Tessa Harper, along with her partner Ryan and their baby daughter Mia, attended the Women’s March in Los Angeles recently. When little Mia grew hungry, Harper, like any devoted mother, responded by breastfeeding her. In a powerful statement of empowerment, she shared an image of herself nursing at the event on her Instagram, captioning it, “Breastfeed anywhere.”
As a strong supporter of both breastfeeding and body positivity, Harper has previously posted similar photos without a cover. However, some users seized the chance to voice their disapproval. Comments ranged from harsh critiques of her actions to outright body shaming. One individual remarked, “You are so inappropriate. It doesn’t matter what the laws say, you should respect others around you,” while another added, “It’s fine, but we’ve seen this before. It feels like you’re just seeking attention. We got your message.”
The negative comments didn’t stop there; fat shaming also surfaced, with one user suggesting, “You won’t be around long enough to raise that baby, shaking my head.”
In response to the backlash, Harper updated her original post, stating, “For those suggesting I should ‘cover up,’ you mean while I’m feeding MY hungry baby who was a) starving & b) upset due to the overwhelming crowd? This is how I comfort him!” She further asserted, “I’ll nurse my child wherever I please. California law supports my right to do so. Keep your uneducated opinions off my body.”
The vitriol surrounding her photo underscores the necessity for bold advocates like Harper to continue sharing such images. Critiquing someone’s body under the guise of concern for health is unacceptable, and pressuring a breastfeeding mother to hide is equally wrong.
We’re confident that Harper will persist in her mission to normalize breastfeeding, and we’ll be cheering her on every step of the way. For more insights on related topics, check out this article on home insemination kit options.
In summary, Tessa Harper’s decision to breastfeed in public sparked controversy, revealing societal issues around body positivity and breastfeeding. Despite the negativity, she remains steadfast in her advocacy for both breastfeeding rights and body acceptance.