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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bought a print I love, DH is worried it's racist

999 replies

NC4T · 31/05/2018 21:12

Saw it on IG and loved it. Purchased it for the laundry room corridor, but it's arrived and DH is a little worried it might be racist. I can't see how. To me, it's a mum finding a few minutes of calm in the chaos and I love her babies little sleeping face.

We are white Jewish, for cultural context.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
Tobuyornot99 · 31/05/2018 21:13

He's nuts. Must you only have art that depicts people of the same ethnicity as you?

HollowTalk · 31/05/2018 21:13

Why is she naked?

HollowTalk · 31/05/2018 21:14

Why is she naked?

MonkeyBrainsInPickle · 31/05/2018 21:14

I can’t see how either 🤷🏼‍♀️

ememem84 · 31/05/2018 21:15

Oh I’ve seen this. And I have a postcard sized version pinned on my desk. I love it

I don’t think it’s racist at all

DickensianHysteric · 31/05/2018 21:15

She's presumably naked because all her clothes are in the machine? I don't think it's racist. It's a nice illustration.

endofagain · 31/05/2018 21:16

Presumably she is washing her clothes. I think it is a lovely picture.

Original poster
NC4T · 31/05/2018 21:16

Not sure, Hollow. This artist does all naked women, generally a bit plump, doing baby wearing or yoga poses.

OP posts:
OohMavis · 31/05/2018 21:17

Er, nope. Don't see how it's racist.

Dunno why she's naked though.

MrsHappyAndMrCool · 31/05/2018 21:17

What are his reasons for thinking it is racist?

I love it!

Haffdonga · 31/05/2018 21:19

Naked, barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. Isn't that the cliche?

Not my taste.

Clawdy · 31/05/2018 21:19

Don't particularly like it, but I don't see it as racist.

LEMtheoriginal · 31/05/2018 21:20

Gosh I don't know how I feel about it. Not racist but I don't know why she is naked. Surely she has other clothes?

However I do like it. It's provocative though

argumentativefeminist · 31/05/2018 21:21

Surely it's playing off the associated images of naked black baby wearing women as exotic/goddess like e.g. in old National Geographics and contrasting this with the mundane and human act of washing your clothes? So depends whether you find that challenging/problematic which is totally down to your opinion/sensitivity to these things. I dont think anyone would immediately look at it and say it was racist so if you like it then go for it!

LEMtheoriginal · 31/05/2018 21:21

What is the artists name

mittensofsteel · 31/05/2018 21:21

I like it, it’s gentle.

Who is the artist.

NapQueen · 31/05/2018 21:23

I dont think its racist. However its a very sad image. She is naked because she only owns the clothes on her back. She has found herself plonked in the western world with all its mod cons so for this particular wash she can have the machine do it and grab herself 5 mins to read. But this isnt her everyday life. She wont ever have this rest again. And its going in your laundry room where no doubt (given 90% of the threads on here) there is some moaning about sorting/delicates/muddy sports kits/ironing/putting away/etc and realistically thats nothing in comparison to this womans burden.

I dunno. I dont like it. But it isnt racist.

argumentativefeminist · 31/05/2018 21:26

@NapQueen not too sure what makes you think this hypothetical woman didn't originally come from the "western world" or a different place with "mod cons"

Cheekyandfreaky · 31/05/2018 21:27

@NapQueen deep! I really don’t have an artistic eye but I love the analysis.

Original poster
NC4T · 31/05/2018 21:28

I find it very peaceful. To me she is a gentle hippy baby wearing type. She loves doing skin to skin and yoga. She's tired from the newborn but in that drunk in love way. She's been napping with her baby and has just got up to hang the wash out, slung him on her back and is taking a few minutes to read a book whilst it finishes.

DH was worried it might be problematic because he perceived her as poor.

OP posts:
overnightangel · 31/05/2018 21:29

It’s not racist but it’s not something I’d want up in my house

MiggeldyHiggins · 31/05/2018 21:29

Whats racist is you assuming she's not western and that she has no other clothes Hmm

Original poster
NC4T · 31/05/2018 21:30

Whereas I didn't. I thought of her as an LA hippy type. (Have never been to LA).

OP posts:
JellyBaby666 · 31/05/2018 21:30

Assuming she isn’t British (or western, wherever that may be!) and therefore doesn’t have mod cons is so racist! Blooming heck.

FWIW, I don’t see it as racist. You could put a white/Asian/mixed race wonan in the drawing and it means the same thing - a Mum finding a moment of peace amongst the busyness.

NapQueen · 31/05/2018 21:32

Ive made a snap judgement based on what the artist is showing. A naked woman with a baby strapped to her back and a basket down on the floor. The artist clearly imo shows here a woman who would typically carry baby on her back and basket atop her head and finally she is able to rest as the machine is now doing the hard work for her. A well deserved rest.