In Clarksville, Tennessee, the Governor’s Square Mall has stirred controversy with a recent announcement regarding their Mother’s Day photo contest. While the mall claims to welcome breastfeeding mothers, their actions tell a different story—specifically, nursing moms are barred from entering the contest.
Participants are invited to submit their photos via private message on Facebook, with the chance to win a $100 gift card based on likes. However, many mothers noticed their breastfeeding photos were not being included. In response, the mall issued a perplexing Facebook post stating, “We warmly welcome nursing moms and encourage them to breastfeed their babies wherever they feel comfortable.” This statement seems more like a legal obligation than a genuine welcome.
The mall continued, “Not everyone has the same idea of what family-friendly means,” implying that while breastfeeding is legally acceptable in public spaces, it may not fit their idea of acceptable content for social media. Their message effectively communicated a conservative stance, suggesting that while they allow breastfeeding, they don’t want to feature it in their Mother’s Day album.
This post, which was pinned to the top of their Facebook page, drew significant backlash from local mothers who felt their natural parenting choices were being judged. One local mom, Emily Carter, expressed her frustration: “I’ve breastfed three children, and I won’t let a mall dictate what is acceptable. Breastfeeding is normal!” Another mother, Sarah Bennett, shared a photo of herself nursing, commenting, “This was a moment of motherhood, and it deserves to be celebrated.“
The situation escalated as many mothers voiced their displeasure, questioning the mall’s priorities. “It’s ironic that lingerie ads are fine, but a photo of a mother nourishing her child is not,” noted Linda Smith, a local advocate for breastfeeding awareness.
In summary, while the Governor’s Square Mall may claim to support breastfeeding, their exclusion of such images from a Mother’s Day contest highlights a need for greater acceptance and normalization of breastfeeding in public spaces.
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