flushd wrote: I believe that if we loosened up and allowed a fair amount of places where breast-feeding is acceptable, a nice balance could be made. The balance of privacy and publicity.
Absolutely.
If it is a larger public place, like.. for example a shopping mall.. Small rooms adjacent to the bathrooms that are full of furniture, changing tables and small water fountains (for washing) would be a perfectly comfortable semi-private place for a woman to go to feed her child.
A silly example..
in places like McShit , where babies and kids are every where... just raise the height of the tables , as a possibility.
The babies could feed, and be 'under the table' ( bullcrap solution.. but hey.. an idea none the less)
Or an even better solution...
People need to stop being so squeamish about breastfeeding.
( Yeah i always come back to that.)
( warning.. rant ahead)
And I think the reason WHY people are squeamish about it is a rather normal, natural feeling..
Breasts are sexy to men.
Breasts are even sexy to women
Breasts are what make a woman a woman.
They are tools of sex no matter how you look at it.
And when a woman is feeding in public, everyone as the automatic feeling of " don't look. "
Sometimes that feeling of 'don't look' is out of respect for the womans exposed body.
I mean, it feels weird BEING the woman who is breastfeeding, having people try to catch a glimpse of your boob, and I know it is wierd for the passer-by to CATCH a glimps of boob when they are not exactly thinking about sex...
Sometimes that feeling of dont look is from shame. " I shouldnt be seeing her breast in public"
It makes someone FEEL sexually interested because it involves breasts, but then it also involves babies and that is NOT sexually attractive.
That combination, and contrast of natrual feelings leaves everyone on edge, even for a second.
And it is perfectly normal.
You see a boob and you think 'sexy'
You see a baby and you dont think 'sexy'
but in one second there is a full round pretty boob..... but with a baby...
And I think with that combination going on in every NORMAL persons head, it is understandable for one to think it is 'sick ' and shouldnt be done in public.
Simply because they as the viewer are left feeling confused and not liking all the emotions that scene just left them.
When ever we as a society / and as individual people start to recognize these feelings as normal, and understand that even the mom is feeling a bit wierd herself, we can begin to learn to let go of our selfish problem with what we see and allow moms in our societies to BE moms the best way they can.
So what if seeing a boob and a baby together make you as the viewer uncomfortable. Thats YOUR issue, YOUR feelings, and YOUR responce.
That mom is not responsible for your reactions.
She is responsible for her child.
So let her be.
