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Woman (and mom) here and think it is acceptable given the disruptions of daily life present in calls all the time now. Maybe “unprofessional” but so is your kid running around in the background interrupting you and I don’t think people would be so quick to say turn the camera off. I’ve done a few calls on video with my toddler sitting in my lap and would do the same if I were breastfeeding right now.
As a woman, I think it’s unprofessional with the camera on—just as I would find it unprofessional if a colleague were eating on camera during a call. If you need to feed your child or eat during a call, turn the damn camera off.
Female here, but that’s a big no. Would a woman seriously sit in the middle of an in-person meeting in a conference room and breastfeed their baby? It’s unprofessional. Just turn the camera off
Exactly just turn the camera off. If anyone asks she could tell them she was breast feeding.
Pro
This is wholely unprofessional, if nature calls you turn off video and stick to voice. Now more than ever we need to establish some level of decorum
I’ve nursed while on a million Zoom calls over the last few months. No cover but nobody knew because you saw my face, not my whole body. I really call bullshit on this. I never feed with a cover or try to hide it, it’s natural. But I don’t go out of my way for people to watch me feed. If I was on a zoom call, I would literally have to go out of my way and point my camera down for someone to see me nursing.
Power move
I’m sure there are lots of varied opinions on this topic, but I don’t see any problem with it whatsoever. The things that society deems “appropriate” or “inappropriate” in a given setting are made up and then perpetuated by groupthink and cultural norms. As we evolve socially/intellectually, so do those expectations. We’d never get anywhere if everyone just went with the flow and tried to avoid offending others’ sensibilities. I’m also a single childless male in his late 20’s, for whatever that’s worth.
I’m so confused why everyone’s answer isn’t just “no big deal just turn the camera off but leave mic on.” Is there some benefit to being seen or something? Kinda like peeing while on a hike, nbd but you just turn your back to the rest of the group when you do it
We work hard and all day. Shouldn’t penalize someone for being a good mother.
Completely inappropriate and need to be counseled!
I pick my nose a lot on camera. No one seems to mind.
I think this is perfectly acceptable. Male, 42. Clearly it was necessary.
Chief
No. Turn the camera off. Lol people can’t turn away politely on zoom
But people can minimize the video.
Drinking and eating is acceptable on video calls right now.
Kids are acceptable on video calls right now.
Kids eating and drinking is acceptable on video calls right now.
She’s not obligated to make anyone but herself and the baby feel comfortable about breastfeeding.
When work invited itself, without our permission, into all of our homes the lines and norms got blurred and understandably so. Just because someone wouldn’t do this in an office conference room doesn’t automatically make it off limits in a virtual meeting room. Good on her for effectively multitasking without missing a beat.
I was speaking in an all company webcast that was on camera at the same time my 6 month old needed to eat. Sometimes the options are a) breastfeed on camera or b) fight with a hungry, crying baby. I’ll choose option a ever time. Also, if everyone else was on camera and she was the only person who wasn’t, it can very easily make it difficult to contribute in the same way as others. Women have a hard enough time as it is to have a seat at the table, let’s not make it worse by forcing some arbitrary standard because you’re not comfortable with it.
For the rest of her career at that employer she's going to be the breastfeeding mom. That's all anyone will think of her. She could be the CEO and they'll still say, remember that time she breastfed on a zoom call? It's not fair maybe but that's what happens.
I hope she does become CEO. breastfeeding mom should be CEO.
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Did she realize? I feel like she may have just forgotten to turn camera off
D1, that's not okay. Don't sexualize feeding a baby.
Yay. I’d leave that alone.
Actually curious, would anyone ask HR if this is appropriate to do on a work video call? Considering it’s definitely not appropriate in in-person office meetings, I’m curious if HR would think this equivalent was crossing the line
I have an office with a door and a lock. I nursed my baby in front of co-workers for the first time at a holiday party. I apologized and went to excuse myself to another room in order to feed him. New, first time mom and I wasn’t sure how people would react. Everyone told me not to worry and to stay there if I wanted. No one excluded me because I had to feed my baby. They all held conversations with me while I was nursing. No one looked away or avoided eye contact or acted uncomfortable in anyway. My boss made sure I had everything I needed when I returned to work. She went to bat for me with the court when they made my needing a break to pump difficult. I’m sorry that other people’s work environments are such that this is actually an issue. You being uncomfortable because I’m feeding my baby is your problem not mine. You don’t want to look at it minimize your screen or you leave the meeting.
Maybe we should normalize shirtfree zoom calls as a first step. Men first.
You do know that’s women don’t have to take their shirts off to nurse right?
Pro
Nay! Do what you want during the call, but don’t subject us to it- just turn off your camera! People are nuts nowadays.
Enthusiast
Simple. Turn camera off, back on when done. Doesn’t need to be a thing.