Breast feeding in public

[Alien]

I differ - clearly you'll never get wholesale agreement about this but you can, I think, reach broad agreement that some things are and aren't acceptable.

For example standing up in a restaurant and peeing all over the floor is clearly not on.

 

I'd strongly argue that those find breastfeeding aberrant or somehow horrifying (like Tipex, for example) are a small number and clearly damaged in some way. You have to draw a line somewhere and i think most people would draw it at mollifying a very small group of people with seriously distorted thinking.

If the odd unfortunate finds it distressing or shocking then it's incumbent on them to avoid it or clear off, not the other way round.

 

I don't think it's a case of "damage" but more a case of under developed social skills and unable to distinguish.

 

"It's a tit..omg everyone it's a tit...wadda we gonna do? what am I gonna do..help I don't know how to handle it!!!. I even got a glimpse of the nipple"

 

The answer?...It's just a tit! you over reacting jerk...just a tit.

[Suffragette1]

I disagree, breasts aren't at their best during the feeding season, for that reason I can't quite believe anyone would purposefully put them on show. Obviously there are times when you can't help but cop an eyeful, but a woman doesn't have to be breastfeeding these days for that to be the case.

 

I was acknowledging, given the example cited in the post that I quoted, that there may be a tiny (I should have stressed tiny) minority of women who are quite flagrant about it, however, I would argue that this is more likely to be encountered in social gatherings, rather than in a public place, such as a restaurant. Maybe they feel relaxed in the company of people that they know? However, even if this is the case it is in no way offensive and people seriously need to grow up and get over their embarrassment.

 

I wager that the majority of the naysayers do not squirm with embarrassment when confronted daily with the large numbers of women who have vast amounts of wonder bra-ed cleavage on display.

 

Which it is..for reasons that haven't been made clear on here.

 

 

Culturally the breast is seen as a sexual object in preference to its natural use..it's a desire attribute, that's fine as long as you can distinguish between both aspects. My daughters are of an age where they're maturing rapidly. Sometimes they may move from the bathroom to the bedroom naked..I'm not offended..why? because my subconscious guidelines kicks in..I don't even have to think about it. The same applies when a child is feeding...my brain says without me even having to think "that is a totally natural act without any sexual or other related connotations"..even though culturally i've been fed that the breast is a sex object...which it is, but only in the context of sex or sexual overtones, otherwise my sexual perceptions would manifest themselves if she was just to scratch her head or clear her nose.

 

There could be an argument that some feel the breast is an ugly thing to look at...fair enough, but how many that say that actually snuggle up to one at night? or would like to? and at what point does something ugly become something attractive?

 

Ask yourself...while hanging off the end of your partners nipples, which is more natural? That or a child feeding from them.

 

Spot on, this is the stumbling block for some. There are plenty of African cultures, for example, where breast feeding openly would not engender embarrassment or discomfort. As you have said, in many western cultures, the breast is sexualised to the exclusion of its natural function. Combine that with the fact that percentage wise, very few women do actually breastfeed that it becomes almost a hidden practice and one that many would wish to remain thus, judging from some of the comments on this thread.

[Suffragette1]

I don't think it's a case of "damage" but more a case of under developed social skills and unable to distinguish.

 

"It's a tit..omg everyone it's a tit...wadda we gonna do? what am I gonna do..help I don't know how to handle it!!!. I even got a glimpse of the nipple"

 

The answer?...It's just a tit! you over reacting jerk...just a tit.

 

It reminds of the utterly ludicrous nipple-gate wardrobe malfunction hysteria.

 

I'd love to do a study of men who find the whole concept of breastfeeding abhorrent and poll how many of them are more than happy to leer at a pole dancer in Spearmint Rhino's and the like.

[Halibut]

It reminds of the utterly ludicrous nipple-gate wardrobe malfunction hysteria.

 

I'd love to do a study of men who find the whole concept of breastfeeding abhorrent and poll how many of them are more than happy to leer at a pole dancer in Spearmint Rhino's and the like.

 

I was pondering along similar lines on the way to the chippy; are those men who are disturbed and flustered at the merest glimpse of breast in fact avid consumers of pornography - and is it, as Alien suggests, that a real breast seen in the flesh throws them into confusion and panic?

[voodoodanny]

What a ridiculous arguement - this would be an offence to do these acts in public, however it is illegal to prevent a woman from breastfeeding in public and quite rightly. Breastmilk is designed for babies to feed on as and when they need it. Goodness me, what a load of fuss over feeding a hungry baby. Unfortunately there are still not enough women breastfeeding their babies and silly comments like some on this thread will do little to encourage it. I fed both my little ones and will do with the next one due in a few weeks. I am discreet as much as I can be with a screaming hungry baby but seriously if anyone has a problem with seeing it they can simply walk away or avert their eyes. Cows milk (formula) is designed for cows and breastmilk is designed for babies - simples.

 

You say it's a ridiculous argument but it is still a fact that there are people who are offended by breastfeeding in public places! So i guess you can either deride them and rubbish their opinions; or you can show consideration for their sensitivities, regardless of your attitude toward them, and attempt to take action that is in the best interest of polite social conduct!

 

Like I said, I don't mind, but if a woman who I deem to be attractive exposes her breasts in full view of me, I am not sure I am going to be able to prevent myself from viewing them as sexual objects and I'm sure the same can be said for many others too. If, as a nursing mother, you are ok with that then feel free to whip 'em out, if not - find a quieter spot.

[Suffragette1]

I was pondering along similar lines on the way to the chippy; are those men who are disturbed and flustered at the merest glimpse of breast in fact avid consumers of pornography - and is it, as Alien suggests, that a real breast seen in the flesh throws them into confusion and panic?

 

It must be the case. Perhaps they find it a sexual stimulus whenever they see a breast and it is their sexual reaction to a lactating breast that makes them feel uncomfortable.

 

I also suspect that there is a correlation between consumers of porn and the anti-public breast feeding league of gentleman.

[Halibut]

You say it's a ridiculous argument but it is still a fact that there are people who are offended by breastfeeding in public places! So i guess you can either deride them and rubbish their opinions; or you can show consideration for their sensitivities, regardless of your attitude toward them, and attempt to take action that is in the best interest of polite social conduct!

 

Like I said, I don't mind, but if a woman who I deem to be attractive exposes her breasts in full view of me, I am not sure I am going to be able to prevent myself from viewing them as sexual objects and I'm sure the same can be said for many others too. If, as a nursing mother, you are ok with that then feel free to whip 'em out, if not - find a quieter spot.

 

How far should we persue that Danny? Should we consider the needs of homophobes and ask gay folk not to kiss or hold hands in public for fear of upsetting them? Or ask blacks not t come in the pub because the racists'll get a strop on?

 

Breastfeeding isn't abberrant or threatening or unpleasant and it's those who are upset by it who need to learn to live with it, not mothers and their babies have to tiptoe round their sensitivities.

[Halibut]

 

Like I said, I don't mind, but if a woman who I deem to be attractive exposes her breasts in full view of me, I am not sure I am going to be able to prevent myself from viewing them as sexual objects and I'm sure the same can be said for many others too. If, as a nursing mother, you are ok with that then feel free to whip 'em out, if not - find a quieter spot.

 

Hang on there!

You say you mightn't be unable to view the breast but as a sexual object. That's fine - and as you say there are probably other blkes who'd say the same.

But surely that wouldn't influence your behaviour in any way - you'd have the decency not to stare or leer. I would hope the nursing mother wouldn't in any way be able to tell you were turned on by the sight of her feeding.

[Guest]

Oh some people!!!

 

I'm due my 3rd any day. And plan to breastfeed as I did with my other two, till at least the age of 12months. My other two are both preschool age so I doubt I'll be able to find somewhere secluded for 45 minutes every 3 hours whilst looking after 2 tots and a newborn baby. If anyone finds that rude it inconsiderate of me then tbh I do not care. My job and priority as a mother is to MY children. I honestly do not have the time to worry about being "sensitive" to the feelings of a few ignorent individuals!

[Suffragette1]

Oh some people!!!

 

I'm due my 3rd any day. And plan to breastfeed as I did with my other two, till at least the age of 12months. My other two are both preschool age so I doubt I'll be able to find somewhere secluded for 45 minutes every 3 hours whilst looking after 2 tots and a newborn baby. If anyone finds that rude it inconsiderate of me then tbh I do not care. My job and priority as a mother is to MY children. I honestly do not have the time to worry about being "sensitive" to the feelings of a few ignorent individuals!

 

I agree with you, it's invariably the last thing on a mother's mind, her priority is to feed and soothe her baby. If it offends people's sensibilities, then tough titties! I breastfed both of mine on demand wherever I happened to be. If I'd taken myself off somewhere private every time they needed a feed, I would have lived in a state of self-imposed solitary confinement for the first few months.