A young woman who was recently snapped breastfeeding her baby on the Beijing subway has become a subject of ridicule and empathy after the photo circulated over the Internet. The public's reaction reflects the changing social perception of people in a rapidly changing society.
Some people thought breastfeeding in public was "uncivilized," while the website that carried the photo criticized the young mother for "exposing a sex organ in public."
For her part, the young woman defended herself by saying that her baby was crying in hunger. She meant no harm; the long commute to Daxing forced her to breastfeed her child in public. The woman added she tried her best to cover her breast.
Since the photo became viral, the woman's husband is now threatening to sue the woman who took the picture for infringing on their privacy. The photo-taker has since then issued an apology, while some sources are saying she has uploaded the photo somewhere else.
Meanwhile, the website, which belonged to a nonprofit that cleans up subway trains, has been taken down.
Authorities have responded to the issue, saying that there are no rules regarding breastfeeding.
"We won't interfere with it," said a spokesperson. "Instead we should provide support to women with special needs. For a woman carrying a baby, the rule says that other passengers are obligated to offer her a seat."
The United Nations International Children's Fund also issued a Chinese-language statement regarding the issue.
"Breast milk is the most natural, healthiest, perfect food for babies. It is the mother's right to feed her baby at the first possible time, including in public spaces. Society should give more support for breastfeeding so mothers and their babies can have quiet and comfortable spaces. Even babies have a right to use public resources," the statement said.