100 Women in Rome Openly Nursed to Protest

Mothers in Italy staged a mass public breast feeding to make a political statement about the stigmatization of women who don’t shame themselves for nursing in front of others. Earlier this week, 100 women gathered with their young in Rome and openly fed their babies.

The stunt was organized by Salvamamme (Save Mothers), an organization in support of mothers’ rights, using the slogan, “I’ll Nurse Where I Feel Like It.”

Whether their guerrilla stunt will bring lead to a more open attitude is unsure. Most people who find breast feeding in public taboo were likely even more appalled at the act, disturbed and possibly angry about the controversial act of awareness.

In 2007, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal was criticized for breast feeding in public, but her choice to do so gave many women the courage to do the same.

Savamamme argues that nursing is one of the most natural acts a woman can do and that she should not be ashamed for feeding her child when it needs nourishment.