! This guy made an excellent point for World Breastfeeding Week in Paris in 2008.
French Cuisine
This little Parisian doesn’t seem thrilled to have a camera in his face as he eats.
What Else Do You Do in the Food Court?
After a woman in Costa Rica was asked to leave a shopping center while breastfeeding in 2013, 50 moms came in to show that their babies deserve to eat in public too.
We’re Going on a Milk Hunt
These moms formed a flash mob in Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou City, China, for World Breastfeeding Week in 2013.
Good Sports
Nursing moms demonstrated their power at a sporting goods store in Nottingham, England, in 2014, after a breastfeeding woman had been asked to leave a week earlier.
Statuesque Demonstration
Moms in 39 Greek cities participated in breastfeeding week demonstrations in 2013.
Civil Rest
You can’t tell, but this Greek baby is really passionate about public breastfeeding in 2013.
He’s Got a Point
When a mother dining at Claridge’s in London was asked to put a napkin over her baby’s head as she fed him in 2014, breastfeeding moms took action. The story was quickly international news as moms staged a protest in front of the luxury hotel.
Cool Commuters
Staging a protest in a comfortably air-conditioned metro car in Nanning City, China, is kind of a genius move.
Culinary Tradition
Moms and babies donned traditional costumes for their World Breastfeeding Week demonstrations at the Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania, in 2016.
Picnic for All
Families enjoyed a day in the park for their 2016 World Breastfeeding Week sit-in.
Viva la Revolución
“Long live my mom’s tits!” reads this sign held by mothers in Bogota, Colombia, in 2016.
Supermilk
This little superhero shows Grandma her latch at a Breastfeeding Week event in Panama City, Florida, in 2016.
PETA for Dairy?
This Virginia mom was at the White House in 2018 to protest the government’s stance on international breastfeeding programs.
Line Up & Latch On
While there were only 24 moms in nursing together in Guangzhou City, China on this day in 2019, they were joined by thousands around the world in the Big Latch On that year.
Little Babes All in a Row
Another view of the mamas and kiddos taking part in the Global Big Latch On event in Guangzhou city, on August 3, 2019.
Moms in Action
In the Philippines in 2019, more than 2,000 breastfeeding mothers gathered for World Breastfeeding Awareness.
Tandem Twin Power
These two lucky boys grabbed a snack at the UNICEF breastfeeding party in Mexico City in August 2019.
La Leche League
Thousands showed up for Bogota’s World Breastfeeding Week demonstration in 2019.
Raise Your Babes in the Air
The mothers of Bogota proudly lifted their chubby-cheeked breastfed kids in 2019.
Peace in a Crowd
A little rain wasn’t enough to deter the mothers of Bogota from staging their feed-in in 2019.
Living Metaphors
Climate change activists held a breastfeeding protest as part of the three-day demonstration in October 2019.
Modern & Timeless Art
When a woman was asked to leave the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City for breastfeeding, she set off a massive protest in November 2019.
Don’t Mess With the Mothers
The organizers of the Mexico City protests called their feed-in a “tetada.”
Breastfeeding Is a Human Right
This mother’s sign reminds everyone that we’re talking about feeding children here.
Victory Meal
The Mexico City Museum of Art later apologized and pledged to train employees to respect breastfeeding parents. Protests work!
Feeding for the Future
On Dec. 2, 2019, a group of moms from the Extinction Rebellion movement breastfed their babies during a protest in front of the Brexit Party headquarters in London.
Comfort Food
This mama, protesting as part of the Extinction Rebellion movement in London on Dec. 2, 2019, is clearly a fan of extended breastfeeding — and if it suits both mom and child, so are we!
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