A young mother has expressed her outrage after a picture of her breastfeeding in public was uploaded onto Facebook with a caption labelling her as a “tramp”.
Emily Slough, 27, was out running errands in Rugeley, Staffordshire, last Friday when she sat down on a pub’s steps to feed her eight-month-old daughter Matilda and have a bite to eat herself.
Without her knowledge, a stranger snapped a photo of Emily breastfeeding Matilda and posted it on Facebook saying: “I know the sun is out but there’s no need to let your kid feast on your nipple in town! Tramp.”
The image of Emily breastfeeding that was posted on Facebook.
Friends of Emily’s saw the image – which had been posted anonymously on a “Spotted in Rugeley” page – and alerted her immediately, leaving her furious and embarrassed.
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
“The mentality of the individual that attempted to shame me for feeding my daughter makes me so angry,” Emily told the Birmingham Mail.
“I am very confident and comfortable with my breastfeeding, but I know plenty who aren’t and don’t even humour the idea of nursing because of some ridiculous stigma attached to it and fear of embarrassment, humiliation and non-acceptance.”
Emily has now organised a mass protest in the town this weekend that has attracted the support of hundreds of mothers across the UK.
Fair play to Emily and all other women that breast feed, only tramp I can see is the one that took the pic #rugeleymassfeed
Supporting the #rugeleymassfeed. By breast or bottle, public feeding is fine. Don’t agree? Look away and try to find some common sense!
Giving a shoutout to #rugeleymassfeed, if yobs and thugs can neck larger and stuff kebabs down their gobs, why can’t a baby have a feed?
Go Emily! You have my full support, ignorant stupid people should not put you down. #rugeleymassfeed
What’s wrong with feeding your baby in public! Some people should get a life! #rugeleymassfeed
“Why should mothers who are doing the best by their children feel that they should be confined to a toilet or changing room to provide their baby with nutrients?” Emily said.
“Would you eat in a toilet or with a blanket draped over your face?”
