Seeing Breasts?

Question

I read this article today on CNN.com and was shocked at how many people were against this parenting magazine cover which shows a baby nursing from a breast.

Here is the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/27/nursing.cover.ap/index.html

I was just wondering how you all feel about it, please look at the picture before you respond. Also, one woman in the article said she tore up the magazine because she didn't want her 13-year old son to see that picture, because a breast is a sexual thing. I know a 13-year old boy is thinking about sex all the time, but should we really sexualize and demonize breastfeeding, and hide it from teenagers because they might view it as sexual? Or should we just teach them through example to view it as natural and beautiful, which it is.

Answer 1

I am shocked as well. This really is crazy.

There are 6 billion people on this planet. Half of them has a flat chest, the other half has breasts. Why is it accepted to see a man's chest, but you can't see the woman's? If we would hide the male body as much as the female, then that would also be sexualized much more then it is now.
Making the body a normal thing makes in my opinion a much healthier society.
With all the prudishness of (only) the last few centuries it really came to the point that something as beautiful as a mother nurturing her baby is being sexualized and made dirty. This is what your society is teaching your children.
Here in the Netherlands sometimes on tv we see some America's funniest home video's. I am shocked by how much of the body you Americans hide. If there is a small child and you see his buttocks, that part is scrambled so you don't see it. Again, that is sexualising something that you shouldn't sexualize.

I think it is actually dangerous of a society to be that way in the media. I think it is far more dangerous to hide the body then to show it. Now you make a lot of things sexual and a lot of people frustrated.
To me, that's scary.

Answer 2

I find that it is unfortunate that our society is so freaked out about the natural beauty of the human body. Some examples of this in our country are the Nirvana Nevermind album- the outrage over the baby's penis- what sickos were looking at that and seeing something sexual? and our former Attorney General of the US covering the statues that had exposed breasts- that sort of reaks of high school immaturity, don't you think?
I think that our crime rate in the US would be much reduced if the majority of our population was not running around sexually repressed, or feeling dirty about the very natural and normal, I'm not an expert, but IMHO, I would think that more openness would go a long way towards solving that problem. If you look at European countries where breastfeeding and nudity are not sexuallized, you will find a much lower rate of crime and incarceration. Maybe even less teen pregnancy also.
Just a theory.
I have a 4.5 month old that I am begining to wean from breastfeeding (she has a nasty habit of biting down with her gums and pulling- can't imagine how that will be with teeth). When I first had her, I thought that I would breastfeed for 2 weeks, well, that turned into 6 weeks, and now I am finding that I will actually miss it. I feel good about the choice that I made for my baby- but everyone has the right to make their own.

Answer 3

You know, the old saying goes...opinions are like ($%%holes) and every body has one. Personally, I can care less if someome is breastfeeding a kid beside me, or whatever/ Do what you need to do to care for your child the way you do it. KWIM? BUT, I think the more militant breastfeeding activists have done the opposite of their intended mission, their fervor and bashing of others is CAUSING people (mostly women) to literally cringe at the acronym "LLL". I think that's where most of the issue lies, because NOT every woman/family wants to breastfeed. My best friend is pregnant right now, and she has wholeheartedly declared her decision to use formula from day one, because she found breastfeeding her first (for like a week or something) too painful and frustrating. Her God given right to free will to do what worked, and that was using formula.

So far as declaring breastfeeding "beautiful"...well, it's feeding a baby. Not a sculpture or a work of God like an intense rainbow or something, so far as that goes, I have the same reaction to a mother or father feeding with a bottle, cuddling close lovingly with their baby as it feeds. They are feeding a baby. Nothing more.

However, women on the breastfeeding cult fringe shouldn't have the right to just expose unecessecary boobage out in public. I mean, others do deserve respect. I pumped for my baby, because I was AWARE of the benefits of breastfeeding in the early weeks/months. I had a goal of 6 weeks, found it not to be too bad (hell, it was free) and I made gallons of the stuff. I ended up going 4.5 months, and then I put my child on formula. I was tired of doing it, point blank. I dried up, and didn't look back.

I don't find the act sexual, but actual baby to boob was too weird for me, but I still wanted her to have some of the benefits, so I made a compromise. That's my opinion, my choice, and every woman has the same right to feel how they want to feel about breastfeeding. That right there is a FACT though. I'd never push on my friend to do what I did. I will support her. Women need to just get over this whole thing and respect eachother. It all boils down to respect ( lack thereof) from both sides.

Answer 4

I am the mother of four kids, and though I never really *exposed myself* in public I did breasfeed in public. I would always make sure I was very well covered. I do think that we aren't as modest as we use to be and that isn't a good thing, but at the same time breastfeeding should be viewed as beautiful and natural. Infact there is nothing better for a baby, and this is a parent magazine not a porno, and with the internet if kids want to see something they are gonna see it anyways.
Anyways imho it wasn't offensive at all
Pray that helps

Answer 5

It really isn't a question of sexualizing breast feeding. It is a question of decorum, taste and ultimately about forcing beliefs and practices upon other people. There was really no reason to place the photograph on the front of the magazine other than to shock the public and sensationalize the topic. Not only wasn't it necessary to do that in order to convey the message and advertise the magazine, it was intrusive.

As for whether it is or isn't beautiful, I for one wonder why advocates for the practice are so vociferous about announcing how beautiful it is? If it is a beautiful practice than why the need to announce something so obvious to everyone around you. And if beauty is simply in the eye of the beholder, then why must advocates of the practice continually attempt to make other people's minds up for them?

Tufr

Answer 6

I think every parent should make their own decision

if they think their 13-yr old son is better off not seeing breast feeding, then they should protect them from it until he is a little older

people should try to consider other people's feelings even if they don't have the same feeling themselves

my wife was a militant nursing mother and nursed our five children everywhere and everywhen

she tried to keep herself covered with a little blanket or something in deference to other people's feeling

I once saw her play the very active card game "pit" while nursing a 4-month old baby, remaining modest, and winning one game

Answer 7

Absolutely crazy,this is whats wrong with our country.Keeping boys sheltered from natural things like this is why these kids grow up thinking breast are for sex and dont support there wifes to breastfeed.I have 4 boys and i let them see me breastfeed the youngest and have educated them about how good it is and thats why women have breasts. They are 8,7,3 and 9 months and dont bat an eye if they see my breasts or a models on tv,to them they are baby feeders and im pretty sure they will grow up to be leg men and leave the breast to the babies.

Answer 8

The breast is the best for babies I nursed all of my kids but I had more consideration than a lot of moms today have I always covered myself & baby. If they are going to allow nursing in public they need to be more discreet about it!! Nursing a baby is natural, safe, relaxing but alot of women and children do not want to see womens breast plopped out when they are trying to eat or at church.

Answer 9

I think it is very natural and beautiful! It's ashame people have to pervert it!

Also, the magazine did ask for people to go online and tell them their own opinions about the picture, so of course there are going to be people that dislike it...

Answer 10

I think everyone has their own opionion about this subject but if you are going to critize about breast feeding is bad for kids to see than what about all the killings they are showing on television about the people who have nothing to do with the war and it is mostly children who are dying what are you suppose to teach your child than.