The photo that caused a stir
Did you have to look twice at these images? Us too. They are surprising. Unexpected. Incongruous. They challenge preconceptions around soldiers and around motherhood.
But are they inappropriate, problematic or offensive?
The United States military has reprimanded the two serving officers shown in this photo for breastfeeding their children while in uniform.
National Air Guard Members Terran Echegoyen McCabe (nursing her twin daughters) and Christina Luna wanted to show how they nursed in uniform as part of breastfeeding awareness week. They wanted to support other military mothers who might be struggling with the idea or practicalities of breastfeeding their children.
And then things went a bit nuts.
They women may have been dressed for combat, but they weren’t quite expecting sniping from their own side when the pictures unexpectedly went viral.
As mother of twins, Terran, explained:
“I’m proud to be wearing a uniform while breastfeeding. I’m proud of the photo and I hope it encourages other women to know they can breastfeed whether they’re active duty, guard or civilian,” she said.
Why the big fuss? Suggestions ranged from ‘ew, it’s breastfeeding in public’ to slightly more conspiratorial remarks about the inability of some to see women as soldiers. As the Globe and Mail reported:
Despite the gorgeous smiles, this photo was also a problem.
“The moms in the campaign have suggested that the issue may have more to do with the notion that people have a hard time seeing moms as soldiers. And, really, are they expecting moms to get changed into civilian clothes every time they need to nurse?“
The military, for its part, says it was unhappy simply because the women were taking part in a ‘civilian cause’ while in military uniform. Members are also not allowed to hold hands, kiss, talk on a mobile phone while walking or carry an umbrella (that isn’t black) while in uniform.
But the specific policy on breastfeeding? There is none.
One of the support group’s moms said she didn’t wish to challenge the military.
“We’re wanting to support moms who are breast-feeding. It was never about the military. It’s about the women who wear the uniforms,” Crystal Scott, founder of the Mom2Mom support group serving the Fairchild Air Force Base, told the Daily News Friday.
“We love our military. We don’t want to go against them at all.”
And they’re not against you, Crystal. So long as your bosoms are holstered.
Tell us: what was your first reaction to the images?
Comments
168 Comments so far
Lol… actually everyone.. these women are in the U.S Air Force not the US Army
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Excellent photo ladies! The military should be proud of you both!
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What a beautiful photo! For me it humanises the military and reminds me that they’re human beings. The US Army should embrace these photos, they need all the good feelings they can get!
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This article is absolutely ridiculous and totally misses the point – the issue is NOT that the women are breastfeeding. The issue is that they were photographed doing it in army uniform.
The photo is lovely and all women absolutely have the right to breastfeed any time and any where that suits them. But the army has rules, strict rules – you can’t just do whatever you like in uniform. As the article clearly states “Members are also not allowed to hold hands, kiss, talk on a mobile phone while walking or carry an umbrella (that isn’t black) while in uniform” – perhaps this also seems a little harsh and over the top, but if any of this is an issue then the army is clearly not the place for you.
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I love these photos! They’re gorgeous.
I will say though that I thought the military (in most countries) are supposed to demonstrate strength and cohesion more than humanity. I very briefly dated I guy in the Air force and he couldn’t even kiss me in uniform because they had to look professional and objective the whole time. From that point of view I suppose it’s inappropriate – if their job is to look strong, invulnerable, objective, etc etc. The photos are divine – but the opposite of the quailties the army is supposed to represent.
Does anyone agree or am I way off?
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You’re 100% correct – couldn’t agree more
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If I saw a women in uniform beastfeeding twins with a smile as proud as she had in her uniform and then go and defend our rights, saftey and freedom with just as much passion then army have inlisted the best there is. I salute you both and thankyou..
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The images are absolutely normal. It’s the preconception and stereotypes of the people viewing the images that are problematic. Basically, there is nothing in the military ‘rules and regulations’ to prevent a female soldier from breast feeding while in uniform, because the rules and regulations were written by men who never imagined such a circumstance arising! As society changes, so too must the rules and regulations that govern society. Get with the times people – it’s as simple as that!
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Two mums breastfeeding their babies, in their work uniform. If it were two bank employees doing the same thing would it still be a problem?
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I laughed out loud when I saw the close up of the laughing twin mum. Such an infectious laugh. I didn’t notice the uniform until I started reading the article.
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Tisk! You are ALL missing the issue! The real disgrace is leopard print with camouflage? What was she thinking? A hunter with her cubs? We need a new stylist on set!!!
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Oh I know darling! Talk about clash of the century! LOL! I am woman – hear me roar! However… Beautiful photo – there is true love in those smiles!!
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It’s a nice photo. I’m not big on leopard print, though. I wouldn’t put my babies in it (personal taste though!). That’s my reaction.
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I assumed breastfeeding was normal. Why would I give a fuck about their uniforms?
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I saw the women breastfeeding and though “what a lovely picture”. I didn’t notice the uniforms until I read the article. I’m still “so what?” about breastfeeding in a uniform or at a workplace; what makes me feel uneasy is that mothers, who have just created life, are in a job that requires them to be prepared to take it away from someone else. (Yes the same thing goes for fathers, but the fact these women are feeding makes the point more stark to me.)
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I gotta be really honest here, the reason I looked twice was because of the cleavage on display on the mother on the left (nothing to do with the uniforms) and and I don’t normally equate cleavage with breastfeeding.
Maybe I haven’t seen much pics of twin babies being breastfed like that? It’s kind of sexual. I know I’m not meant to think that, but I do.
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I think this comment says more about preconceived notions of the viewer, rather than the act of breastfeeding.
Your comment really doesn’t say anything we aren’t already aware of, about the way breasts have been marketed in our culture.
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UNEXPECTEDLY went viral ?
BF fine – natural. But of course the men went nuts … breasts are also a sexual organ. I’m sure the poor males whom are offended are secretly envious hmmm why can’t I have a bit too …
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My first reaction when I saw these pics??? “Awww, how beautiful!” In fact, I was so taken by the gorgeous feeding bubs that I didn’t even notice the Mum’s were in uniform until I read the article – I had to go back and have a second look!!!
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Clearly, we have a loooong way to go before boobs aren’t seen as purely sexual organs…..
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I’m in the military and just about to finish a year of maternity leave. I think a lot of people have outdated knowledge/info about the level of support for military mums from within the system. We have excellent maternity leave provisions and now I am about to head back to work, my boss has been nothing but supportive about giving me flexible options to ensure that I feel like I am giving both roles (work and motherhood) the best that I can. As for the breastfeeding, I think it is great that they have gone out there in uniform and shown that there are many different people in the military. However, from experience, I’d say the main reason that they got into trouble was because they didn’t clear it throughpublic affairs. The bosses hate to be blindsided. If they’d known up front, it probably would have been cool.
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Best comment here. Experience and insider perspective. Love it.
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Thanks, An Idle Dad! Can’t believe how chuffed I feel at your nice comment
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As a former “RAAF-brat”, I hope the military are kinder to your family than they were to mine. To be fair, I suspect my stepfather thought the kids should “just cope” with the upheavals….
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It is tough on families Nicki there is no doubt about that, moving around every couple of years can be really hard on kids and non-serving spouses. Not sure how old you are, but there is a fair bit more support now, especially for kids, with transition aids, teachers aids specifically for Defence children and I think just a general acknowledgement that families sacrifice as much as the serving member. Our little boy is still so little that as long as he is with us he doesn’t care where he is, however as he gets older we will need to make some choices to ensure that all of our needs are being met.
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What a lovely pic! Beautiful women feeding beautiful babies
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Are they allowed to smoke cigarettes in uniform?
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Maybe they need to invest in some boob beanies! That’ll shock the critics http://www.boobbeanie.com
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I’ve seen a lot of people saying “dem’s the rules” and “I can’t kiss my partner or carry and umbrella in uniform so it’s fair enough” etc etc… but really, it’s a bit different than that isn’t it?
If you’re in millitary uniform in public and have a screaming, starving baby with you and you can’t get to a private room quickly then what do you do? Let the baby scream? Take your uniform off and do it naked? Carry a kaftan around to cover up with?
I get that it’s *very* public to publish and circulate staged photos (as compared to discretely sitting up the back of a cafe on your own) but where do you draw the line? Would it be different if she was snapped unknowingly doing it and the photos were circulated? If so then is it just the posing people have the issue with?
Regardless, it’s pretty different to kissing or carrying an umbrella, it doesn’t seem ‘disrespectful to the uniform’ to me. I don’t even have kids so have no idea how hard it is to feed them but to me the photos seem kind of nice… and human… and necessary….
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I discreetly and lovingly breastfed my 4 y.o. daughter & 2 y.o. son. People got antsy knowing I was feeding a boy until 2 than a girl until 4. People – just get over it!
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BEAUTIFUL PHOTO, good job having both bubs on, yes breasts are large and cleavage has been produced as the are FULL OF MILK and this is what breasts are for. We have forgotten the basics of human anatomy and their functions. Pretty sick of seeing boobs having an existence of their own and if padded up with silicon and sprayed with fake tan apparently you can make money from them. They are on our chests to breastfeed, that is what they are for!
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I went to uni with Terran! She’s absolutely gorgeous, lovely and a brilliant mother/wife/friend. What a brilliant step to further the rights of mothers, and however they choose to feed their babies, everywhere.
To those who see this as ‘pornographic’, ‘disrespectful’ or wrong in any way, I’d have to say that those issues lie with you. The fact that these images have generated so much discussion is at least half the point – to get this sort of issue noticed and talked about.
Well done, ladies
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So they don’t like boobs in the military unless they have stars on their shoulders?
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You can promote breast feeding and being an officer without displaying so much cleavage – it’s inappropriate and disrespectful to the breast feeding mother and the armed forces – the first thing you see is whopping great boobs/cleavage and you wonder if you’re seeing a porn star advertisement before you notice the rest of the photo. I’m sure her fellow officers are having a wonderful time enjoying the view. Great cause but poorly executed….
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There is nothing disrespectful about breastfeeding. Ever.
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You wonder if it’s a porn star advertisement? I think you might be the one with the issue if that’s what you see. What porn has babies eating in it???
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As a mother of twins I can tell you she’s feeding in the most discreet way possible. It’s pretty tricky to get two babies on your boobs without showing some flesh. I think she’s done a brilliant job.
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Jay, you are watching the wrong kind of porn!
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Haha, how funny, perhaps it’s just that I’ve only finished breastfeeding my 16 month old last week, but I saw these pics and thought, ‘Wow! That’s awesome! I did that! Two at once?! Amazing!’
And as for the cleavage, I just saw boobs with milk, nourishing the babies. A souce of life! I can’t wait to do this again.
Isn’t it interesting how we interpret images:)
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Would you have been happier is she wore a tie?
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what a beautiful image
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Truth be told, it didn’t even register in my mind that they were in uniform. I just saw two gorgeous mums doing what millions of women do worldwide everyday. Now that I HAVE noticed? I think if anything the fact they’re mothers just makes them every bit as equal to- if not more well rounded as any other soldier.
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This is how it goes when you breastfeed babies.
It is the primary purpose for boobs.
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More power to these women! What wonderful mums – giving their kids the best possible start in life – they are ensuring their kids future health is protected. Who cares what they are wearing? I certainly don’t and I don’t think anyone else should either. To me this photo says – breast feeding is natural and if you are fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed, go ahead and do it, be selfless for a small part of your life – I promise you the benefits will be endless for your entire family.
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Surely the Military have better things to worry about than a photo…. Someone in the Media Services part of the military had too much spare time, maybe a cost cutting opportunity……
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My first thought way, ‘Wow, I wish I looked that good when I breastfeeding.’ The uniforms were kind of a distant afterthought. I LOVE this photo and think that this is what being a modern mum is all about – making motherhood your own, being true to yourself and being the best you can for your children. Those woman are gorgeous and strong and love their children – I am going to put this on my fridge so my children can see that mummies can do anything!!
As far as the American military goes – I’d have been cheering them if there had been no outcry. As it is, I feel it is a missed opportunity for them to proudly offer their support to mums, who bring so much depth to the an organisation like the military.
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It’s another great representation of the diversity that is motherhood! I think it’s fantastic, we need more images like this showing how different mothers raise their children. Working, not working, bottle or breast. We all do it differently and the more we realise this and portray it in the media, the more supportive we will all be towards each other. This image in particular shows how you can fight for your country and nurture your child. Women Rock!!!!!!!
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Y’know what I thought? I though THAT LOOKS LIKE ME.
Because I fed my babies when they were hungry, even when I was in uniform. In fact, I liked the fact in unbuttoned at the front for easy access. Hell, I even fed them AT WORK in my uniform. While talking to people! Egads, the end of society as we know it…
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Maybe the military need to develop some or allow a nursing top that allows for more discreet breast feeding, rather than having to lift their tops up while in uniform.
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It’s actually quite comfy. The undershirt covers the top bit, you can leave the over shirt buttoned to cover the bottom half, the boob pops out the middle. Easy
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They only rolled out cams for Navy when I finished. The ralls we used to wear at sea were pretty good.
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yes- i just nicked a larger shirt form one of the guys in my unit ( with his permisson) and used that to accomodate my still massive boobs and cover up a bit…
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My first response to this picture was of a mother feeding her hungry baby. The second was that she was in military uniform.
Sure, the military has rules about being in uniform, but needing to feed a hungry human being should be exempt.
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So there just happened to be a professional photographer standing by in the wings when their bubs just happened to be hungry AND they just happened to be in uniform. This photo is NOT about hungry babies.
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What is it about then?
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Kris2040, ditto!
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Yes, what is it about then? Sorry, I don’t mean to offend, but what a silly comment. Of course it’s staged, but who cares? That’s what promotions are.
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There are many comments on here about well, if I had a starving baby and I was in uniform I would feed them too. Well, I totally agree with that sentiment. If I came across this in public I wouldn’t bat an eye. This is not the case here. It’s a massive publicity stunt that I disagree with. I am a BFing mother which I happily do in public – if my baby is hungry. I don’t throw in a photographer, some styling oh, and a uniform, to try to make a point. Did these women approach their bosses to make a united statement and they said no? Seriously doubt it. It’s a stunt pure and simple. And I don’t think stunts support breastfeeding women in any way.
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I’m not sure how I feel about this… Maybe it’s the cheesy smile.. It kinda looks abit fake. I definitely support breastfeeding anywhere anytime. And I also am so grateful to those that serve us and totally admire women that can serve and run a family.
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C’mon!
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I saw this as a uniform issue as well. It’s simply because they are BFing that it has become controversial. If they were hogging into a couple of hamburgers and drinking a beer in uniform I think the military would have the same reaction-but that wouldn’t be in the media! I went to a private school that, while in school uniform, we weren’t meant to eat in public, wear our blazer over our jumper, wear the summer uniform in summer (and winter uniform in winter), and a whole raft of other rules re uniform. I was put in the school knowing there were rules about the uniform.
Trying to make a statement and be deliberately controversial by posing for a photo and doing it in uniform…..well, it had me rolling my eyes and I’m sure that wasn’t the reaction they were going for.
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I dunno, I wish that people would get over the whole breastfeeding thing but the uniform is there for a reason. It’s a symbol and there are rules attached to it that need to be respected. While there are no rules against it specifically if there are rules against public affection then it stands to reason that taking a photo of the uniform with tits out is in the same category.
Cheap attention getting. They knew what they were doing.
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Completely off topic, but what awesome advertising for this photographer. Why didn’t I think of that? ha ha ha
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I didn’t realise they were in uniform till I read the text, and thought it was just nice breastfeeding photos that were part of some campaign!
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Is there anything we can do these days without someone having a problem with it? I love these images and if there are technically no rules against it, I can’t see the problem.
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PS: Great boobs on the blonde and how gorgeous is that brunette?
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Actualy photographer people seem to have no problem with soft porn images being readilly viewable by children on music video clips, but something as disgusting as breastfeeding in public and by a working mother, working in a male dominated field no less…public outrage!
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I’m pretty sure a lot of people, including myself, have issue with soft porn images in music clips.
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My response to this picture is if there are that many people who are shocked or horrified by the image of two working mums feeding their babies then a whole lot if people need to get a life! Seriously there is nothing even remotely odd or confronting here! I did think though wow they look fantastic for new mums, no sign of sleep deprivation at all. As for comments suggesting the mum feeding twins should angle their heads more to cover cleavage, are you kidding me? Have you ever feed twins? I haven’t; therefore, I would never think to judge someone about the way they did it.
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Breastfeeding, fine of course, in uniform and released to the public?Yeah I can see how that becomes an issue. Not that I have a problem with it.
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One mother is feeding discreetly and appropriate for a woman representing the military, perfect .The other ? hum , nice rack.
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Are you talking about the woman with the twins attached to her nipples eating?
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Thats the one .
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How else would you suggest she feed twins at the same time? It’s not getting your tits out, it’s feeding your baby/ies.
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Just as when feeding one baby there are plenty of ways to breast feed twins that are still discreet.My sister has 8mth old twins and to honest I have rarley seen her feed both at the same time and when she does she is comfortable,relaxed and discreet.two of my own children are 11mths apart and were both breast feed untill 2yrs, sometimes at the same time , again , discreetly.The women in question feeding her twins has not been photographed candidly ,there would of been many shots of her feeding her twins, but they chose the one where her cleavage seems to take center stage
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What should she do then? Like what should she actually be doing to make you more comfortable?
If I wear many tops, I show cleavage. Is that a problem for you too?
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AS a mother of twins, i can tell you, feeding at the same time was the ONLY way i survived! To feed one, then try to feed the other whilst settling the first one to sleep as well as the fact that is doubled the feeding/settling time leaving little precsious time for my own sleep in between, i have no idea how your sister ‘rarely’ fed them a the same time.
If you came to my house at a feed time, you saw me there on the loungs no shirt on and both boobs out for all the world to see. When one unlatched to be burbed , the boob would just hang around flapping in the breeze. There is little opportunity to be discreet especially when your main focus as it should be…is on ensuring those babies get a good feed.
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@ Kris2040, I am not uncomfortable with cleavage nor am i uncomfortable with the images in general.I have six of my own children who were all breastfeed for about 2 years each , all up about 12 years of my life spent breastfeeding , discreetly.Breastfeeding groups have been lobbying for years to make people aware that there is nothing sexual about breastfeeding breast and a woman should feel confident to breast feed any where , any time that the breasts need to perform their primary function. I advocate breastfeeding and think the woman photographed feeding there babies in uniform to promote breastfeeding should be commended.I personally feel a more appropriate shot of the woman feeding twins could of been chosen.There are several comments here that have commented on her great “rack” which doesnt do much for the cause.@fatgirljesse, what ever works for you , I will admitt i dont see my sister a great deal , we live about 2 hrs from each other , so maybe when she is at home she is doing it like you ,topless one the lounge but when she is in company she feeds discreetly.Although she has said she prefers to feed them seperately now they are older, but when they where under 4months it was tandum feeds.
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I wish people would not say that breast feeding babies are ‘eating’, they are actually drinking. Eating is when you chew solid food and I really hope that’s not what they are doing!
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Milk is considered a food, that’s what they’re having. So I consider it eating. Do you eat or drink soup?
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My first thought was, ‘HOLY MOLY, LOOK AT THAT CLEAVAGE!’
I can’t help it, I’m childless. And probably a little bit superficial.
On a more serious note: really, I wouldn’t take my moral cues from the US military. This is an institution that only repealed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, what? Last year? I don’t think this would be a problem in Australia.
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My reaction: they look like normal, happy mums who happen to be wearing army print.
I’m really over this problem people have with breastfeeding. It is archaic. Breastfeed, don’t breastfeed, but we all need to stop with this incessant ranting! It is a personal choice. That is it. If you don’t like it, don’t do it!
And while I’m on the rampage, why is army mums breastfeeding even an issue?? They are still normal women with normal kids who need nutrition in some form. Would people be up in arms if a nurse was breastfeeding at the local coffee shop with her uniform on? Probably not.
Ugh, this is a stupid, pointless argument that needs to stop.
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The US military need all the positive media they can get. They could do so much for these women. They failed on both counts.
I didn’t even notice the uniform until I started reading. There are some judgemental women commenting in this post…. THAT I noticed immediately.
I breastfed when and where I needed to, sometimes in uniform, sometimes in civvies, once in a bridesmaids get up. What mattered was I exercised my right to feed my children as I wanted to in a fair and democratic way in a supposedly fair and democratic society.
Good on them. They look great too!
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Oh I LOVE these images! I love how they symbolize WOMAN… fighter, nurturer.
I can’t be bothered with the rest, the brouhaha… it won’t go away. Humanity, being so beautiful and magical is made up of people, who are so capable of being completely ridiculous. Over the most ridiculous things.
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I hadn’t thought of the symbolism it represents, but that is great, love it.
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My only reaction was ‘wow, glad I didn’t end up with twins as that looks like hard work’!
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I thought that too! Breastfeeding one while in public was awkward enough!
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So what? That was my first thought. Then I noticed they were in military uniform, and I did feel it was an interesting juxtaposition: the connotations of war alongside love/ nurturing etc. But I don’t feel judgemental, its just an interesting image. And that’s about it really. Oh, and nice boobs.
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