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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.
Whatevs. Zoom meeting or not, Baby needs to eat. Mom needs to feed baby. To the “uncomfortable people”: Oh My God, you felt uncomfortable about a mom feeding her baby. Grow up, it’s nothing but natural. If she was at the office because childcare fell through, you’d probably want her to feed her baby in the restroom.
Female with 2 kids under age 4: working from home feels like the rules are different - we are all a bit more casual.
Having breastfed before—when I was in the thick of it — I ‘forgot’ that my breast was a ‘boob’ to others. My focus was always ‘feed-the-baby-find-the-silence’. The breastfeeding villain in this thread could have (possibly) had it off her radar as a ‘thing’ — you feed the baby EVERY TWO HOURS — it becomes automatic. Can we ‘skip’ this as a thing? Move on.
IMHO breast feeding is fine and totally acceptable, but not on camera. At the office, women don’t breast feed or pump in the team room, so I personally would not show breast feeding or pumping on camera. If this was a more casual setting (like at a restaurant or park) that’s more acceptable, but it’s awkward in a professional setting.
She could have easily turned her camera off or angled it in a way where you just see her face
Rising Star
Everyone here is missing an alternative solution - don’t turn off the camera, keep breastfeeding but TILT the camera higher up to only show you from your neck up. Problem solved.
Pro
A8, I was one of the first posters and said this same thing.
I would rather she turn the camera off. Sorry, but please be considerate of others.
Nay. If you have to breastfeed turn off your camera.
@CEO You believe I should not look at the video during a video meeting?
No. I am a working mom. I personally would have turned off the camera.
Unprofessional. Just like I’d also think it unprofessional if she would be feeding her toddler on his high chair-fully clothed or not.
Or cutting her toenails or shaving....there still needs to be some etiquette on a work call.
Totally understand that in these times we all need to be more understanding of some home life spilling a bit into our cameras but that doesn’t mean everything is ok on a work call.
If it’s baby’s feeding time just turn off your camera ma’m. Everyone wins.
#freethenip but in all seriousness if both parties don’t care, then there is no one caring. If someone cares, kill the camera, it takes a click. All and all, this does not even scratch the top 1000 issues to deal with in 2020
Mom + professional: do your thing without worrying about others. If the baby is hangry, give the baby what he/she wants.
Rising Star
So who was breastfeeding who?
Enthusiast
I don’t see the issue with feeding during a work meeting but turn the camera off. There’s no reason to have it on.
Is there a reason to have it on when your not breastfeeding by that logic?
I am a raging feminist but this one brings me pause. I think, generally, if you wouldn’t breastfeed during an in person meeting, probs don’t breastfeed on a zoom call. Of course there are emergencies, no clue what her situation was-maybe it was the only way to keep the baby quiet during the meeting. But I hesitate to encourage but implore you not to judge if it happens. If in that situation I probably would have just told the group that I am going to turn of the camera because I need to feed my baby.
Work/life balance has changed, boundaries are harder to maintain from both sides. Everyone’s re-learning meeting etiquette, but the most important thing is being respectful for people’s time. Interruptions and emergencies happen, but this sounds like it became a distraction for others on the call. I️ think you should turn your camera off and go on mute
Enthusiast
Honestly, I feel if it’s a professional call that any distraction is to be avoided. Separation between the personal and professional is still desirable, even during COVID times.
That would make me feel very uncomfortable. I think it’s best to keep the camera off.
I personally would not want my colleagues or anyone else to see my boobs lol. I’d just turn the camera off and do it but I also wouldn’t judge whoever needs to breastfeed in the moment. We’re in some weird times right now and I’m not a parent so I certainly can’t begin to understand how difficult it must be
That sounds like a nurturing and productive meeting.
I'm not sorry for not wanting to see your boob in your baby's mouth. Turn off your camera while feeding. This seems like common courtesy, no???
Pro
Omg how can you ever see that in real life! Like the webcam is zooming in on the latch?? Unreal.
This is a trap... please use the SJW accepted answer.