Lactivists: Where is it OK to breastfeed?

**AJE** · 07-29-2006, 02:30 PM

Lactivists: Where is it OK to breastfeed?

Babytalk magazine generates controversy with nursing cover
Thursday, July 27, 2006 CNN.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- "I was SHOCKED to see a giant breast on the cover of your magazine," one person wrote. "I immediately turned the magazine face down," wrote another. "Gross," said a third.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/27/nur....ap/index.html

**AJE** · 07-29-2006, 02:51 PM

Someday I'll be a mother and will nurse the old fashioned way. But I truly feel there is a right and wrong place to breast-feed. For example the other night I was shopping in a JC Pennys and literally bumped into a women whom was nursing away in not the ladies room or even in the fitting room but right there amongst the cloths :!: I was appalled, that this mother was taking care of business right there for the whole world to see. If I understand correctly it’s illegal for this type of exposure in such public places.

In regards to the “Parenting Magazine” they’ve received more letters for this cover than for any other photos from the past. Excluding the laws, shouldn’t this be a clue that there is a proper place to nurse our children in respect for the general public :?:

**Kris10** · 07-31-2006, 08:07 AM

I'm surprised that mothers feel comfortable nursing in public. I wouldn't want my junk hanging out in the middle of a mall. If mothers can take it out and nurse in public, then Janet Jackson should be able to show it off on TV. I don't see why there should be a double standard.

**j10asen** · 07-31-2006, 10:01 AM

Here is a topic that is especially difficult to discuss.
If a male were to respond, they would be considered perverts for looking!!!!!!!!
Like hey Mr what are youoooooooooooooo looking at?

But actully there are many more sides to a story than what meets the eye.

This pserson could be soooooooooooooooooo exuberant about mothering a child that she nedds to display ever aspect that she birthed a child.

This person could be so depressed and not getting enough attantion because of the baby that she looks for attention in any way she can get it.

As you see the list can go on and on.
In betteween time I am NOT looking and I am NOT sayaing anything!!!!!

ops:

Crys · 07-31-2006, 11:52 AM

Actually, Amber, it's legal for a mother to nurse in public and any store that kicked a woman out for it is opening themselves up to a pretty major lawsuit.

The only reason this is an issue is because woman have been viewed as something to control for centuries. Men have nipples but it's legal for a man to walk around without a shirt. If a woman walks around WITH a shirt on but you can see her nipples, she can be arrested for indecent exposure. It's "dirty" only because we're constantly told that it's something that has to be controlled by someone other than the person in question. The fact is, it's denying that a woman's breasts are a source of caregiving that's unnatural. Trying to claim that feeding one's own child is a public sexual act, THAT's unnatural.

And really, what's a mother to do? She's told on one side that you have to breastfeed or your children will not be healthy, that if she can't or doesn't want to, that she's less of a woman. And then she can't exactly leave her new child at home when she goes to the store or out in public. For most women, they also do not have the option of staying at home continuously, never to see the light of day until their child is old enough to east solid food (and really, who would want to be completely cut-off from the world beyond the front door -- including even going out into her own front yard -- even if they could financially?). So, when the baby is hungry, you feed the baby. If you refuse to feed the baby a) you get ugly stares because your child is screaming and b) you're neglecting your child. Frankly, a woman who breastfeeds who refuses to do so when her child is hungry, whether she's in public or not, should probably not have custody of any child. If she neglects its needs as an infant, what's she going to be like as a parent when it's older?

But I think this whole "your body is an evil thing!" is nonsense. Clothing should be protection from the elements and a way of expressing yourself and nothing more. Naked human skin is no more obscene than the bark on a tree.