Malayalam Magazine’s Bold Breastfeeding Cover Picture Has Sparked An Online Debate

This is the first such initiative by an Indian magazine.

By: TK Sreeraj |
February 28, 2018 6:56 pm

In a bold initiative to bust the stigma attached to breastfeeding in India, a popular fortnightly Malayalam magazine published its latest issue with a cover photograph of a woman breastfeeding a child. Grihalaksmi, one of the best selling Malayalam magazines, has put up the edition with the title “Mothers tell Kerala…Don’t stare, we need to breastfeed.”

Grihalakshmi magazine cover

While many international magazines have come up with editions featuring cover photographs of breastfeeding women, this is the first ever such instance in India. The magazine has also uploaded the same picture on its social media platforms. The move is a part of a larger campaign, ‘Breastfeed, With Cover’.

A cover of Time Magazine which was published in 2012

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The cover picture has sparked mixed reactions on social media with many calling it a progressive move while some called it cheap.

Malayalam magazine Grihalakshmi, from @mathrubhumieng, has this new cover. It says, “Mothers tell Kerala, “please don’t stare, we need to breastfeed””.

WOW. Unusually bold. pic.twitter.com/Nwz6nAF0Fk

— Vivek S Nambiar (@ivivek_nambiar) February 28, 2018

“Don’t stare, we want to breastfeed!” says the latest cover of the widely read Malayalam women’s magazine @Grihalakshmi_

Kudos to this effort!

As expected, morally upright people are offended alleging that the campaign is “artificial” / “commercial” & what not! pic.twitter.com/oYcqkK2WLN

— Ardra Balachandran (@ardramaanasam) February 28, 2018

Teenagers will stare initially.
Women should continue feeding.
This will normalise.
Boys will learn as they age.

— Raghu Reddy (@Adityadeciphers) February 28, 2018

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However, some weren’t quite supportive of the move:

Such a sexualised cover. Doubt many mothers feel so good or glamourous while breastfeeding…

— Shil (@ShilMuscat) February 28, 2018

Don’t stare? what, is it a crime to look ? you want to pluck out our eyes ISIS style? If you think it’s your right to pop out your breast in public ,then the public also have a right to look and If you’re uncomfortable, cover up

— Jon Wolf (@JonWolfGreat) February 28, 2018

Cover-up and breastfeed your child..You dont have to flaunt your breast as simple as that.

— Satanyahu (@Satanyahu) February 28, 2018