Outrage over ‘condescending’ Michael Leunig cartoon

A Michael Leunig cartoon has caused outrage online with many describing it as “condescending” and judgmental of mothers.

One of Australia’s most loved cartoonists Michael Leunig has been slammed for a mummy-shaming drawing published on Wednesday.

The cartoon, published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers, showed a woman pushing a pram while looking at her mobile phone. Behind her a baby lies on the ground. It was accompanied by a poem that read:

“Mummy was busy on Instagram

When beautiful bubby fell out of the pram

And lay on the path unseen and alone

Wishing that he was loved like a phone.”

The cartoon has attracted criticism and anger on social media, with some describing it as “sad” and an example of “trite egoism and male frailty rolled into one”.

Feminist witer Clementine Ford slammed Leunig as a “f***ing gronk” on Twitter.

“I bet you never spent hours walking babies around in a pram, feeling isolated and alone and terrified. F*** you and your condescending judgement”.

Another Twitter user commented: “young parents have enough anxiety without this boomer bull***t”.

Some also retailated with their own poems.

Love this piss-take of #Leunig the misogynist. https://t.co/8dUNwvUreu

— 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 (@RonniSalt) October 23, 2019

Getting back to Leunig briefly...

The problem isn't that he's just wrong. Being wrong is an acceptable part of thinking. We all do it.

It's being wrong a) about someone's parenting; and b) doing so with an air of superiority.

— Damon Young (@damonayoung) October 23, 2019

One more thing... I have seen a number of mothers talk about how the Leunig cartoon really upset them as they struggle with young babies. It isn't harmless. It is hurting vulnerable people, and Fairfax should be ashamed of publishing it.

— Erin Riley (@erinrileyau) October 23, 2019

Leunig is down on mums doing anything but stare adoringly at their babies 24/7. I will never forget the awful, judgmental, finger-wag of a cartoon he did about childcare. This is in that category. Mary Leunig (is she a relation?) did an awesome book on the drudgery of motherhood.

— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) October 23, 2019

I love #Leunig and have bought books of his cartoons. I love cartoonists. This effort was... trite egoism and male frailty rolled into one. In the past he's said some stuff I didn't like. This is in with 'that lot'... and it's just... icky... and a little sad.

— Catherine JK ⏳ (@creativecatjk) October 23, 2019

Leunig’s generation’s parents would routinely leave their kids in the car while they went into a pub for a few beers before driving home drunk. pic.twitter.com/gGsP9YVZum

— Toby G(uts and gore) (@Epigrammist) October 23, 2019

When my daughter was born she cried whenever I wasn't holding, feeding or playing with her. The only other option was the pram. If I wanted to talk to an adult, read anything, or yes, heaven forbid, check social media, I had to put her in the pram and do it while I walked #Leunig

— Sarah Callinan (@callinan_sarah) October 23, 2019

The backlash against Leunig is essentially a backlash against the policing of women’s lives

— Asher Wolf (@Asher_Wolf) October 23, 2019

It’s not the first time Leunig has attracted criticism. In 2015 he sparked outrage with a cartoon comparing the Victorian government to fascists, following a proposal to ban children who are not vaccinated from childcare centres.

But others backed the cartoonist, suggesting people were only angry because the truth hurt.

I've watched people walk into parking metres, buildings, walk in front of cars etc etc. I've had prams jammed into the back of my legs because someone was playing with their phone. So if this #Leunig cartoon offends you, tough, reality & the truth often hurts.@DailyLeunig pic.twitter.com/qjYPWUM4go

— VanMan (@T5VanMan) October 23, 2019

...and here we go again with the false outrage. "Oh no! A comic with a grain of truth! #Woke-lings assemble!"#Millennials, if you took better care of your kids - #Leunig wouldn't have to immortalize you. Maybe you could ask #ExtinctionRebellion for some glue?#auspol #politics https://t.co/Ng3mRyZEO5

— Alexandra Marshall (@ellymelly) October 23, 2019

Hating on #Leunig is ridiculous. Just because it doesn’t fit your narrative why band together with hateful twitter comments? Bullying mob of hypocrites. Bigger fish to fry.

— 💧rabble rouser (@mrl58) October 23, 2019

Well done #Leunig.
Cartoon is accurate.
If you take offence, you probably are the problem this cartoon is depicting.

If you haven’t seen this phone obsession with mum’s in real life then you’ve obviously got a phone obsession. 😂😉@RitaPanahi @RealMarkLatham @rowandean

— DownUnder 🇦🇺 (@KeepAustralia1) October 23, 2019

What do you think? Was the cartoon out of line? Comment below.