It's Only Just Begun: YouTube Bans Breastfeeding Montage Video

*See updates below*

Apparently YouTube doesn't have a mind of its own because it has now followed suit with Facebook and MySpace by banning our League of Maternal Justice Breastfeeding Montage Video.

That's right. Not "flagged" as inappropriate so it's still viewable by folks if they enter their birthdate.

Totally BANNED.

We can't say we're not completely surprised, considering the continued inconsistencies with policing that these sites do. If you search through YouTube, you'll find plenty of breastfeeding videos still available for viewing. And, as always, you'll find plenty of boobages and butts, plus more disturbing videos like self-mutilation and starvation, all accessible to whoever wants to find them.

*So what was it about ours that ticked them off?

We have yet to hear from them, but that's not going to stop us from taking a stand. This movement we're supporting is not about glorifying breastfeeding. We're asking for policy change. We're demanding that these organizations read the laws and medical journals that state that breastfeeding in public is legal and the best choice (when possible) for babies. If the government is going to force breastfeeding on mothers then why aren't they taking a stand when we continually get asked to leave restaurants and YMCAs and when our pictures are banned as "sexually explicit."

Here's what you can do:

1. Email congressional reps (link to http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ - enter your zip, and it returns all three addresses/home pages for your location) and Parliament members (link to http://www.canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html - enter your postal code, and it returns addresses/home pages of Parliament members) and ask them to tell YouTube/Google that removal of the video is socially and legally unacceptable.

2. Create a short video (not breastfeeding) that is tagged and titled "Message to YouTube" (feel free to include any other tags, including League of Maternal Justice, Breastfeeding, Health, etc). and tell them what you think about this. Tell them that breastfeeding is NOT obscene

*Updated: We're going to reload our video (with new music) in the next few days. If you want, hold your Messages to YouTube and you can make them as replies to our Montage! (Thanks Jenn)

YouTube is calling for these videos and we're more than happy to oblige. Make sure to send us your YouTube video link! 

3. Write a post and include these same directions on your own blogs and send us the permalinks (or leave them in the comments).

4. Return to the LMJ call to action post (where permalinks will be linked up) and post/vote for others' posts on bookmarking sites.

5. Submit our press release to online media outlets and social bookmarking sites (Reddit, Stumbleupon, etc.), get your message boards involved, send to your local reporters, or any national news contacts.

Vote now: Sk*rt

Digg it!

Bookmark now:  Delicious

We need your superpowers now more than ever!

Comments

[Multi-tasking Mommy]

Here is my post!
http://circleoflifeblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/nablopomo-day-29-youtube-bans.html

[Suburban Oblivion]

http://www.suburbanoblivion.com/2007/11/27/first-facebook-bans-breastfeeding-pics-now-youtube-bans-breastfeeding-video/

[Jinlohop]

And what's funny (?), weird (?), strange (?) is that the live breast examination videos, with millions of views are okay....

Not sure about this one. They certainly have some strange editorial guidelines.

Is it at all possible that the cover music was the problem??

[Robin]

Here's my 2 cents:

http://wwwmylifeasitis.blogspot.com/2007/11/breasts.html

[Naomi (Urban Mummy)]

Interesting. A video I had bookmarked showing breastfeeding on, of all things, Sesame Street has disappeared. I wonder if it's all related. Regardless, that's ridiculous. Just ridiculous.

[Jen @ amazingtrips]

I'm surprised by this. Really, really surprised. The public is appalled by breastfeeding mothers?? Since when?? Have I been under a rock?!

I breastfed our triplets on a plane once. Right there in coach. I had a baby on each boob and the third was in my husband's arms just waiting to go through the feeding rotation. No one ever gave me a dirty look, a sigh, or any kind of indication that my "behavior" (aka: feeding my children) was inappropriate. Or maybe they would have if they weren't mesmerized by seeing two babies in a tandem hold??

These days, I nurse my 4 month old ALL THE TIME in public. If anyone dare said anything cross to me about FEEDING my baby, I'd feed them my fist.

It's too late, but I'll do a post tomorrow. It will be beautiful. I can see it now...

[Amy Jo]

Here's my post:

http://cheeseparty.blogspot.com/2007/11/instinct.html

Crazy...

[Paula]

Thanks! We put you in the web wrap at www.thenestbaby.com

http://community.thenestbaby.com/cs/ks/blogs/new_arrivals/archive/2007/11/30/web-wrap.aspx

[Máire@thebreastfeedingsalon]

I am furious to find out this has happened. It is absolutely insane that obscene and questionable behavior is allowed on these social networking sites and that breastfeeding is banned.

I will be posting links to your press release and beautiful montage on my blog Breastfeeding Blog: 20/20+ and will add my rant on this outrageous injustice to breastfeeding mothers and babies.

I have blogged about this on many occasions. No one has the Kahones to come out for Breastfeeding in the media, be it traditional or social, except the mothers themselves. It unfortunately draws greater publicity and interest when breastfeeding is portrayed in a negative or controversial way.

I am also left wondering if YouTube did it to steal some of the ridiculous attention that the Facebook stunt had garnished.

Can we get this issue in front of the future legislators while it is fresh on all of our minds? This is a campaign issue.

Health begins at birth and in how we are nurtured. Sexualizing and demonizing mothers who breastfeed is not the cornerstone of a healthy society.

Big Brother is here and severly myopic. This is censorship and abuse of women. Women in America should worry. This is huge step backward and we cannot let this happen.

[Julie]

Paula is right, this is censorship and abuse of women. I can find absolute filth on u-tube when I search for breastfeeding videos mixed in with the legitimate breastfeeding videos, but the montage and Sesame Street videos have been removed?!?! We need to fight this or the general public will start to believe breastfeeding is wrong and abusive.

[Tere]

UGH, Can NOT believe. This is beyond ridiculous.

[LD]

Oh that's brilliant. They can have Dita von Teese's naked ta-tas, but not breastfeeding mother's mostly covered breasts?? pu-leez.

[wordwise]

You know what's even more alarming, that the following, from the OP isn't questioned..."If the government is going to force breastfeeding on mothers then why aren't they taking a stand when we continually get asked to leave restaurants and YMCAs and when our pictures are banned as "sexually explicit.""

It is NOT the government's place to FORCE women to breastfeed.

I find that much more disturbing than this whole made-up persecution and civil rights movement of lonely breastfeeding mothers or finding creative and spin doctoring ways to scare, guilt and blame formula feeding mothers.

[Susannah]

Here is my post--A Burqua for Your Breasts, Ma'am?

[maureen]

Hi Mommas!

love the site! Wish I was still breastfeeding but my little guy is 6 now. One thing I wish I had gotten the courage to do during that 2 years and 8 months is go to Hooters, order a water, and casually excercise my right to breastfeed, preferably in the middle of the restaurant, until he full and maybe even let him fall asleep on the boob - it would be great to have a few mothers so conversation and breastfeeding could continue for hours.

And can anyone tell me why I must wear a shirt when my lardy neighbor gets to flaunt his male torso with boobs bigger than mine?

Keep on keepin on!

maureen
founding member of the BLO-Booby Liberation Organization - No breast ever hurt anyone!

[dino]

As a little boy, 7yrs,8 yrs, etc. I used to look at national geographic, to see pictures of choochies. I didn't see the poor and hungry girls of the world,, i only saw that they were topless. To this day, when i see a girl pull out her choochies, to breastfeed, i find myself trying to "catch a glimpse" Young boys are immature, when they are trying to "catch a glimpse" of someone breastfeeding, trust me, from experience, they are trying to see your choochies, the baby is irrelevant in their little minds. I don't mind a woman breastfeeding in public, But feel shamed that i try to see her breast, which to me is also natural for any man. I am for public brestfeeding but why do i feel like i am doing something wrong when i watch?

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