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

[NC4T]

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?

It's perfectly normal to carry a baby on your back Bertrand. Most people wait until the baby is able to hold their head up or sit but it's possible to back carry newborns. I put mine on my back from about 4-5 months as you can't do any housework or lift other children with them on your front.

I've always been envious of those who can back carry, I've never been able to work it out on my own.

Carrying on your front is so cumbersome past about 3 months!

I realise this is not the point of the thread. It's been interesting to hear people's views, I think on reflection I would be uncomfortable hanging this on my wall as a middle class white woman.

It's interesting seeing people state their assertions about the woman as "fact" though!

Not my taste, but not racist.,

If we want a picture of a tired mother and her child, I much prefer this....

I mean this...

But the baby in the picture is not a toddler

you can carry any sized child on your back, from newborn.

I personally don't like the art by this illustrator, but I suspect mainly because I'm prude.

However I love how much thought and debate it has inspired, which is exactly the meaning/purpose of art.

"you can carry any sized child on your back, from newborn."

I know. But it is unusual for white western women to do so. I agree that many people who carry older children do so in back carriers.

I don’t like it at all but can’t properly articulate. It just seems a bit colonial. The idea that this is an African Village woman is a massive stereotype and quite ridiculous and must surely only come from someone who has never been in an African village. No electricity to run a washing machine for starters; limited literacy; no money for books.

But my thoughts are a bit jumbled. It seems the woman has a large patch of hair missing. I find it intrusive. If it was hung with others in the series I think it may make more sense.

I suspect the artist is just trying to portray womanhood/motherhood but the context is missing.

Gold earrings and electronic appliances and he perceives her as poor. I think your dh has a lit of internalised issues.

I find it a bit uncomfortable too - lots of potentially heavy themes as a PP said.

I love the print of the lady brushing her teeth though, so cute! I’d put that up in my bathroom.

I think these are really interesting. I think the artist is intentionally messing with society's stereotypes of what 'goes together'. I suspect he/she would be very pleased with the discussion it has provoked here because that is exactly the point.

The woman who some people might associate with a remote village woman (yes the artist is exaggerating the stereotype by making her black, - she could have been white, but it wouldn't be so strikingly provokative) - yet she is has the pose of a pretty typical middle-class western woman.

The picture of the woman with dangly breasts struggling with a wrap/tie. Again a conflation of two stereotypes - wraps are only relatively recently popular again in western europe, whereas cultures where this is the normal would do it with dignified ease.

The picture of the heavily pregnant woman resting against an office desk, with chair and computer. Surely a poke at the fact that being pregnant/a mother is work and just as hard as the person who goes to work at a desk.

I quite like the one with the washing machine - to me it shows how blended people/cultures can be (when at society its best). I think the woman looks utterly at home and calm - a mother bonding with her child while taking a moment's peace in her busy day.

It's really not that unusual. Maybe it's regional but the city I lived in when my oldest was born lots of people would turn up to baby group with babies on their backs. There are multiple baby wearing Facebook groups with thousands of members who carry babies on their backs. I've not been to a sling meet but I'm guessing they're not full of people with Baby Bjorns.
I imagine in Danish yoga circles it's even more common.

I thought she was reading the washing machine instruction book to work out what cycle to put her woollens on

But it is unusual for white western women to do so. I agree that many people who carry older children do so in back carriers

Its not unusual for people who carry in the first place (beyond having tiny babies in bjorns which is different), its the norm in that group. I used to run a sling library, the majority are back carrying at least by six months if not before.

The idea that she has to be African to use a back carrier is silly. Many 2nd or 3rd generation people would use them, as well as any number of other people.

I think this is a conversation starter about race/culture...

Sorry - btit of Yoda-speak there, "When at society its best, Master Luke"

I love the variety of interpretations and opinions on this thread. I think an whole board dedicated to art discussion would be fab!

Just hope she's not in a laundrette

It's usual for art to be interpreted in different ways by different viewers, I think.

It’s a lovely print. There is some worrying bullshit on this thread though

Your husband needs to give his head a wobble if he assumes all black people are poor.

tooth I agree. Loonie lefties...

Does your DH know the artist also produces naked-white-woman prints? Has he seen them? That might help him to rethink whether it's racist or not.

As a depiction of motherhood I think it depends on what you find relatable.
If carrying a baby is something only black women from far away places do them the whole scene is very different than if pausing for a few minutes to check your phone read a book with a sleeping baby on your back while doing the housework is a normal part of your day.

Don't like it myself.
Contrived juxtaposed imagery which comes off as patronising.
Women don't have to be defined by one thing, y'know, be the woman who can do it alllllll. Be an earth mother AND be modern by doing your laundry using appliances then use the time saved to pick up a book and do some reading cos you're intellectual, too, or check your shopping list....meh.

I don't think its essentially racist, but at a push you could see it as some statement on slavery?

Like the old images of black slaves working with babies on their back... being chained to the washing machine and childcare is the modern equivalent of slavery? I realise as I type this, I may be projecting somewhat hahaha.