Kate Hansen Art
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Deleted from Facebook

9/30/2010

36 Comments

 
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My entire account was deleted from facebook this morning.  If you know my history at all, you know that I've had photos removed numerous times from facebook, because of perceived indecency.  My photos thus far were all art related, because I feel inspired by motherhood, nursing, and the human figure.  I love breastfeeding art; I think it's a wonderful female perspective on figurative art, and I continued posting it despite repeated warnings.  You might also remember that I was featured by a few different media sources concerning these early removals of my paintings.  Here is my interview with Sheila Coles on CBC, "The Story from Here", (just go to "listen, part two.)  Here is also the article written in the Toronto Star on the subject of my facebook deletions.  

This morning I heard more details on the fact that fellow breastfeeding advocate Emma Kwasnica had her account deleted, and I felt so angry.  I also felt ashamed- because, although I have posted many breastfeeding paintings, and although I am a huge advocate for breastfeeding, I had never had the courage to post a photo of myself breastfeeding.  I've always been a little shy about my own body.  This is a fact that may surprise you, since I've painted a few nude self portraits, and since I used to pose for life drawing classes, but I never felt very brave about posting breastfeeding photos of myself.  This morning I felt ashamed.  I looked at Emma's photo, and remembered ALL her smiling, gorgeous photos, remembered her humour and thoughtful advice... and I thought I have been SUCH a chicken.  I felt ashamed for never posting a breastfeeding photo of myself.
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SO, I posted this photo as my profile picture.  I was just in the process of discussing it with some friends when I was asked to re-log in.  I tried to and failed.  My account was deleted, and with it many contacts and friends that I am now trying to get back in touch with.  It happened so fast I couldn't believe it.  I feel more upset than I thought I would.  I feel like I've lost a limb.  I've lost a lot of people with my facebook account, many people I knew from childhood and have NO idea how to get back in touch with.  So friends- my first request (if you haven't already,) please get in touch with me through this webpage.

Thanks to talented artist Amy Swagman there is a group on Facebook to get my account re-instated.  Please join this group, "Bring Kate Hansen Back."  If you're familiar with art on facebook you might notice that there are many beautiful nude artworks by many many artists.  Why are breastfeeding portraits being targeted for removal?  I think there is some sexism involved in these removals.  I believe that the female perspective is being denied and marginalized by these actions.  The breastfeeding mother is a very specifically female perspective on the breast, since it doesn't involve men at all.  Perhaps some hatered of breastfeeding women stems from the fact that (some) men feel visually excluded from the nursing dyad; the woman in question is not exposing her breasts for male pleasure, in fact she seems oblivious to the male gaze.

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Another photo I uploaded which led to my recent deletion was this one.  It's a piece by lesbian artist Catherine Opie, titled "Self Portrait/Nursing."  This photograph was almost immediately removed from my fansite and I received the usual letter from Facebook, saying it was "Hateful, Threatening and/or Obscene."  In a recent article by popular the popular Blacktating blog, Elita stated that the same photo was removed when a friend of hers posted it on her page.  I venture to guess that more than nudity prompted this removal.  This woman, a lesbian mother and not petite, is not the typical nude which facebook is willing to promote.  She falls outside of the heterosexual male dominated paradigm that we're accustomed to seeing, and facebook is intolerant of that.

Finally I want to thank all the friends who have joined in the campaign against my removal.  Amy Swagman has been incredibly helpful to me by creating and managing the group I mentioned.  Krista Cornish Scott has been phoning me, talking to me and supporting me, so many mothers and women on twitter have expressed their outrage and support.  My mother Molly Barber has been incredibly helpful, even looking after my kids today while I write this.  I feel so loved and supported by all of you, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.

36 Comments
Jessica
9/30/2010 10:44:43 am

I love both photos you posted! I love how Catherine is cradling her little one. FB is beyond ridiculous in their tolerance of T&A yet breastfeeding boobs are taboo. It's a great way to keep in touch and market as well...hope you get back on!
Jessica

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Abbie link
9/30/2010 10:46:55 am

I think your profile picture was so beautiful! I've never posted a breastfeeding profile pic, though I do have some of myself breastfeeding my son on there. I'm thinking about leaving the site altogether, if I wouldn't lose touch with all my friends.

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Lauren
9/30/2010 11:15:58 am

It really is a lovely photo of you, Kate. I'm glad you are feeling the support around you. My news feed has exploded with talk of you and this situation.

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Judy @ Mommy News Blog link
9/30/2010 11:20:46 am

I am shocked that facebook took down your page for that photo. It is a beautiful photo and doesn't show anything indecent. In the past fb has said that photos with aerola or nipples showing were removed - that was their excuse anyway - but yours doesn't have anything that they could possibly complain about showing. I'm disgusted! I had my facebook page taken down when I was promoting the grand opening of my breastfeeding boutique - they said that I posted too many "similar" posts - but I think over a 1 week period I had posted 3 or 4 posts about my grand opening on either my personal page or my business page - and they weren't identical - each one was different. I petitioned and filled out every form I could imagine and 1-2 weeks later, my page was back up. I strongly recommend filling out whatever form they sent you to go through their bureaucracy - and hopefully your page will get reinstated too. Then once you get on there - download everything of value to you, including your contacts, and start posting your beautiful photos again. Next time they take you down, at least you won't loose your contacts. This is such a frustrating battle - but one definitely worth fighting. Best wishes -- Judy

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Melissa Ryall Haynie
9/30/2010 11:31:15 am

I was so sad to see that you were deleted. It enrages me to no end what has happened this week with you and Emma. I have always been so moved by your art work and the fact that anyone would see it as anything but beautiful, even magical breaks my heart. I have joined the groups to get both of your reinstated and I hope that Facebook gets their heads out of their tails quickly.

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Monique link
9/30/2010 11:42:51 am

I think that it's appalling that your account was deleted for the sake of *breastfeeding* pictures. That an activity - a perfectly LEGAL activity if done in person - can be censored in such a way is awful. Breastfeeding is the lifeline from one generation to the next: it's only in the last 100 years or so that breastfeeding ceased to be the only thing between baby and starvation. That we would "demonize" it leaves me deeply saddened.

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Amanda link
9/30/2010 11:45:04 am

I had not heard of you before following a link from facebook. I find it extremely irritating that you - and others - keep getting deleted by Facebook, yet I see so much other nudity allowed, making it altogether unfair and ridiculous. I hope that Facebook lets you come back.

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Kelly link
9/30/2010 12:06:30 pm

I'm just chiming in with my full support. Images of breastfeeding are wonderful and we need more of them.

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ToniRakestraw link
9/30/2010 12:08:45 pm

Hope you and Emma get reinstated soon. This is ridiculous.

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Jeannette
9/30/2010 12:57:21 pm

Kate I am so sorry you got deleted. I am so angry right now. I feel powerless and I don't know how to help. I joined the group supporting this but I feel like it's not enough.
I've never posted a picture of me breastfeeding, but I think I just might, just to prove a point, and if I get deleted so what!
I love your art and I dream of the day when I'll have enough money and time to hire you and have you paint a beautiful Madona for me.
Keep up your amazing work, don't worry, we will get you back!

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Dana Cheryl link
9/30/2010 01:03:51 pm

I'm furious! How can Facebook justify their actions? I did a quick search and found a facebook page entitled Nude Art on my first attempt. It contains several photographs of women exposing both breasts in many different poses. It's just infuriating.

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Tracy Jarvinen
9/30/2010 01:05:21 pm

I am sorry that censorship has taken away your right to display your beautiful artwork!

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Pat
9/30/2010 01:07:46 pm

was listening to a piece on the CBC tonight re:feminism and historical viewpoints on menses, birth, breastfeeding.... it got me thinking about how far we have come as a society ... and then i see this! Shame on facebook!!! On this site young girls are posting provocative pics of themselves all the time and that is totally acceptable, but pics of nursing moms and babes are banned! Sad, backward North American world we live in.... i guess we have not come that far after all.

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Michelle Williams link
9/30/2010 01:58:14 pm

While I can honestly say I'm not surprised at all that this happened - I can say that what transpired on your facebook account today is wrong on so many counts.

We will never move forward with this type of stereotypical judgement of a woman's breasts.

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Mark Digatono
9/30/2010 02:03:14 pm

How tragic that some fail to see the beauty you see. It might be untoward that a man post regarding this. I don't care. As an admirer of great work and the Human Form in art I find your work beautiful. Is there a place to protest this with FB itself? Who can I snarl at regarding this?

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Lizzie Phillips link
9/30/2010 02:33:09 pm

As a nursing mother to my five month old son, I find breastfeeding to be one of the most natural human bonding connections that we make. It is as it was intended for our bodies to do since The Omnipitent AlphaOmega being of your choice created us with this amazing built-in capability to feed our children. I find FB's reaction to be ignorant, slanted, gender biased harassment. It's a shame that the minds which opened up enough to concieve of FB in the first place would be so small minded about something as natural and normal as breatfeeding. Shame on you Tom & Facebook!!! Shame on you!!!! Bring her back!!!

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Jennifer Algera
9/30/2010 02:35:55 pm

I am so furious about this Kate, this is outrageous! How something like nursing your infant can be seen as hateful or obscene is just way beyond me. I love you and miss you on FB. Shame on you Facebook! Shame shame shame!

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Elana Stocker
9/30/2010 02:45:55 pm

I offer my support Kate. I am sorry this has to be a fight. People have such strange ideas. I posted you pic up on my profile. We shall see what happens to my account! Some of my 'friends' are getting worked up about it already. Maybe we should create a Breastfeeding friendly social netweorking version of FB? But why should we? I think your work is important and beautiful!

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Babr Smalley
9/30/2010 03:40:35 pm

I am here for ya Kate! Please don't lose contact! I am so orry this happened to you and Emma! I have been there. I lost my original in Feb 2010. Love ya! -Barb

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Megan Johnson link
9/30/2010 03:44:26 pm

I gave birth to my daughter at home and she nursed till she weened herself at 17 months. I don't know you, but your reinstate link, along with Emma's reinstate link, were posted on "I gave birth at home. Not brave. Not crazy. Just educated." fb page. I have since posted it on mine to get through to any bf friends I have that aren't aware of this shameful atrocity.

You art is beautiful and so are you. Thank you for being a breastfeeding/natural birth advocate to women everywhere!
Hope you make it back to facebook soon!! :)

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Jackie link
9/30/2010 04:41:35 pm

We're all behind you, Kate! Let's get this thing sorted and put you back where you belong (assuming you'd want to return to such a hostile environment).

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House Insurance
9/30/2010 06:35:05 pm

That's unbelievable - something so natural can not be labeled as "Hateful, Threatening and/or Obscene."

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fatima kazi
9/30/2010 09:00:52 pm

Absolutely ridiculous that you have been deleted from facebook, your work is beautiful & reminds us of what is so close to nature.
You have my support 100%

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Natasha Whiting
9/30/2010 09:18:21 pm

I find it unbelievable that they allow such groups as "Dead babies make me laugh" (as a mother who has held who daughter as she took her final breaths THAT offends ME!) yet something as simple and natural as a breastfeeding pic has them having heart attacks and deleting you! What has the world come to seriously? It's crazy.

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Stella Onions link
9/30/2010 09:48:12 pm

Hi Kate,
I am appalled at the deletion of both you and Emma. It is beyond a joke that the Facebots are so intolerant of NORMAL photos. Breastfeeding isn't exceptional, it should be normal behaviour. I will join the group you have mentioned and will continue to support you in any way I can. Please keep in touch.
S

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Sarah
9/30/2010 10:10:24 pm

Kate, I've also never been brave enough to post a bf pic, but I love your work.

I think it's a horrifying indictment on society when pictures of BF women are taken done as obscene.

Keep fighting we're all right behind you.

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Ramona Melton link
9/30/2010 10:42:47 pm

Love it!

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Sara Simon
10/1/2010 01:37:32 am

Facebook is such an opportunity for networking and growth, for rekindling friendships and keeping in touch when we normally wouldn't. It's just a crying shame it's not run by people who see what a difference it really makes, and that they are not using it for the greater good. Via facebook the issues get out there, but their misogynistic prejudices are so out of place. Fight this... the breastfeeding photo issue will not go away until someone sues the idiots. You have a lot of support. xx

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Mumplus4
10/1/2010 03:51:50 am

FB were wrong to delete your page, your work and your photos - your work is beautiful.

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Anne Smith, IBCLC and mother of six breastfed children link
10/1/2010 04:44:12 am

This is a travesty. Facebook needs a huge reality check, but is such a powerful, male dominated force that it's hard to fight back.

I'd leave facebook, too, but I don't want to lose my contacts either. Facebook reaches 500 million people, and offers a public forum to promote so many important causes - mine are breastfeeding and animal rescue. I don't want to lose the opportunity to support things I believe in, but this is outrageous.

I don't remember the young guy's name who started facebook, but I've not heard anything good about him. According to what I have heard, he's an arrogant, egotistical a...hole who has a Messiah complex and carries a business card that says: "I'm the CEO, bitch!" I don't know if that's true, and will probably get my account deleted for saying it, but I'm not alone in believing that he has way too much power. It's hard to believe that the powers that be at facebook can arbitrarily delete member's accounts, erasing all their personal information, without warning or just cause. Something needs to be done.

BTW, I'm an IBCLC and avid supporter of breastfeeding. The artwork and photos are beautiful and real and powerful. Kate, you're not alone. I,and many others, applaude and support your work, and your courage in posting the picture of you and your beautiful little red headed toddler. Let us know what we can do to help!

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Elana Stocker
10/1/2010 04:59:20 am

Well, I haven't been deleted yet, but I am losing fb 'friends' and getting rude letters. Someone compared breastfeeding to urinating. Slowly calming down here.

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L'Rentia Beukes
10/1/2010 11:56:12 am

http://www.naturalnews.com/breastfeeding.html

Just found this. Fascinating info on breastfeeding. Am utterly disgusted with FB about this.

All us wonderful breastfeeding mommies deserve medals for giving our babies the best start in life, and for putting up with other people's ridiculous notions

Personally, every time someone gives me a funny look when I'm breastfeeding or posting something relating thereto, it just makes me more defiant of those ignorant and self-obsessed people who have a problem with it.

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Carol
10/2/2010 05:28:29 pm

This is disgusting, and is the reason that I have today deleted my Facebook account. I refuse to be part of a site that treats women in this way, and have told my friends this. Disgusting.

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Teresa Mead
10/3/2010 11:49:25 am

I cannot believe this!!! I was actually kicked out of the banff hot springs (rocky mountains, canada) b/c i was breastfeeding. I lodged a complaint with the human rights commission of Canada and won. They have had to revamp their policy and now breast feeding is now allowed in pools and elsewhere in Parks Canada, particularly the Rocky Mountains which had had a lot of complaints concerning the issue.
Concerning our media, it is absolutely disgusting that women's breasts can be shown in a way that sexualizes them, but to show that them used in way that is consistent with their natural design is considered obscene. We need to change the world that our daughters and sons will grow up in, a little bit at a time (or a lot if we can manage it!!)

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Amy
10/9/2010 07:35:40 am

Your artwork is beautiful. I cannot imagine the kind of sick mind that finds something to be offended by in it.

Facebook deleted a photo of me breastfeeding my two year old daughter in the bath and gave me a warning. One day when I'm feeling more financial, I'd love to commission a painting and have it where *everyone* can see it!

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Richard Meyer link
1/23/2011 03:44:51 am

I didn't know of your work until now, but it's excellent... there's no excuse for its deletion.. if you have a mailing list, add me ...meyon@earthlink.net

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    Five Star Friday
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    A blog on art, roller derby and life.

    Kate Hansen

    I'm an artist and mother of two  in Courtenay, BC.  I've completed a project called the "Madonna and Child Project," and I'm now working on a series of roller derby inspired drawings. In my spare time I play roller derby with the Brick House Betties.  

    Kate Hansen

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