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More About Breastfeeding in Public
Monday, March 19, 2007
I talk about public breastfeeding a lot here. I suppose that's so because the issue is in the news with great regularity and it remains one of the more polarizing issues concerning breastfeeding moms and nursing advocates.
In today's The Decatur Daily, poll results and mom quotes were featured in an article called Most readers OK with breast-feeding in public, poll finds. When the paper asked: “Should mothers breast-feed in public?", of 222 respondents, 135 (60.8 percent) answered yes and 87 answered no. The results are not scientific. While there were many opinions that were along my thinking, there were many that weren't. Here are few moms whose opinion about breastfeeding sums up my thoughts on the issue.
Ann Allen of Decatur said she sometimes nursed her babies in public.
“But I was sensitive to the importance of being discreet and modest. On most occasions, people around me were not aware of the fact I was nursing a baby.
Jeanne Broome of Trinity said she breast-fed five children at home and in public.
“Simply putting a blanket over my shoulder covered any appearance of that fact. No one even knew except those I was with, who were never offended.
“It’s easy to cover yourself. You don’t have to be blatant. Adults understand a baby has to be fed, and this is the most natural, healthiest and the oldest method of feeding your baby.
More on the issue of public breastfeeding, Mickey from Mocha Milk left an extensive rebuttal to my previous post about breastfeeding in public. It's well worth reading. In fact, I warmly welcome differing opinions and comments.
For me, public breastfeeding boils down to the issue of sensitivity. Nursing moms must understand that being discreet by covering up doesn't mean they're ashamed of nursing -- one of the most natural acts on earth. It simply means that a mom is aware that breastfeeding may cause angst in others. What's wrong with respect all around and not only relegated to nursing moms? It's my opinion that everyone's rights should be considered when it comes down to nursing in public. Nursing moms can't trample the rights of others. That may sound harsh, but in essence that's what advocates of public breastfeeding do because they insist that all should cater to their need to feed their baby wherever they want.
I say, feed your baby, but cover up and be discreet. I've seen some not-so-discreet breastfeeding moms out there and that's what bothers me the most.
Labels: breastfeeding in public
posted by Jennifer James @ 10:30 AM,
1 Comments:
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At March 23, 2007 1:48 PM,
Doulala said...
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Breastfeeding women should absolutely try to be modest but I also feel that not everyone shares the same opinion of what modest is. Part of the problem is there is such a double standard in our culture of what is and isn't considered modest. Booty shorts, lowcut jeans, bare midriffs, lowcut and halter tops are all acceptable in public but breastfeeding is debatable. It's pretty rare to hear heated arguments or read newspaper articles about people's fashion choices.
I can recall being in the mall (5 years ago), nursing my daughter while sitting directly across from a wall sized Victoria Secret ad of a woman in her bra and panties. I had my daughter in a sling, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't showing any flesh, but I still got strange looks from some of the people walking by. To my right, there's a 9 ft woman showing more flesh than I ever would in public, breastfeeding or not, but I'm the one who gets angry stares???
Before I breastfed my children, my husband thought it was gross to see a woman breastfeeding in public, even if she was completely covered, because everyone knew what she was doing. While I hate admitting what an idiot my husband was (he eventually changed his mind), I know that there are a lot of people out there who are more offended by the act of breastfeeding than by what they may or may not see.
I understand what you are saying about respecting the comfort levels of others but I think the bigger issue is, "WHY does it make so many people uncomfortable?" Our society has turned breasts into sexual objects, men's play things,the bigger the better. After so many years of bottle feeding being the norm we have gotten away from the fact that, yes, they can be sexual but their primary function is to provide nourishment.
Until we start seeing breastfeeding as the norm, it will continue to make people uncomfortable. I think the way to normalize it is to act like it's something normal, not something to hide.
On the other hand, I don't think anyone is talking about disrobing and baring our whole breast when nursing, just so people can get used to seeing boobs in public.
I run in a pretty "crunchy" circle and I have never seen any of my friends expose themselves unnecessarily.
The other thought that comes to my (and many other people's) mind is, If it is something that makes someone that uncomfortable, is it really that hard to avert your eyes so you don't have to look at it? Usually a nursing mom is sitting in one place, not jumping up and down waving her bits and baby around.
