I seriously wonder what’s wrong with people. Why is it a problem to breastfeed in public? Why do people get offended by it? If you don’t want to see it then just don’t look! Turn your head and don’t look!
It’s the most natural thing in life. I don’t believe that mothers want to shock people, that they want to find a way to show their boobs. They just feed their babies.
Why do you think people feel offended by public breastfeeding?
In movies and media you usually see a lot of boobs. It seems to be acceptable until you see a nipple. And oh my, you might see a nipple when she breastfeeds 😮 those horrible nipples…. :p
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Hehehe!
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We’re offended (not personally, but as a society, I think) by breastfeeding because it reminds us that breasts exist for a function other than the sexual satisfaction of men.
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Ha! Awesome!
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As Christian man it doesn’t bother me a bit. Every day I see people who do far more offensive things.
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Agree
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Narrow-minded, ignorant, objectification, crass are all words as to why someone would be offended. I tried nursing my kids in the 90s. I was a young mom and made to feel it was wrong to do so in public. I have several nursing friends now and they get a lot of stares. One of my closer friends, was stared at while she nursed her young son, the entire time she ate lunch in a restaurant. I offered to go with her next time and stare at the woman who was staring at her. I even wagered I could make the ignorant woman more uncomfortable than she made my friend. Women are federally protected from discrimination while breastfeeding. If someone wants to be offended..TFB…get over it. Sadly, I find more women are offended by women nursing in public than by men. That being said, I have no trouble voicing the law over their perceived right to be offended.
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It’s interesting, isn’t it, that women seem to have bigger issues with it!
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I realize some older generations weren’t taught that nursing in public is ok (and now a law) but since it is, they need to learn to either acknowledge that fact or look/walk away. The Melissa Milano interview with Wendy Williams was atrocious. Melissa was a class act while Wendy couldn’t have been more crass.
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Yes! That was indeed an eye opener!
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IMHO there are too many puritan values that get in the way of a lot of common sense. but it’s just an opinion.
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Yup, I agree with you!
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I find the image of a mother breastfeeding her baby simply beautiful and heartwarming, yes, even in public !
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Same here.
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To each his own. It wouldn’t bother me to see a mother nurse her baby, however, I would alway try to find a private place to nurse my children.
Leslie
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Yes, if it’s possible.
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You can always through a blanket over your shoulder to cover up somewhat.
Leslie
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Yep
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Therein lies the rub. Many babies don’t like nursing under a blanket and some people view it as rude (not me) to suggest covering up, because it cannot be required they do. It undermines their protected right.
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I never had a problem with the baby objecting, however that doesn’t mean that it is the same for all babies. You have to do what you have to do and that’s about the size of it.
Leslie
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Mine pulled off the blanket; he wanted the eye contact and it was too hot. People just need to realize they don’t get a say or a suggestion; it’s a law. While some may prefer a private or covered location; it’s not acceptable to raise this suggestion to a nursing mom. She is within her rights to nurse where and when her baby needs to.
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I could always maintain eye contact with a throw on top. Alas those days are long gone.
Leslie
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Mine both wanted the eye contact and never liked being covered up…
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I must share this awkward breastfeeding scene I stumbled upon. A few years back I was shopping in Ikea, enjoying the mindless ambling through the aisles looking for nothing in particular but certain I would leave with an unexpected treasure. Well, as I turn the corner and enter the bedroom furniture section of the store, sprawled upon one of the display beds is a mother craddling her rather large child who is laying across her lap and breastfeeding. Yes, I thought my eyes and brain were deceiving me and yes, I am certain this stranger read my surprise as I stumbled upon her. She remained in the staged bedroom for several minutes while shoppers walked around the uncomfortable bubble she did not mean to create but so definitely did. Still to this day I do not understand why this mother felt it appropriate to care for her child in this very public place in the beautiful display bed in Ikea. I think they have comfort rooms designed just for this, am I wrong?
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Most of them have! I totally agree with you, this is totally awkward to me although I am totally in favour of breastfeeding. I wrote about my overall feelings about this here https://frenchtouchincebu.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/why-as-a-proud-breastfeeder-i-totally-support-the-claridge/
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Good post, Brava!
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That’s an awkward thing to do indeed and kind of asks for stares and questions… See, that’s a situation I understand people react weird to…
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I’ve been to five Ikea stores and all have had a Family Room in addition to regular restrooms. The Family Room has one large and one small toilet; a changing table; a rocking chair; sink; free diapers; a a lock on the door so you can have privacy. And there are more than one. The local Ikea has two such rooms downstairs and two upstairs. With this in mind, I have no idea what that woman thought she was doing, unless she was going out of her way to demonstrate/exercise her rights, thus creating this situation. I’m also for nursing little ones wherever they need to be fed, even if in public. However, I sometimes don’t understand some people’s decisions and actions.
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Some people do love attention…
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i have no idea
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It’s a bit strange…
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Not really sure.
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Weird, right?
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It’s completely natural, and has been the case since the dawn of humanity. I don’t get it either. Some people just hunt for things to bitch about or be offended by.
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Yep, I think so too…
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For once dear, I disagree with you. I lived in many countries where it is indecent to show parts of your body and I totally respect that. There is a cultural side that we must take into consideration too when we live abroad. Breastfeeding yes, BIG yes, but exposing your body anywhere you feel like it nahhh… More here 😉 https://frenchtouchincebu.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/why-as-a-proud-breastfeeder-i-totally-support-the-claridge/
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I would agree if a breastfeeding tourist was in a country where exposing flesh was inappropriate, but in a Western country where it is perfectly acceptable to breastfeed in public (despite public disdain) I think women should never, ever be shamed for putting their child’s nurturing first.
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I agree with you.
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I see what you are saying and you are right of course.
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Religion teaches that anything to do with the body and it’s natural functions are bad. Which makes absolutely no sense because the Godhead made the bodies our soul inhabits. So how can something the Godhead designed be bad? How can feeding a baby be bad? Whether it is done in public or not it is natural.
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You got a really good point there!
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Crazy isn’t it?
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The same reason they still circumcise baby boys. Because that’s what they were taught to do …
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Yup!
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I think that there is something of an elitist attitude in play. That we, the exalted human, are somehow apart from and superior to the rest of nature and that the sight of a breastfeeding mom is a shot of reality.
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Good point..
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When I was younger it was really common for mothers to breast feed their babies in public where I lived but now most people are mortified at the idea of doing such. My friends and family say they won’t breast feed because they don’t want men passing by to sexualise them by making rude comments or staring. If they knew men would leave them alone most women I know would have no problem breast feeding in public. I also think that a lot of women are more insecure about their bodies so it may be harder for them to feel comfortable breast feeding. I think it’s a shame that people aren’t comfortable with women breastfeeding in public because it shows great nurturing and love which is positive for everyone.
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It’s something so natural…
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I don’t get it either. When I had to breast feed, I did it and I didn’t care what people thought, my baby was more important 🙂
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The baby is more important…
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Reblogged this on The Pink Herald's Blog and commented:
Reblogged on pinkherald.com
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Thanks so much 🙂
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More than welcome
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Pingback: Breastfeeding | The Pink Herald's Blog
It puzzles me.
My immediate thoughts strike me as trite.
I want to say fear of women’s bodies (which is one reason they are still spoken of in terms of objects and pieces) and I want to say misogyny which still results in the weird homophobia that makes lesbian sex scenes standard fare while the sight of two males in an embrace is a shock and a disgrace.
Lesbians are seen as taking power while gay men are seen as abdicating it.
But really, none of this answers the question of why the sight of a woman acting as a source of love and nutrition is treated like a scandal.
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I think it answers that question perfectly!
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So much food for thoughts (and posts) in your comment!
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Personally I think its because we have made breasts a sexual component and because of that, it makes “people” uncomfortable. While I fully support being able to breastfeed, you have certain people who take the mick, here in the UK we had a woman accuse a security guard of literally snatching the baby she was feeding off her breast and walking the crying child out of the store. It was proved that she made it all up, but stories like that do not help
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It’s not okay either to make up a story like that. Some people desperately want some attention. Crazy…
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its sad that she did because it just gave breastfeeding a bad name
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Problem is that there are always people like this. And they are not thinking about what their behaviour actually might trigger…
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I agree, a well respected facebook group, sort of backed her and they got burnt
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Oh my…
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