Imagine driving through downtown Chicago, on one side of the road you see the iconic Tribune Building, then you turn your head and seeing a group of women, standing in the middle of the road, nursing their babies. This is exactly the scenario that Abby, also known as The Badass Breastfeeder, envisioned and brought to life.
Abby was inspired by all the beautiful group breastfeeding photos which have been circulating recently, and decided to set one up for local moms. She partnered with Ivette Ivens (who’s amazing breastfeeding project we’ve featured before) with the goal to have something dramatic that really made a statement helping to normalize breastfeeding. Ivette will also be including the images in her book, Breastfeeding Goddesses
We threw around a lot of ideas but traffic seemed to reach our goal of making a statement the best. We are powerful, confident, and not afraid.
Safety was, of course, a priority and I’ll let you in on the secret: they were actually standing on a median, not the road itself. Abby still describes the energy among the moms as anxious and energized. The whole shoot took only about 5 minutes.
We asked Abby what she hopes this photo accomplishes. She said her focus is on normalization and empowerment:
I hope this photo helps to normalize breastfeeding by keeping the conversation going and keeping the images at the forefront of people’s minds. I hope to empower women to choose breastfeeding, keep breastfeeding through the struggles, and to help women feel that they are part of a community that will stick with them. We are a tribe. We stick together. And to show the mainstream that this is something beautiful and powerful, not to be hidden and not shameful.
While recognizing that society is not quite where we need it to be, in regards to breastfeeding, she is quite proud of the work the community has done and hopeful about the direction we’re all heading.
I think the breastfeeding community is doing everything right. We are talking about it, supporting one another, sharing photos and stories, speaking up when our rights are violated and standing strong while the cultural tides shift to bring breastfeeding back to everyday life. Which will happen. We won’t stop.
Ivette and Abby took another moment to get this powerful bonus shot of Abby rocking her trademark Badass Breastfeeder pose.
This isn’t the only idea The Badass Breastfeeder had cooking up in that brilliant mind, and I really can’t wait to see her future plans to challenge cultural norms and empower women.
