Jan 10, 2012 -- 5:33PM, Erey wrote:

I think tastefull images here there and everywhere of babies being nursed is a good way to build up public tolerance and comfort from what used to be hidden.  Sesame Street is a good a place as any.  Again with everything mamory being covered.  That should not be offensive if it is worked into the plot of the skit.

How can a mother feeding her child not be "tasteful"?

Shirley

Jan 11, 2012 -- 4:16PM, shirleyj227 wrote:

Jan 10, 2012 -- 11:38PM, Erey wrote:

Jan 10, 2012 -- 10:59PM, MMarcoe wrote:

Jan 10, 2012 -- 7:24PM, shirleyj227 wrote:

For a country to see a woman feeding her child as a sexual act is totally screwed up. It is the top stupid thing about Americans.

Shirley

This is why women need to let them hang out everywhere, every time, and in every situation. The more they do it, the less we'll associate those boobies with sex. And that'll be good for us.

I think MMarco's example is pretty typical.  Americans don't think breastfeeding is a sexual act, that is beyond ridiculous!  We do think that women's breasts are sexual.  So if a woman has a breast exposed it tends to be a bit distracting for us.   

We don't think urination is a sexual act either (not for most of us anyway) but we do think genitals are sexual.

Personally, even though I nursed two children till they were about 10 months old I still have

You still have what?

Great breasts?

Questions about doing it in public?

What?

Shirley

No, I am fine with public.  young babies can be so demanding and don't stick to a schedule that you pretty much have to nurse in public if you hope to get out of the house.  I used to shop with a nursing blanket over my chest holding the infant in my arm and pushing a shopping cart. 

I did not fininish my sentance and when I noticed that i had not finished it was too late to edit. 

What I meant to say is that I personally believe in boundaries on the subject.  I knew a few women that nursed their toddlers with absolutely no effort towards any kind of modesty.  If you were in the same room with this woman for more than 5 minutes you undoubtly saw her entire breast. 

I do advocate breast feeding for infants, I do advocate breast feeding in public but I think sane people take a few efforts not to monopolize the entire attention in the room on their breasts. 

This is America, we are distracted by breasts.  Even though most people advocate breast feeding newborns the idea of a woman exposing her naked breasts to whomever they are sharing a public space with is highly distracting and unneccesary.  This is not a society where women run around topless - not that there is anything wrong with that. 

There is nothing wrong with any bodily function but most societies have boundaries around these things. 

If you are nursing a baby, I am not going to dictate how you nurse.  If you want to be discrete, great.  IF not and you want the entire world to see your complete breast, your choice too.  But I tend to think only women who are gunning for attention would go that route.  The same kind of women who think bringing a baby into a court room is a good idea.

Jan 11, 2012 -- 4:58PM, shirleyj227 wrote:

Jan 11, 2012 -- 4:39PM, Erey wrote:

  IF not and you want the entire world to see your complete breast, your choice too.  But I tend to think only women who are gunning for attention would go that route.  The same kind of women who think bringing a baby into a court room is a good idea.

It could aslo be Erey that they just think the breast is natural and if you are looking that is your problem.

Shirley

I think the breast is natural and breast-feeding is 100% natural, although I have still bought a cover-up for when I'm breast-feeding in public. Not everyone feels that way and I can respect that by covering up some.

Jan 11, 2012 -- 4:58PM, shirleyj227 wrote:

Jan 11, 2012 -- 4:39PM, Erey wrote:

  IF not and you want the entire world to see your complete breast, your choice too.  But I tend to think only women who are gunning for attention would go that route.  The same kind of women who think bringing a baby into a court room is a good idea.

It could aslo be Erey that they just think the breast is natural and if you are looking that is your problem.

Shirley

I believe that a respectfull person is aware that any exposed breast is going to suck all of the attention out of the room.  You can have that attitude that don't look at what you don't want to see but I believe polite people see it as a two way street.  I give breast feeding women a bit of space (unless they are actuall friends of mine and are comfortable with me).  The ones with the breasts do their best to be discrete.  Occasional flashes happen.  My kids would on occasion grab hold of the blanket and flip it or sometimes it would slip on me.  Everyone does their best the lactating mother and the public and there is no reason to make it a big deal but respect  is a two way street. 

I don't believe in creating laws or enforcable rules on how women should nurse but that does not mean that society does not have a set of standards.