During Tara Ruby's time in the Air Force, lactation rooms were nonexistent. It was a mission for Ruby, who served from 1997 to 2001, to find a place to pump milk for her infant son.
More than a decade later, Ruby was ecstatic to hear that the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, TX opened its very own lactation room. In turn, the now Texas-based photographer took a special photo to commemorate the moment.
Ruby photographed 10 servicewomen breastfeeding their infants in uniform and shared it on the Facebook page of her photography business. Since Ruby said the photo was initially taken down from the social media site, she reposted it and it quickly started going viral. In less than a week, it reached more than 8,000 shares and 11,000 likes.
"I was active duty a long time ago when support for breastfeeding moms wasn't even an option or a consideration. We have come so far. Breastfeeding their babies doesn't make them less of a soldier, I believe it makes them a better one," Ruby wrote in the caption.
Her hope, she said, is to also "normalize breastfeeding," which has been a struggle for mothers everywhere. For example, it's hard to forget about the mother who was shamed by a stranger on Facebook for breastfeeding at a restaurant when her hungry baby started to cry. And when an Argentinian politician was photographed breastfeeding during a parliamentary session, it made headlines internationally.
See the powerful photo and her full explanation below!
When Tara Ruby was in the Air Force (1997 to 2001), there wasn't a designated place for female servicemembers to breastfeed their infants. Over a decade later, the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, TX, opened a lactation room, leaving Ruby ecstatic.
Since she's now a photographer in Texas, she decided to take this special photo below of 10 servicewomen breastfeeding in uniform. Her attempt to glorify this breakthrough for women quickly went viral.
She explained her decision to take the photo with a lengthy Facebook page and pointed out her desire to help "normalize breastfeeding."
While some commenters criticized the servicewomen for the photo, calling it "unprofessional," most praised them and Ruby for documenting this special moment.
With the ongoing stigma against breastfeeding women, Tara Ruby's photo isn't just a breakthrough for the military, it's a milestone for women everywhere!
Please SHARE if you also feel it's important to encourage society to "normalize breastfeeding."
