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Breastfeeding Exhibitionists
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
There once was a time not so long ago (like last year) when I vocally called for mothers to be more discreet when breastfeeding in public. Ha! Was I wrong! It was my husband who piped up and told me I was crazy and shouldn't think that way. He was right. I was way off-base. Love that man!
So, I quickly changed my thinking and here I am today, a lactivist (it took me a long time to feel comfortable labeling myself as such) who believes mothers have the right to breastfeed anywhere they want and even have the right to breastfeed if their breast is exposed because breastfeeding is natural, not indecent. The old photographs I found also helped me to realize that I had been locked in a mental cage that the formula feeding industry and the notion of the sexualized breast put me in. Unfortunately some people are still locked in that mental cage. Below is an example of someone who can't get out of hers.
Massachusetts may soon pass a bill making it lawful for nursing mothers to breastfeed wherever they want without charges of indecency and lewdness. The bill has already passed in the Senate, now it has to pass in the House where previous MA breastfeeding bills have been shot down.
While the bill has its proponents it also has its opponents like the Massachusetts Family Institute whose public policy director, Evelyn Riley, said they support the bill only if it includes language requiring modesty and discretion saying, "A mother taking her kids on the bus should not have to worry about running into an exhibitionist that would like to abuse this law," she said. "...(Breast feeding is) done with a modest covering and no flagrant or wanton exposure."
Sometimes women can be the most cruel to other women. Somebody needs to give Evelyn a key to unlock her mental cage.
Labels: breastfeeding in public, breastfeeding news
posted by Jennifer James @ 6:41 AM,
5 Comments:
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At January 30, 2008 7:33 AM,
Katie said...
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I agree! Evelyn needs to come to grips that we're talking about the breast of mothers- the sole source of food and life for millions of infants. This is not about some hottie down the street flashing her girls at children playing in the street! :)
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At January 30, 2008 9:42 AM,
dithygirl said...
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I breast fed all six of my children...In public and in private..You are right in your thinking...The blanket that hid the two month old gets tost on the ground by the six month old who wants to see everythin....
p.s...my three daughtors brestfeed...and only one hides herself away...thanks to comments by men like ,,wow if i knew you could get a free show i would want everyone to brest feed...I believe that if you see someone feeding thier child dont stair,,give them the same respect you would give someone whos zipper is down.. -
At January 30, 2008 5:18 PM,
Ahmie said...
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darnit posted my comment in the Hanes thing instead of here!
I think much more important than the discretion issue is the confidence issue - I advise moms-to-be/new breastfeeding moms to think of how they will respond if someone hassles them, carrying the law for their state in their pocket printed on business cards if that's what they need to feel confident about it. Looking confident and like disparaging comments will not be tolerated goes further than any amount of discretion.
That being said, I've never covered either of my children (now 3.5yrs and 7mo) with a blanket while feeding them but I DO keep my shirt pulled down close to their cheeks when they're nursing. This has more to do with fear of lacerations from sharp baby nails than it does with whether anyone else seems my boob or not! -
At January 31, 2008 3:06 PM,
ebony said...
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This is an issue very dear to my heart. I am currently breastfeeding my daughter and I do so in public, but I try to be as discreet as possible with it. It's nice to say how natural breastfeeding is (and I completely agree with that), but the bottom line is we live in a country where the breast is sexualized and while I expect people to be respectful of my right to feed my child, I think it's only fair for me to be respectful of those around me. I have seen a woman lift her shirt, exposing her breast and then lift her child to feed her. My 5 year old son got a clear 30 second view of this woman's breast, which he proceeded to share with everyone within hearing range. I thought that lady was rude. I have my child ready and cover with a blanket, when my daughter pulls off the blanket, like Ahmie, I pull my shirt down close to her cheeks. I just think respect should be just as natural to us as breastfeeding.
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At February 1, 2008 6:00 AM,
said...
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Katie, DithyGirl, and Ahmie -- Totally agree!
Ebony -- I used to think exactly the way you do and even blogged heavily about it. I thought it was rude for other mothers to breastfeed openly in front of other mothers, men, and their children, but I realized that I was coming from the wrong perspective.
Just seeing how open women breastfed in the 30 and 40s told me something changed for mothers in this country and it had nothing to do with them, but with the formula industry and sexualization of the breast. I think all mothers should breastfeed as openly as they choose. It's their right.
Don't get me wrong, though. I hear what you're saying because I was there once myself.
