Breastfeeding Photos are not obscene
Denise,
Thank you for your response. However, I'm not sure that you or your Six Apart colleagues quite understand the nature of your decision-making. In order to be clear, I will directly reference your communication:
"We feel it's important to strike a balance between the ideal of free expression and the rights of, for instance, a parent to prevent their child from seeing unsolicited material that the parent feels is non-age-appropriate or the right of an individual to be able to browse public LiveJournal spaces without being exposed to nudity or violence."
Six Apart first indicates that this form of censorship "strikes a balance," indicating that those who feel that breasts and breastfeeding are offensive have a valid and worthwhile opinion.
Six Apart then equates breastfeeding with gratuitous nudity.
"There are not blanket restrictions on default userpics depicting the act of breastfeeding, and the restrictions have nothing to do with targetting or restricting breastfeeding activism or awareness campaigns."
While breastfeeding as an act is not prohibited per se, breastfeeding is sub-categorized under gratuitous nudity.
It is misleading to say that the restrictions do not restrict breastfeeding activism or awareness campaigns without elucidating exactly how Six Apart's definition is non-restrictive.
The restriction is by definition restrictive and censoring; it is also passes a value judgment against those who are unable to depict the act of breastfeeding without revealing an aereola or nipple (which vary in size, shape and color from person to person). It disallows breastfeeding photos that reveal nipples or areolas even though these body parts fundamental to the breastfeeding process.
"Any usericon in which unclothed breasts or genitalia are visible is therefore inappropriate for use as a default icon..."
Again, going back to the statement that Six Apart is not trying to restrict breastfeeding activism or awareness, this censorship restricts photos which depict proper latch-on techniques which are vital to the education and awareness-building of women and men everywhere who have or may have children at some point.
Six Apart also, by this claim, equates breasts with sexuality, viewing them primarily and most importantly as sexual objects, seeing breastfeeding only as a subsidiary use of the breast, areola or nipple. Six Apart validates the concerns of those individuals that feel that images of breasts are vulgar by imposing the restriction, taking sides even while claiming not to.
"The application of this policy to icons depicting breastfeeding is not in any way intended to be a statement that breastfeeding is dirty, shameful, or obscene.
Unfortunately, Six Apart's intentions are clear. By restricting pictures which depict an infant nursing, latching on or off to nurse, or participating in breastfeeding or bonding functions with a bare-breasted parent, Six Apart has placed an emphasis on the sexual function of the breast, a subsidiary function which serves a biological purpose that in no way compares to the care and feeding of a newborn child.
"We fully support our users' right to make their own decisions regarding parenting choices and styles, and we appreciate the dedication of parents who have chosen to participate in breastfeeding activism and education."
You can imagine why parents who have endured discrimination due to their breastfeeding choices find this statement an empty sentiment devoid of sincerity.
"We ask only that you are willing to extend the same support and appreciation to, for instance, parents who choose to believe that it is inappropriate for their children to view unsolicited nudity in public."
As a parent of three, I absolutely do not extend support or appreciation to individuals who find breastfeeding or breasts to be offensive or vulgar. I have both breast and bottle-fed my children. There is no need for individuals on either side of the issue to feel animosity towards the other--both are perfectly valid ways to feed a child, privately and in public.
"We feel that the restrictions we have always placed on default usericons strike the best balance between individual expression and individual courtesy."
Gratuitous sexual imagery exists everywhere, and as a parent, I would prefer to have the ability to monitor and make decisions regarding what my children are exposed to. I do not need Six Apart to make decisions such as this for me.
"We do agree that in a perfect world, the issue would not arise, but unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and we believe that our solution to the issue is a reasonable compromise between two wildly divergent points of view regarding what is and is not appropriate for LiveJournal -- not simply regarding icons depicting breastfeeding, but all material which a parent or other individual might feel is inappropriate for public."
Agreed, this is not a perfect world. But, according to Six Apart, LiveJournal is YOUR world which you and your colleagues rule with unmonitored control. And, according to Six Apart, imagery which includes any form of nudity, regardless of whether it pertains specifically to breastfeeding and in fact even when it pertains specifically to breastfeeding, is offensive.
Six Apart has chosen to communicate to users that there are situations in which breastfeeding is offensive.
"... the issue is not at all a political one. We welcome and value our pro-breastfeeding users and communities, and appreciate their dedication to and passion for their cause."
The issue is political.
The primary biological function of a breast is for feeding an human child, sustaining the life of a newborn infant.
Sex is a subsidiary function of the breast.
Banning pictures which depict breastfeeding because they may or may not be interpreted as having a gratuitous sexual aspect is validating the interpretation that the breast is primarily sexual, breastfeeding is sexual, and breastfeeding as vulgar or offensive.
Breasts and breastfeeding are not offensive, they are natural and necessary.
If Six Apart agrees that images that depict breastfeeding are sexual, you will continue the restriction.
If Six Apart agrees that breastfeeding is natural, non-offensive, and indeed necessary to sustain new life, you will apologize to those you have unnecessarily shamed and offer to all users the same breastfeeding support that most states in the US currently extend to mothers and children today.
Sincerely,
Thank you for your response. However, I'm not sure that you or your Six Apart colleagues quite understand the nature of your decision-making. In order to be clear, I will directly reference your communication:
"We feel it's important to strike a balance between the ideal of free expression and the rights of, for instance, a parent to prevent their child from seeing unsolicited material that the parent feels is non-age-appropriate or the right of an individual to be able to browse public LiveJournal spaces without being exposed to nudity or violence."
Six Apart first indicates that this form of censorship "strikes a balance," indicating that those who feel that breasts and breastfeeding are offensive have a valid and worthwhile opinion.
Six Apart then equates breastfeeding with gratuitous nudity.
"There are not blanket restrictions on default userpics depicting the act of breastfeeding, and the restrictions have nothing to do with targetting or restricting breastfeeding activism or awareness campaigns."
While breastfeeding as an act is not prohibited per se, breastfeeding is sub-categorized under gratuitous nudity.
It is misleading to say that the restrictions do not restrict breastfeeding activism or awareness campaigns without elucidating exactly how Six Apart's definition is non-restrictive.
The restriction is by definition restrictive and censoring; it is also passes a value judgment against those who are unable to depict the act of breastfeeding without revealing an aereola or nipple (which vary in size, shape and color from person to person). It disallows breastfeeding photos that reveal nipples or areolas even though these body parts fundamental to the breastfeeding process.
"Any usericon in which unclothed breasts or genitalia are visible is therefore inappropriate for use as a default icon..."
Again, going back to the statement that Six Apart is not trying to restrict breastfeeding activism or awareness, this censorship restricts photos which depict proper latch-on techniques which are vital to the education and awareness-building of women and men everywhere who have or may have children at some point.
Six Apart also, by this claim, equates breasts with sexuality, viewing them primarily and most importantly as sexual objects, seeing breastfeeding only as a subsidiary use of the breast, areola or nipple. Six Apart validates the concerns of those individuals that feel that images of breasts are vulgar by imposing the restriction, taking sides even while claiming not to.
"The application of this policy to icons depicting breastfeeding is not in any way intended to be a statement that breastfeeding is dirty, shameful, or obscene.
Unfortunately, Six Apart's intentions are clear. By restricting pictures which depict an infant nursing, latching on or off to nurse, or participating in breastfeeding or bonding functions with a bare-breasted parent, Six Apart has placed an emphasis on the sexual function of the breast, a subsidiary function which serves a biological purpose that in no way compares to the care and feeding of a newborn child.
"We fully support our users' right to make their own decisions regarding parenting choices and styles, and we appreciate the dedication of parents who have chosen to participate in breastfeeding activism and education."
You can imagine why parents who have endured discrimination due to their breastfeeding choices find this statement an empty sentiment devoid of sincerity.
"We ask only that you are willing to extend the same support and appreciation to, for instance, parents who choose to believe that it is inappropriate for their children to view unsolicited nudity in public."
As a parent of three, I absolutely do not extend support or appreciation to individuals who find breastfeeding or breasts to be offensive or vulgar. I have both breast and bottle-fed my children. There is no need for individuals on either side of the issue to feel animosity towards the other--both are perfectly valid ways to feed a child, privately and in public.
"We feel that the restrictions we have always placed on default usericons strike the best balance between individual expression and individual courtesy."
Gratuitous sexual imagery exists everywhere, and as a parent, I would prefer to have the ability to monitor and make decisions regarding what my children are exposed to. I do not need Six Apart to make decisions such as this for me.
"We do agree that in a perfect world, the issue would not arise, but unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and we believe that our solution to the issue is a reasonable compromise between two wildly divergent points of view regarding what is and is not appropriate for LiveJournal -- not simply regarding icons depicting breastfeeding, but all material which a parent or other individual might feel is inappropriate for public."
Agreed, this is not a perfect world. But, according to Six Apart, LiveJournal is YOUR world which you and your colleagues rule with unmonitored control. And, according to Six Apart, imagery which includes any form of nudity, regardless of whether it pertains specifically to breastfeeding and in fact even when it pertains specifically to breastfeeding, is offensive.
Six Apart has chosen to communicate to users that there are situations in which breastfeeding is offensive.
"... the issue is not at all a political one. We welcome and value our pro-breastfeeding users and communities, and appreciate their dedication to and passion for their cause."
The issue is political.
The primary biological function of a breast is for feeding an human child, sustaining the life of a newborn infant.
Sex is a subsidiary function of the breast.
Banning pictures which depict breastfeeding because they may or may not be interpreted as having a gratuitous sexual aspect is validating the interpretation that the breast is primarily sexual, breastfeeding is sexual, and breastfeeding as vulgar or offensive.
Breasts and breastfeeding are not offensive, they are natural and necessary.
If Six Apart agrees that images that depict breastfeeding are sexual, you will continue the restriction.
If Six Apart agrees that breastfeeding is natural, non-offensive, and indeed necessary to sustain new life, you will apologize to those you have unnecessarily shamed and offer to all users the same breastfeeding support that most states in the US currently extend to mothers and children today.
Sincerely,