The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has apologized to a breastfeeding visitor who says she was told to cover up.
The woman, who posts on Twitter as @vaguechera, says she had "flashed a nanosecond of nipple" in the museum's courtyard when she was told to conceal her breasts. Instead of bearing that in silence, she busted out her phone and started tweeting.
She ribbed the V&A, pointing out that the museum seemed totally fine with some bare bosoms — as long as they were made of stone instead of flesh.
'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
— Dr Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
She tweeted an image of herself beside "Peasant woman nursing a baby," with the comment, "am perplexed."
Flashed a nanosecond of nipple while #breastfeeding and was asked to cover up in @V_and_A courtyard. Am perplexed.... pic.twitter.com/T6VIRQbgrC
— Dr Vaguechera (@vaguechera) August 5, 2017
She tweeted images of "Mankind," "Pluto and Proserpina" and "Vertumnus and Pomona," among other pieces in the V&A, all of which prominently featured nude female breasts. (The woman has since made her Twitter account private.)
The museum responded to apologize, saying that "women are welcome to breastfeed in the museum."
The director of the museum also spoke up, saying the museum's policy clearly says breastfeeding mothers "[should] not be disturbed."
The woman in question told the BBC that she appreciated the apologies and the widespread support she received.
"That said, clearly not everyone is aware of the legal protection that women are afforded when feeding in a public space," she told the BBC. "Policies are important, but they only work if staff are supported to understand and carry them out."
Still, the incident didn't totally ruin her trip to the museum.
She said she had a fine time "exploring depictions of breasts through the ages and making lovely mammaries."
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