The Victoria & Albert Museum is filled with nude statues of women and men — which is why one mum was “perplexed” after she was asked to cover up while breastfeeding her child.
The Twitter user @Vaguechera posted about her experience after they visited the museum last weekend, saying, “Flashed a nanosecond of nipple while #breastfeeding and was asked to cover up in @V_and_A courtyard. Am perplexed…”
She then tweeted out photos of the various nude statues they came across during their day out — including one that was breastfeeding a child.
Flashed a nanosecond of nipple while #breastfeeding and was asked to cover up in @V_and_A courtyard. Am perplexed…. pic.twitter.com/T6VIRQbgrC
— Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
‘I will throw you out of this museum with your naked breasts!’ ‘But I’m made of marble!’ ‘Oh sorry you’re fine then’ @V_and_A pic.twitter.com/HL0py3vJ7I
— Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
‘All these naked breasts are putting people off their food’ #vandaboob pic.twitter.com/jlo9CsIaDJ
— Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
The museum’s director, Tristram Hunt, quickly tweeted an apology.
“V sorry. Our policy is clear: women may breastfeed wherever they like, wherever they feel comfortable & shld not be disturbed,” he wrote.
The mum accepted Hunt’s apology, and suggested the museum retrain their staff, particularly in light of World Breastfeeding Week.
.@vaguechera V sorry. Our policy is clear: women may breastfeed wherever they like, wherever they feel comfortable & shld not be disturbed.
— Tristram Hunt (@TristramHuntVA) August 5, 2017
She also thanked everyone on Twitter for their support, explaining why she felt it was necessary to share her story.
“Reason it’s important: embarrassment about #breastfeeding one of most common reasons that women give up.”