Sad reason Aussie mum was shamed in Woolworths: 'On my own'

An Aussie mum has spoken out about a baffling comment made toward her at her local supermarket where she was shopping with her one-year-old. Emma Diedrichs took to TikTok to reveal that an older man had shamed her for her outfit - which consisted of shorts and a top that bared a little bit of midriff (shock! horror!).

"It's Sunday, the supermarket's busy, even getting a park is a nightmare," Emma says in the video. "So I'm walking all the way across the shopping centre car park, getting to Woolies, get a pram, putting my one-year-old in the pram seat, and this old man has the audacity, audacity to say to me, you're a mum, you shouldn't be wearing that."

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Emma said, "I honestly was so taken back by it. I thought he was saying something about the shopping trolleys but when I understood what he said I was so taken aback and I laughed nervously and walked off. I didn’t really think about it until after."

RELATED:

• Mum divides TikTok after sharing video of baby crying on a plane: 'Nightmare'

• Melbourne mum sparks pram parking fury: 'I'll argue with anyone who tries to stop me'

• Aussie mum responds after being slammed for swearing in front of kids on TikTok: 'Get over it'

The video elicited plenty of comments from sympathetic followers - many of whom said that not only was the man way out of line but that Emma looked great.

Hypocrisy of man's comments slammed online

"Why is it when I'm by myself with my kid I'm constantly told I'm doing this or that wrong as soon as my husband is around he's doing such a good job/no-one would say a word, you look amazing btw mumma," one supportive person wrote on Emma's TikTok - raising yet another great point. Would the elderly man in question have had the nerve to say something to Emma had she been accompanied by a partner?

Probably not.

Sadly, it's not the first time Emma has had to deal with other people's unwanted opinions.

"I have heard of this happening to other mothers and to be honest this isn’t the first time something has been said to me," she told Yahoo Lifestyle. "As a single mum, I am out and about so often with my son so I do have a lot of people make comments. Not all are bad, most are nice comments. But what strikes me the most is that the only time I get comments is when I’m on my own. When I’m with my partner, friends or family no one even bats an eyelid. As soon as I’m on my own in public it’s like everyone has a right to talk to you."

The man's comments were especially strange given that it was a hot day in Brisbane, where Emma lives.

"Don’t get me wrong it’s nice and I’m a nice person so I’ll always chat back," she told us. "But I certainly didn’t expect a comment like this. Especially being it was nearly 28 degrees in Brisbane yesterday so yeah I was in shorts and a singlet but it certainly wasn’t anything 'revealing'".

When did motherhood get a dress code?

Elsewhere in the video, Emma says, "It shouldn't matter if I'm a mum or a normal person. Don't f**king comment on what I'm wearing." (can we please get an amen?).

As a fellow mother, Emma's situation pisses me off but I think it also speaks to a deeper issue - the constant dehumanisation of mothers to 'others'. There's something insidious about the idea that once we have welcomed children into our lives we must change certain aspects of who we fundamentally are - right down to the way we dress.

Since when does motherhood come with a dress code? Did we all miss the memo that states that once we have kids we must don only baby-vomit stained trackies and oversized hoodies? Why are some people so desperate to make sure that mums are locked into such an unforgiving narrative where the exposing of a centimetre of midriff somehow reflects our capabilities as parents?

As one of Emma's sympathisers said, "Umm what!? As mums, we are still allowed to wear things we feel comfortable and feel confident going out in! There's nothing wrong with what you're wearing!!!"

Emma's response to being outfit-shamed

When asked what she would say to the man now, if given the chance, Emma tells Yahoo Lifestyle, "I’m not a snappy or rude person so I would never turn around and say anything nasty. But I wish I understood properly what he said and maybe used it to educate him that it’s not his right to comment on what I’m wearing just because I am a mum."

SHOP:

• Win a trip to Paris Fashion Week worth $45,000

• The Aussie handbag brand with over 3500 five-star reviews: 'Feels like a $1000 bag'

• The 'amazing' haircare dupe beauty buffs can't get enough of: 'Affordable and effective'

"Even if I wasn’t, what’s his right to comment? It was so hot outside and maybe being our first day out of winter so he probably expected women to 'cover up' but even then, there were other young girls walking around wearing a lot less than I was but just because I had my son with me, meant I had to cover up. Insanity really."

She continued, "I think everyone has a right to an opinion and that’s fine, sometimes it just needs to be kept inside your head. "

Want the latest celebrity news? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.