why is breast feeding seen as innapropriate?

Question

i think its mad that people moan about a woman breastfeeding in public when 99% of them fully cover up yet no body moans that my kids can go in a shop and open a newspaper and see woman with boobs out of even worse look to the top shelf and see porn mags just the covers are more indecent than a breastfeeding mother

Answer 1

It is NOT wrong to breast feed a baby ANYWHERE as far as I am concerned---it is a natural part of LIFE.... however, a LOT of people were brought up to think that exposing a breast for ANY reason is NOT allowed... look at all the flack over the Janet Jackson incident during the Superbowl a few years back.... I have seen plenty of nursing mothers and have NEVER ONCE seen a breast EXPOSED to the public in any way shape or form...... many people in the USA tend to be rather PRUDISH in their thoughts and actions... and lately it seems we get more and more prudish....a man can be outside at almost ANY TIME with his shirt off exposing HIS BREASTS, but a woman cannot.... (most of us WOULD NOT anyway)...but during breast FEEDING, no breasts are actually EXPOSED so I do NOT see what all the commotion has always been about....basically I think all the "LOOKERS" should mind their own business.. and if they don't LIKE it, why LOOK?

Answer 2

Interesting answers. Here's my take on it.

I don't think that it is the act of breastfeeding that offends most people, I think that it is when a breastfeeding mom surprises them that they get protective.

The rooms many places set aside are made not just to have a separate relaxing environment, but to not startle customers/patrons/etc. into accidentally viewing a private and personal moment between child and mother. It is just like looking the other way when viewing any other kind of emotional incident that is none of your business.

Yes, breastfeeding is good. Yes, the baby has to eat the best foods. However, we could try and show courtesy to others and not make something so sweet and precious into a statement to the public.

Answer 3

Becasue people are idiots. They forget that the baby needs to eat just like they do. There is nothing wrong with sitting in a mall food court breastfeeding a child (assuming the mother is covered up). There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding anyplace. Perhaps some people need to use better judgement of where they are doing it, but by law any store must allow you to do it and provide a place for the mother to do so even if it means taking up a dressing room. When I was in graduate school, I was a manager at Gap, and one of the first policies learned was to let a nursing mother nurse their child. It creates an awkward feeling to walk up to a mother and ask if they want a private place, becasue than they may perceive it as you are telling them there is something wrong with doing it in public.

My wife and I give our daughter a bottle, my wife choose not to breast feed for various reasons. There are even times when we give our daughter a bottle in the lobby of a hotel or something and people look at us like we are committing a crime.

What is more indecent to me is the kids and adults with the huge bellies wearing tight pants with their love handles and thong hanging out. Not to mention the top three sizes to small.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you, I get so so mad when people talk about it like it is a sin, but if a child would drink a bottle or any one would eat like an adult, no one says any thing....
Me and my fiance and my best friend got into it over this, My family, or some of them have breastfeed, and in public, but with a blanket covering every thing up, you cant even see the child.... letalone any thing else, Well i said that when i have my child, I am going to be the same way, Why should i have to hide when my child is hungry???When any one else will pull up to the window at Mcdonalds or something and get their childfood and let them go???
IF BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS HAVE TO BE IN A PRIVATE PLACE TO FEED THEIR CHILD, C, THEN NO ONE SHOULD BEABLE TO EAT IN A RESTURANT, The only real difference is that the child is getting what nature intended for it......

Answer 5

I loved breast feeding and it's the most amzing feeling in the world to give your child all ure goodness. It was hard going the first 4 weeks but with perceverance we both managed for about 8 months. (hasn't done my booobs much good though lol)

Reminds me of when a little old man with big goggle glasses in mcdonalds came right over to see the baby not realising i was feeding. Luckily one of the staff spotted wot was about to happen and intercepted him,...lol....first time feeding in public could have been very embarrassing...hehe x

Answer 6

I think it's inappropriate for a woman to breastfeed their child in public without covering up. As long as there is a blanket covering the child, it's fine and people need to get over it. Adults eat in public and are not frowned upon as long as the use manners; it goes the same for feeding babies: as long as it is done in a tasteful manner.

The whole porno mag issue is as simple as the people who look down SO much at public breast feeding are giving the same looks to the people who so strategically place the mags too. The thing to remember is that sex sells so it's ok! No one makes money off of breastfeeding mothers so it's more acceptable to make a stand against them because no one loses money over it.....(hope the sarcasm was noted)

Anyway, feed your babies when they are hungry. Screw people who cannot handle what their imagination conjures up while you are giving nourishment to your child under the protective cover of a blanket! Then go tell them they make you uncomfortable when THEY eat in public.

Answer 7

Hi,

I remember breastfeeding my daughter in hospital and thinking nothing of it until my visitors arrived and although I had the breast hidden, they made it obvious that it wasn't appropriate for them to watch me - I felt so embarrased! The men didn't mind it was just the older women - some older women can be quite rude in this way!
Sophia

Answer 8

I breast fed in public a few times, discreetly. People knew what I was doing but couldn't see anything. Nobody ever gave me a problem, never even got a look from anybody. I think if you are discreet and confident in what you are doing then who cares if someone else has a problem with it. You have every right so it's them who have to get over it.

Answer 9

It`s a cultural thing. i`m constantly surprised by British attitudes to breastfeeding. What messed up values and hang ups have people got? They see it as offensive...it`s 100% natural and as you state we can see boobs flashed just about eveywhere these days.
I`m British but I live in Spain and here women breastfeed in the street with absolutely no problems whatsoever.
The fact that there are a lot of women who see it as something alittle bit "yuck" speaks volumes about our twisted attitude to sex.
I say get them out for the babies!

Answer 10

Sadly in this day and age, breasts have been sexualised, and although most people will accept that they are really there to feed our youngsters, the only time they really see breasts is when they are being exhibited in a sexual way.