I was recently at a website that listed many other countries, some of them extremely conservative, that were very receptive to breastfeeding, and bfing in public. Israel and Japan included. America is supposedly one of the most progressive countries in the world, and yet we can't keep our heads on straight on something that is a natural and non-sexual act. Why is that?
2007-12-21 18:33:33 · 9 answers · asked by horsegirl 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I honestly don't know. I breastfeed all four of my children, I am still nursing my youngest one. I don't hesitate to feed them in public, I do make sure I am covered. But why should I have to stay at home and never go out to dinner just because I have a baby who might decide she wants to eat. I just answer every evil eye with a proud grin, they usually turn away embarssed having been caught staring at me. They are the ones with odd fascination. It is so natural, society has just made breasts into something that are only good for one thing. My five year old some at this point just thinks that all women feed their babies that way. If he sees some one with really big ones he'll say"Wow, mommy, that girl has lots of milk for her baby!" lol Now that all my kids are so used to it they don't even notice me feeding the baby and the fascination has wore off. I wish people would just take a step back and recognize that we mommmies are just trying to get our babies off to the best start.
2007-12-21 18:52:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, there are worse countries like France and Ireland. I would hardly consider Israel "conservative" though. I've been there 6 times and spent a summer there.
A lot of this has to do with maternity leaves and hospital procedures. There is room for improvement in the U.S.
It's funny how they are in the Middle East. I used to be a Flight Attendant and I worked with a girl who had previously been with a Middle Eastern company. Women boarded totally covered up. Baby cried, moms didn't hesitate, out that boob came! Couldn't see her face...
2007-12-22 03:21:17 · answer #2 · answered by Eclipsepearl 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I really wish I could answer this but I just can't. I get mad because so many people, family and friends included, look down on me because I still breastfeed my son. He's only 9 months old for crying out loud! I don't breastfeed in public because people give the "evil eye", as if it's a disgusting thing to do. What about the girls who let their breasts hang out of their shirts? No one complains about them. But when a mom is sitting in a corner feeding her child and has a blanket over her shoulder so no one can see, some people glare at her. I just don't get it. Good luck trying to understand. I've given up.
2007-12-21 18:44:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
We're still a bunch of puritans. I didn't realize that my parents are total prudes until my own kids went through their naked phases. My dad flipped out when he saw my 19 month old (at the time) running around the house naked. Since then, he has worked hard to make them ashamed of their naked bodies and I've been working hard to give them a healthy attitude about nudity.
Most of the people I grew up with feel the same way. Many of them think that nursing moms should pump and bottlefeed in public. Who has time for that? Why on earth would I go through all that? I hate washing dishes.
The drug industry has worked hard to capitalize on our fear of nudity and sex. They have suggested that wholesome, pure moms use bottles full of artificial food and only granola-munching, bra-burning, anti-establishment hippies would allow our babies to nurse from our *gasp* breasts!
They can call me granola all they want. I'll nurse wherever and whenever I need to. Does that make me anti-establishment? Screw the man!
2007-12-23 05:55:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
this question came up at a bf support group meeting recently... we all cracked up laughing when someone said:
"because of the Puritans"
my real answer though... because sex sells, because money buys - often buying people - in DC specifically. if there were no money in formula, it would not be an issue... one friend says that "formula should be available by prescription only" well, in our capitalist country, this would never happen... formula is big money, very big money.
2007-12-23 09:26:50 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not just breastfeeding, it's nakedness and anything sexual in nature... This country will not let go of it's puritanical past.
The only thing progressive about America is our Bill of Rights.
2007-12-23 04:58:46 · answer #6 · answered by mom2jjorion 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
For some reason nipples are the devil. After what happened with Janet Jackson at the Superbowl, nothing surprises me....
2007-12-22 23:06:26 · answer #7 · answered by Pitusi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't get it either. Doesn't bother me to see a woman breastfeed. I told my friend that she can go ahead and breast feed in front of my son. I want him to grow up seeing that as a beautiful bond between a mother and child, not as a sexual act.
2007-12-21 18:41:23 · answer #8 · answered by Brandolyn 4 · 8⤊ 0⤋
You got me! I'm way confused about it...
What's the website? I'd love to look at it!
2007-12-21 18:41:11 · answer #9 · answered by Irritated Lactivist 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋