magazine covers or seeing breast feeding in public?

Question

who does this offend?keep in mind thats what breasts are for and its very natural,why some people get offended?to say it is obscene is your own misconception i believe,if you think it is a sexual thing then your the one screwed up,in other words,we see dogs and cats nursing but when a human mother is nursing,why do some get offended,i dont get it?(i read an article on this and couldnt believe how many people were offended by something so natural)

Answer 1

I saw the magazine cover in question and thought that it was absolutely beautiful. I was shocked to hear that so many people found it offensive. I'd much rather my child see that image than some of the scantily-clad, over-sexified women and teenage girls that are on other magazine covers.

I also have *never* seen a woman just "whip it out" in public (even though most states give her the right to do so in order to feed her baby). Most women I know are doing their best to be discreet even when it's not easy. Babies move around, pop on and off while nursing, push shirts and blankets out of the way, etc. If someone catches a glimpse of nipple (the horror!), it's not the end of the world, and that person was probably watching a little too closely anyway.

Breastfeeding a child is a beautiful thing, and there are many more things in this world to be offended by. FWIW, no one has ever made a rude comment to me while nursing, and I've breastfed my children almost everywhere -- usually without a blanket to cover them.

Answer 2

I wouldn't be offended. I think it should be promoted as a natural part of the mother-baby relationship. Wouldn't it be great to see this on the cover of more magazines? Sure, they could start with the parenting magazines and I have been informed that a few celebrities have posed for mag covers this way. But I do think that it is one good way to increase awareness. Really, Cosmo has these things practically hanging out for all to see just to get people to look. Why can't they show them for what they are, a food source for our most precious treasures?
Which mag did you read about that? I want to check it out!

edited to add - Wait? Are you talking about breasts on mag covers to sell sex - yes, offensive! Or showing a mother breastfeeding on a mag cover - No, it's beautiful. Breastfeeding mothers need all the support they can get.

Edited again - I just saw the magazine cover in question. What a beautiful picture!

Answer 3

Well I am a new mother myself, and i think it is something very natural. This is how we feed our children. Even though i think this is something very natural, I do believe that some women should cover it up a little. If I'm sitting in a restaurant and i see a woman just pop a boob out then that is a little different. They sell lots of different things that cover and are stylish for those moms who care. Even if you don't want to buy anything a simple blanket will do. This is something we as mothers can't help if our child gets hungry right in the middle of shopping, dinner...BUT please cover up a little. There is no reason a stranger off the street should be looking at you feed your child.

Answer 4

I agree, it is normal and natural and shouldn't be a big deal at all. In most other countries it isn't... unfortunately in the US we have made breasts out to be something purely sexual. It is so sad that many women choose not to breastfeed because they think it is weird, or they might be uncomfortable in public. When a woman feeds her baby, there is usually not much exposed anyhow- certainly not any more than some women expose just by wearing low cut shirts!

I believe that the more people see breastfeeding women in public, on TV, in magazines, etc. the more "normal" it will become. I think it's important to have these images out there and not hidden away like it's bad or something dirty... it's just a mama feeding her baby, no biggie!

Answer 5

I nursed my son and when I was out in public I always covered up more for myself than for others. It doesn't offend me but you should still be considerate of other people. I don't think you should be asked ot leave a public area or any stores. I was working in a retail store, the area is very small, and it was fairly crowded you can see everyone. This very young mother just whipped out her breast for all the world to see and fed her baby. Bravo feed your hungry baby but be a little discreet I really didn't want to see her breast.

Answer 6

I saw the magazine cover in question, and it was the sweetest picture of a mother and baby that I've ever seen. It wasn't at all sexual, it was very cute!
I don't know what the big deal is about breastfeeding in public. I don't think you oughta whip your breast out there for everyone to see, but what is wrong with discreetly covering yourself and feeding your baby?
I am positive that I will never have kids, but if I did, I would breastfeed in public.

Answer 7

I breastfeed my son... and will do it in public, but will not make a spectacle of it. It is my right to do so, but I don't have to announce it to the world.
I was on a subway early in the morning (during rush hour) and the woman sitting down in front of me (I was standing holding the handles on a packed train) just plopped out her boob... blue veins and all... and started nursing her baby (who I might add was not crying at all). I noticed she had a receiving blanket laid across her lap. What she could have done was drape the blanket across her shoulder while nursing, but she chose to sit there with her tit hanging out for 200+ people to see. I ask you... is that necessary? I think she did it because she could... and frankly I found it in poor taste. I would understand if the baby was screaming... and she had no other choice... but we're talking about a subway that makes stops every minute or so. She could have at least gotten off the next stop, nursed the baby, and get back on without having to pay another fare.
So, yes, I sometimes find it offensive because there are measures you can take to make everyone be at ease with it. There's no need to exercise your right in that manner.
I've managed to nurse my child on a plane, in the park, and in restaurants, all without having a neon sign saying "look at my boob..."

Answer 8

In the US breasts are seen as sexual objects rather than feeding devices so when ignorant people see women breastfeeding it's seen as gross or obscene because the breast is being used "incorrectly" as far as they are concerned. It's sick, isn't it that people can be soooo ignorant.

There needs to be WAAAY more awareness in this country about the benefits of breastfeeding. Unfortunately the formula companies (which are owned by the giant pharmaceutical companies) have cornered the market on informing people of the best way to feed their babies.

Answer 9

I find it offensive when it's done in front of other children. Yes, I understand that this is the natural reason for breasts. But you also need to keep in mind that we live in a culter that also holds them as highly sexual elements of the female body.

While the world is teaching us to keep our bodies covered, and that showing them to kids is wrong, perfect strangers are wipping them out in public and breastfeeding.

I have nothing against breastfeeding, I think that the women should use something to keep it covered.

These same women who think it's perfectly fine to whip thier breasts out in public would be offended if I gave thier child a playboy to look at, right? Well, I feel the same. I don't want my children oogling your chest, just like you wouldn't want them oogling some strangers naked breasts.

Answer 10

society has put in boundaries that often don't make sense. us guys can go around topless all the time, but its considered indecent for women to do so. had this attitude been dropped 100 years ago, we would be at a point where seeing a woman topless probably would probably mean about as much to a man as seeing a guy topless means to a woman.

so the real question is: would you rather have society perfectly equaled out, or would you rather things stay a lil prudish and keep your sexual supremacy over us guys who are rendered incapable of thought at the sight of breasts?