Eyeful of breast-feeding mom sparks outrage

[Cosmo_ac]

In Canada it is perfectly legal for a women to go topless in a public place, save the old "No shirt, No shoes, No service" setting. So, as far as breastfeeding goes, if i don't want to see it, i look the other way. Do i think there are places that women shouldn't breast feed there babies? Sure. But for the most part i have no problems.


That being said, i think it's times like these we really have to examine how extremely messed up our society is if you think about it. Thinks like nudity, for example say Janet Jacksons exposed tit on the superbowl, are horrible, evil things that will leave children scared for years to come. We do our best to protect children from nudity and to an even greater degree sexuality. Yet on the other hand the very same people who put so much effort into getting a movie that flashes a set of tits on the screen an adult rating, have no problems with there kids watching people kill each other on prime time TV. In the west, it's more socially acceptable for you and your kids to watch people perpetuate violence on another person, then it is to watch two people making love. Seems to me we have our moral standards ass backwards.

 

[maniactickler]

You do realize they're 99% silicone, right? For her babies - if they're not already dead from her obvious drug use (I swear to God, 8 months pregnant and OBVIOUSLY high on Jay Leno back when she was married to Tommy) they'd be poisoned by her fake breast milk.

Well for the sake of her children, id be willing to test out the milk first.

 

[scorpionldr]

see your just the type of perveted old man that causes this problem!!

man I need to set you straight!

lol ok, so of all guys here, who WOULDN'T look at a breast out in the open!?

 

[aun_existe_amor]

WOW!!! I'm glad i read this. I had no idea that it was wrong or illegal for women to breast feed in public places in USA. We're trying for a baby and he's American so it's very possible that I will need to feed my baby in a public place in Colorado. In England I'll just feed anywhere my baby needs to be fed. If my baby annoys you by constantly screaming because he/she is hungry while I'm looking for the designated breast feeding area am I going to get disapproving looks and nasty comments for that?

 

[aun_existe_amor]

lol ok, so of all guys here, who WOULDN'T look at a breast out in the open!?

Probably the guys more interested in feet 😉

 

[RobAce]

Probably the guys more interested in feet

DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!
Excatly why I dont care about seeing a woman breastfeeding.

Rob

 

[maniactickler]

As much as i love feet, a nice pair of firm hooters will get my attention every damn time!

 

[Avenger314]

Probably the guys more interested in feet 😉

Don't judge us 😛 ;-)

 

[Vae]

I completely agree with Bella on her views with breast feeding. I feel that the American public spends lots of time placing breasts at the center of attention. Please pick up a magazine, would you, where a woman is on the front, meant to look sexy. Most of the time, the breast area is accentuated or sometimes the entire center of attention. Man, we love them titties, now don't we? But stick a child on it and suddenly it becomes repulsive.

I think the issue is that breasts are seen as an entirely sexualized object in many of American, both male and female, minds. When you place a young, nursing child, the sexuality is ruptured. It becomes a bottle. It becomes something not suckled as foreplay before sex, but as a necessity to a growing child. Since it's very taboo to see anything arousing about this situation, it becomes repulsive. The breast is no longer sexual, no longer appealing. It's now a functional thing. So people are disgusted by it. I find it completely hypocritical and unbelievable, as most of these people with the problem were once helpless infants, nursing on their mother's breast, the same breast that others looked at, scoffed and said, "Goddamn, can't she do that somewhere else?"

I am the type of person where I do not overly sexualize the breast. Sure, they're very pretty. Sure they can be arousing. But they're just tits. God gave them to us for two reasons: to fondle and to nurse. That's what they're there for, but people seem to forget that second function. And I say get over it. I'll be quick to show someone my tits and say, "These are tits. Deal with it." I do not have children, but when I do, if someone has a problem with me breast feeding my child, I'll be quicker to squirt milk in their eye before I'll go hide myself and my child, as if what I'm doing is indecent.

 

[DannyMc]

Vae, well said and you do have a way with words ...OMG !!!!!

 

[Mimi]

I completely agree with Bella on her views with breast feeding. I feel that the American public spends lots of time placing breasts at the center of attention. Please pick up a magazine, would you, where a woman is on the front, meant to look sexy. Most of the time, the breast area is accentuated or sometimes the entire center of attention. Man, we love them titties, now don't we? But stick a child on it and suddenly it becomes repulsive.

I think the issue is that breasts are seen as an entirely sexualized object in many of American, both male and female, minds. When you place a young, nursing child, the sexuality is ruptured. It becomes a bottle. It becomes something not suckled as foreplay before sex, but as a necessity to a growing child. Since it's very taboo to see anything arousing about this situation, it becomes repulsive. The breast is no longer sexual, no longer appealing. It's now a functional thing. So people are disgusted by it. I find it completely hypocritical and unbelievable, as most of these people with the problem were once helpless infants, nursing on their mother's breast, the same breast that others looked at, scoffed and said, "Goddamn, can't she do that somewhere else?"

I am the type of person where I do not overly sexualize the breast. Sure, they're very pretty. Sure they can be arousing. But they're just tits. God gave them to us for two reasons: to fondle and to nurse. That's what they're there for, but people seem to forget that second function. And I say get over it. I'll be quick to show someone my tits and say, "These are tits. Deal with it." I do not have children, but when I do, if someone has a problem with me breast feeding my child, I'll be quicker to squirt milk in their eye before I'll go hide myself and my child, as if what I'm doing is indecent.

Damn, I love you Vae. I agree with everything you said, 150% (and Bella, and aun, and JPie). It should be viewed no differently than bottle feeding in public. They both serve the same purpose.

Mimi

 

[kis123]

I see breastfeeding as a private intimate act between mother and child. I see it as an experience exclusive to them. If I were a breast feeding mother I would NOT want to share that out in the open public. I would want my experience private; period!

Just because I don't feel it should be done as an open public display doesn't mean that I should get beat upon for my opinion! If you want to sit in the middle of a shopping mall, whip out your boobs and feed your kid in public, knock yourselves out-I personally don't care! But if you're getting stared down for it stop your bellyaching about it because in this society it simply isn't looked upon as an acceptable act in public and it will draw attention to you.

 

[Vae]

Just because I don't feel it should be done as an open public display doesn't mean that I should get beat upon for my opinion! If you want to sit in the middle of a shopping mall, whip out your boobs and feed your kid in public, knock yourselves out-I personally don't care! But if you're getting stared down for it stop your bellyaching about it because in this society it simply isn't looked upon as an acceptable act in public and it will draw attention to you.

Was anyone personally attacking you? I don't remember seeing what you said quoted in someone else's post and then argued against? I was simply giving my opinion. I don't think anyone else was "bellyaching" either. They were simply making the point that they don't agree with what you, or anyone else said for that matter.

Also have you ever scratched your balls in public? Maybe adjusted yourself? Yes, no? If you have, you're drawing attention to yourself too. Just like women would be if they breast fed, but do you have random strangers coming up to you and going, "Ugh. Would you quit that?" I highly doubt it. Instead many people get on their goddamn soapboxes to bitch about the natural thing that women are doing. Save it. It all draws attention to you, but I don't remember there being an article necessary for scratching one's nuts. In fact, I've never had a reason to make a post about how disgusting or whatever it is in the first place.

 

[BellaRisa]

...if you're getting stared down for it stop your bellyaching about it because in this society it simply isn't looked upon as an acceptable act in public and it will draw attention to you.


Eh, breastfeeding moms rarely give a horse's patoot whether people stare. Most of us have had our breasts under RDS (random doofus surveillance) since we first developed the suckers (har! good one 😛 ) as teens, we're rather used to it. And as I've said, I never had a problem staring right back and I promise you they looked away first with their tails between their legs; Mama Bella don't play that . It's not the looks that do harm, that just exposes the pitiful lack of proper upbringing on the uptight gawker's part. It's those who would allow ancient legislature to remain on the current books, and who actually work toward keeping mothers from a not just harmless but highly beneficial and ultimately benign act, that gets our nursing bras in a knot. You don't have to like it or approve of it, but to try and legally push it into a closet for no reason other than your personal outdated discomfort is wrong. Plant a tree or feed a homeless person if you need something to do, leave breastfeeding mamas alone .

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me something remotely substantial against public breastfeeding-say, that their young son saw a breast and lost his mind, becoming a sex obsessed lunatic living under a bridge wearing nothing but a diaper and a Cookie Monster outfit mumbling "boobies!" all day. I suspect I'll be waiting a long time.

Bella

 

[terorizer]

[ost of us have had our breasts under RDS (random doofus surveillance) since we first developed the suckers (har! good one 😛 )

I will never forget this. Someday I will make you apologize for this....

On the subject - I really don't care. I can see it from both sides, but mostly I don't think it's a big enough deal to warrant all the discussion.

 

[JPie1]

In Canada it is perfectly legal for a women to go topless in a public place, save the old "No shirt, No shoes, No service" setting. So, as far as breastfeeding goes, if i don't want to see it, i look the other way. Do i think there are places that women shouldn't breast feed there babies? Sure. But for the most part i have no problems.


That being said, i think it's times like these we really have to examine how extremely messed up our society is if you think about it. Thinks like nudity, for example say Janet Jacksons exposed tit on the superbowl, are horrible, evil things that will leave children scared for years to come. We do our best to protect children from nudity and to an even greater degree sexuality. Yet on the other hand the very same people who put so much effort into getting a movie that flashes a set of tits on the screen an adult rating, have no problems with there kids watching people kill each other on prime time TV. In the west, it's more socially acceptable for you and your kids to watch people perpetuate violence on another person, then it is to watch two people making love. Seems to me we have our moral standards ass backwards.

Cosmo, well said, we allow our kids to see all the bang bang shoot um up stuff but people get all bent out of shape when a little one sees something so perfectly natural.

 

[CitY of MicA]

I'm not one who commonly enters into contentious debates, but I'm going to this time. I really don't see what the big deal is. I've witnessed breast-feeding in public very few times in my life; perhaps others have different experiences. It's not something I'd particularly like to see, but my neck works on a sort of swivel system which allows me to look away . I do think this soceity is far too uptight; there's really no way that we can protect individuals from all there is that's out there to see.

A quote from the article: "I'm totally supportive of it — I just don't like the flashing," she says. "I don't want my son or husband to accidentally see a breast they didn't want to see."

How old is this lady's husband? Talk about over-protective- I'm sure it's all the gentleman can do to sneak out of the house and surreptitiously look at nudie magazines. On a somewhat lighter note, the article refered to people defending the right to breast-feed in public as 'lactivists.' I kinda like that. But what concerns me is those lactivist judges ...

 

[lk70]

On the subject - I really don't care. I can see it from both sides, but mostly I don't think it's a big enough deal to warrant all the discussion.

That's about right.

 

[venray]

So basically those in favor here are saying that women have the "right" to bare their boobs in public, but I do NOT have the right to disagree or complain about it.....

Ah I see....it's all about one groups rights being more important than another's....

I have never stated that it should be illegal or banned....only that I find it in poor taste in public places....and I do not wish to be forced to view it or to "avert my eyes" while walking in a public place....

If you cannot understand why some of us feel this way, then you are not very sensitive to the views of others....

Cosmo...I do not let my 7 year old view sex OR violence on TV...violence is far more abhorant to me than sexual innnuendo, but it doesnt mean I want him to see titties while toy shopping in the mall....with OR without a baby attached....Sorry, but there is nothing wrong with not explaining the marvels of the breast to a 7 year old boy.....


😉

 

[Vae]

Ah I see....it's all about one groups rights being more important than another's....

I have never stated that it should be illegal or banned....only that I find it in poor taste in public places....and I do not wish to be forced to view it or to "avert my eyes" while walking in a public place....

If you cannot understand why some of us feel this way, then you are not very sensitive to the views of others....

I'm not going to speak for anyone else, but myself on this one. I never said any of that, nor did I intend it or infer it on anything I have said. What I'm saying is that women should not feel obligated to feed their children in any way, because someone else doesn't want to see it. I think it's more important that the children get fed than be so concerned of the opinions of others. Sorry, as it's been said before, most women couldn't give a shit what others think of what they're doing, especially when it comes to their children.

So, if you don't want to see it, don't look. But don't harp either that it shouldn't be done it public either, because you don't feel you should have to avert your eyes. Breast feeding is for the health of the child. Women don't do it to make men and other women uncomfortable. If you can't be bothered to avert your eyes, I can't be bothered to care. If you honestly believe that women should hide it, I can't see how you're being sensitive to the views of nursing mothers at all. All it takes it a simple look away. If you're not willing to look away from nursing mothers, how about everything else we see every day that we do not particularly care for? Are we to tell people with their asses showing or flabby stomachs that they need to change their dress because we care not to avert our eyes? I think not.

 

[BellaRisa]

So basically those in favor here are saying that women have the "right" to bare their boobs in public, but I do NOT have the right to disagree or complain about it.....

Ah I see....it's all about one groups rights being more important than another's....


This isn't about one group's rights being more important than another's. That implies that one group is more important, which is absolutely not the case

To me, this is about understanding, or lack thereof, on both sides. Just as some don't see why a woman would 'expose her boobs' in public, others honestly don't see why anyone would look upon a baby nursing as gross or in poor taste. Whether or not a breast is sexual depends on the context, in our minds, and a mother feeding her baby simply isn't something sexual or disdainful to be hidden away from view. Unlike some other body parts, the breasts aren't purely or even mostly for sexual or waste purposes; they're primarily for feeding, or at least they were before Madison Avenue got ahold of them, and when used for such there's simply no reason to hide them as far as we can see. A tired nursing mama ain't the same as a peep show, and if you can't see the difference I'm worried about you

Along with being a mother twice over, I'm a preschool teacher and infant caregiver with a degree in child psych and human development. I can say with confidence and tons of experience that a young child of either sex exposed to a woman nursing her baby will only be negatively affected by it if someone in authority puts a negative spin on it. A child taught that it's normal and no big deal simply goes about his business, as they've done for century upon century. To be blunt, giving your child your hangups about the human body is up to you, don't blame the breast. Freak out or be mature and educate, your choice.

I have to ask a few direct questions that no one ever seems able to answer:

1) Just what do people think will happen if their son/brother/husband sees a glimpse of breast while a mother feeds her baby? Do you honestly think your little boy will be damaged somehow? Will your husband stop going to work and hide behind the furnace looking at pictures of breasts all day? Seriously, what consequences do you envision, and how do you explain all the normal males in the world who saw such things and are miraculously unscathed?

2) Why, exactly, are some folks so freaked out by nursing? I keep hearing that it's 'just gross'. Um, that's not an answer. What precisely is wrong with it, wrong with breastmilk? It smells sweet and poses no health threats (the two main reasons why excrement and other bodily fluids are naturally repulsive are foul odor and disease potential, which is why I get so annoyed when nursing is incorrectly and immaturely compared to them ) and bothers no one unless you choose to involve yourself by watching. So what's the deal? Is seeing a breast really that upsetting to you, is all non-cow milk unsettling to you...tell me, I really want to know.

I fully respect people's right to find public breastfeeding distasteful, but I do feel that imposing that right when it really has nothing to do with you is in far poorer taste. It's usually far easier to avert your eyes, if you really need to for some reason, than for a mom with a hungry baby to find some isolated place to soothe your delicate sensibilities.

Bella

 

[Vae]

So basically those in favor here are saying that women have the "right" to bare their boobs in public, but I do NOT have the right to disagree or complain about it.....

Ah I see....it's all about one groups rights being more important than another's....


This isn't about one group's rights being more important than another's. That implies that one group is more important, which is absolutely not the case

To me, this is about understanding, or lack thereof, on both sides. Just as some don't see why a woman would 'expose her boobs' in public, others honestly don't see why anyone would look upon a baby nursing as gross or in poor taste. Whether or not a breast is sexual depends on the context, in our minds, and a mother feeding her baby simply isn't something sexual or disdainful to be hidden away from view. Unlike some other body parts, the breasts aren't purely or even mostly for sexual or waste purposes; they're primarily for feeding, or at least they were before Madison Avenue got ahold of them, and when used for such there's simply no reason to hide them as far as we can see. A tired nursing mama ain't the same as a peep show, and if you can't see the difference I'm worried about you

Along with being a mother twice over, I'm a preschool teacher and infant caregiver with a degree in child psych and human development. I can say with confidence and tons of experience that a young child of either sex exposed to a woman nursing her baby will only be negatively affected by it if someone in authority puts a negative spin on it. A child taught that it's normal and no big deal simply goes about his business, as they've done for century upon century. To be blunt, giving your child your hangups about the human body is up to you, don't blame the breast. Freak out or be mature and educate, your choice.

I have to ask a few direct questions that no one ever seems able to answer:

1) Just what do people think will happen if their son/brother/husband sees a glimpse of breast while a mother feeds her baby? Do you honestly think your little boy will be damaged somehow? Will your husband stop going to work and hide behind the furnace looking at pictures of breasts all day? Seriously, what consequences do you envision, and how do you explain all the normal males in the world who saw such things and are miraculously unscathed?

2) Why, exactly, are some folks so freaked out by nursing? I keep hearing that it's 'just gross'. Um, that's not an answer. What precisely is wrong with it, wrong with breastmilk? It smells sweet and poses no health threats (the two main reasons why excrement and other bodily fluids are naturally repulsive are foul odor and disease potential, which is why I get so annoyed when nursing is incorrectly and immaturely compared to them ) and bothers no one unless you choose to involve yourself by watching. So what's the deal? Is seeing a breast really that upsetting to you, is all non-cow milk unsettling to you...tell me, I really want to know.

I fully respect people's right to find public breastfeeding distasteful, but I do feel that imposing that right when it really has nothing to do with you is in far poorer taste. It's usually far easier to avert your eyes, if you really need to for some reason, than for a mom with a hungry baby to find some isolated place to soothe your delicate sensibilities.

Bella

Wow, thank you, Bella. You put that much better than I would've. And much kinder, I might add. I agree 100%.

 

[DannyMc]

I've read through all that's been discussed in this thread , the many opinions and might I say personalities and if I can throw something else in , the very first time I saw a woman breast feeding in public was in the back part of a hispanic catholic church . As I remember , it caught me by surprise , I'd say just because in public before that time I had never seen it done , but if I remember right , she looked at me and I looked at her we smiled and I turned away to give her-her privacy which I felt she deserved .

 

[drew70]

I don't really have a firm opinion one way or another (first time for everything, right? 😀 ) On the one hand, when babies are hungry, they don't tend to be very patient. In a mall, there are few options. I think it would be unhealthy and more than a little unkind to insist Mom go to the ladies room to breast feed, where others are urinating and deficating. I personally have never come across a "designated breast feeding area," but then again, I've never had cause to go looking. I have to believe there are few options.

On the other hand, there is the concept of public discretion. Seeing a woman breast feed in public can cause a variety of reactions: embarrassment, immature giggling with finger pointing, disgust, repugnance, maybe even jealousy. 😉 In a clinical sense, it is a totally natural and non-sexual thing. It's not done out of impulse but rather necessity. So why all the falderall over such a simple, natural, and necessary activity? It's all because of culture. Americans are not accustomed to seeing breast feeding in public. If we were, this wouldn't be an issue. I remember as a kid in the early sixties, when bikinis got popular, there was public outrage. People just weren't accustomed to seeing that much skin. Same thing with mini-skirts and hot-pants which were worn more publically. The "older generation" looked on with horror and moral outrage. Now, only the uber-religious care about such things.

America is on the verge of yet another sociological rennaisance...the acceptance of breast-feeding as a natural and necessary part of public living. Like all such changes it will be slow in coming, but it will happen.

 

[lk70]

2) Why, exactly, are some folks so freaked out by nursing? I keep hearing that it's 'just gross'. Um, that's not an answer. What precisely is wrong with it, wrong with breastmilk? It smells sweet and poses no health threats (the two main reasons why excrement and other bodily fluids are naturally repulsive are foul odor and disease potential, which is why I get so annoyed when nursing is incorrectly and immaturely compared to them ) and bothers no one unless you choose to involve yourself by watching. So what's the deal? Is seeing a breast really that upsetting to you, is all non-cow milk unsettling to you...tell me, I really want to know.

Bella

Well, I'll try. Remember I'm one of those who intellectually believes it's perfectly appropriate to breast feed your child in public if necessary but also believes a little discretion is in order. It's a private act, I think.

But...oh and here we go. I'm not a mom. Don't want to be a mom. Never wanted to be a mom. ESPECIALLY never wanted to give birth to anything. Were the urge to shape a young mind to come over me, I'd only consider adoption of an older child.

I'm one of those who finds the process of breastfeeding, well, "oogie."
Not in a judgmental way, but in a "not a chance in hell I'd let something do that to me" way. I can't explain it except to say the idea of something sucking on me and drinking from me isn't appealing. So my absolute only issue with public (or private for that matter) breastfeeding is I don't like to watch it. Not saying it shouldn't be allowed, just saying I don't want to watch it. I should be allowed to not want to watch it, shouldn't I?

Mimes are allowed and I don't like to watch them either- so I don't. And they're not offended by it, as far as I know.