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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
Bagadverts · 31/05/2018 22:09

I don't think it's racist but I don't like it particularly. Went onto her site and really liked it, though found the the bit with a choice of men or women doing yoga with a choice of brown or golden unsettling. Maybe I'd be more reassured if there was also a red set or blue, so that the choice is very obviously now race based.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 31/05/2018 22:11

*BetteDavis.....erm, no. He's a wonderful man but I guarantee he does not know about the fetishisation of BAME bodies in art

Okay Grin

Sorry if it's been covered upthread, and I've missed it, but what reason did he give for finding it racist?

maxthemartian · 31/05/2018 22:11

I like the picture.

I also find it a bit of a bizarre assumption that impoverished African women wander around naked! They really don't, not in Sub Saharan Africa anyway.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 31/05/2018 22:12

Nope. Had 3 babies. Never ever done laundry naked. It would have made exactly the same artistic sense if she had clothes on, and a million times more realistic

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 31/05/2018 22:13

Haven’t read full thread.

My interpretation: Mum is naked because baby won’t let her put him down so she can get dressed. (I’ve seen a load of comments on MN over the years from mums who spent the day topless or in pants because baby was clingy) she has stuck a wash on and is leaning on machine because it’s the only way baby will sleep (vibrations) and has stashed a book near the machine because she has to do this every day and knows the routine. Grin

Really can’t see how it’s racist and think it’s a really lovely piece of art.

Original poster
NC4T · 31/05/2018 22:13

Because he thought she looked poor, and was black. He didn't really know why.

OP posts:
TemptressofWaikiki · 31/05/2018 22:13

Not my taste at all. My instant reaction was no racist but also not entirely appropriate either.

leghoul · 31/05/2018 22:15

I really don't like it

HappyLollipop · 31/05/2018 22:16

I'm black and I love this picture, I wouldn't think anyone was racist to put this up more the opposite actually. I've done my housework naked enough times as I like to feel free and clothes feel too restrictive at times plus my son is still a baby so doesn't care nor mind me being in the nude so I better enjoy it while it lasts, so I definitely relate to this image on a personal level Grin

There's just something really serene and hippy-ish about it as if she's found happiness in the weirdest ways by being naked with the baby on her back sleeping, having the washing going and reading a book is probably the most peaceful her day will be and I think every mum of every ethnicity could relate to finding our own peace in the most unconventional ways!

MiggeldyHiggins · 31/05/2018 22:17

Never ever done laundry naked. It would have made exactly the same artistic sense if she had clothes on, and a million times more realistic

its perfectly realistic once you realise that other people are not you and do things that you don't do.

MrsMuddlePluck · 31/05/2018 22:17

Agree with Haffdonga - cliche not racist

Duck90 · 31/05/2018 22:19

I have seen parents in the uk with babies strapped to the front of them, do many people have babies carried at their back?

scatterolight · 31/05/2018 22:21

I think it's meaning, proved by the varied responses on here, is at best unclear.

Like most modern art we're supposed to do the work. Bringing meaning to an image where there is none. So here we see an impoverished African woman with nothing to her name but a book and the clothes she's presumably just put in the washing machine. What are we to make of that? Is it supposed to be empowering? Amusing? Sad? Celebrated? Pitiful? Who the fuck knows.

There is something uncomfortable about the voyeurism too. I'm not sure why you would want to display such a deliberately strange and incoherent image. I guess at least it may spark interesting conversations with your visitors?

tiddliewinkiewoo · 31/05/2018 22:21

I think every mum of every ethnicity could relate to finding our own peace in the most unconventional ways!

Exactly!

And for those who are saying they've never done things whilst naked - surely you can appreciate that other people do? And it's fine either way?

sizeofalentil · 31/05/2018 22:22

I did laundry today half naked with the baby strapped to me - she was being ultra clingy and only had time to get a pair of my husband’s boxer shorts on.

Landed · 31/05/2018 22:23

I wasn't keen til i had a look at other prints . I particularly love the one of the two women with their hairy armpits.

Didn't see it as racist OP. Glad you did the link.

MiggeldyHiggins · 31/05/2018 22:23

I have seen parents in the uk with babies strapped to the front of them, do many people have babies carried at their back?

yes quite a few, of all ethnicities.

Original poster
NC4T · 31/05/2018 22:23

What makes you think she is a) African and b) impoverished?

OP posts:
LuluJakey1 · 31/05/2018 22:24

Don't think it's racist but I don't like it.

poca · 31/05/2018 22:24

Like most modern art we're supposed to do the work. Bringing meaning to an image where there is none. So here we see an impoverished African woman with nothing to her name but a book and the clothes she's presumably just put in the washing machine

Erm that might be what you see, it's not what everyone sees.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 31/05/2018 22:25

So here we see an impoverished African woman with nothing to her name but a book and the clothes she's presumably just put in the washing machine.

'We' don't see it no. You and some other people do. I certainly didn't 'see' an impoverished African woman - in fact her colour didn't even register - I see a new mum taking 5 mins to read her book while baby is sleeping - the fact she is naked is neither here or there - the same goes for her colour as on the link there are white women depicted in exactly the same way - i.e doing housework

Bizarre Confused

Original poster
NC4T · 31/05/2018 22:25

I thought American and comfortably middle class.

OP posts:
OfaFrenchmind2 · 31/05/2018 22:26

Having the baby in the back means that doing stuff around the house is possible. With baby in the front you cannot ready do much.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 31/05/2018 22:26

I guess at least it may spark interesting conversations with your visitors?

In the laundry room? Why do you entertain visitors in your laundry room?

TeaAndToastForBreakfast · 31/05/2018 22:27

you have a laundry room? Smile