By: H. Elizabeth Williams
September 4, 2019
The debate on Breastfeeding in public is an interesting one, because honestly when it comes down to it it’s about personal preference and beliefs. I mean if we’re being honest here, people only like seeing women’s breasts if they can get off on it (a.k.a pornography). It’s not surprising at all that most think breasts are just for pleasure, not even thinking that their main purpose is to feed babies. Look, I get that they are erogenous zones(so is the neck and inner thighs), but they aren't sex organs, and we shouldn't have laws to cover them up at all.
Welcome to America. Where it’s encouraged to have naked page three models with their breasts out and for women to dress half naked on a night out but feeding your baby is an insult.
It’s not shocking at all that people think that their only purpose is for pleasure because of the inherent tendency in American culture to over-sexualize female breasts. It’s important to specify female breasts in this case because male breasts are not privy to this same treatment in American culture.
It is only that we live in a patriarchal society that a woman's chest is far more sexualized than a man's. Unlike most men, women are forced into only showing their chest when deemed acceptable by society, (for example on page three of a newspaper that can be bought from any shop at any time by anyone). Women's bodies are treated as though they have the sole purpose of pleasing men, which somehow gives men the right to control what we do with them?...
We have been taught from birth to sexualize breasts and think of them as something that are only exposed when an event of a sexual nature is in proximity. I mean, I was dress coded in middle school for having my shoulder slightly showing, but boys could take their shirts off and parade around whenever they wanted. The thing is, there is no debate as to whether men should keep their tops on in summer as it's 'gross', 'disrespectful' or 'inappropriate', as that would be ridiculous. When actually, they are topless as to only satisfy themselves, it’s hot out or even that it’s none of out business - unlike women who have a reason: to feed their child!
And no, this isn’t just for our generation, the same thing was going on in our parents generation and by their parents time and their’s before them. Women were even stoned for wearing trousers at one point. Looking at this, we see a cycle of perpetual breast shaming that doesn’t really have a valid explanation rooted in plain logic.
Female breasts are not sexualized because they look sexy, they are sexualized because we are told to sexualize them. By who you ask? Men. Obviously, it was men. Take a look at our history. They wanted control of the media, households, and the world in general, so it makes sense that they would take anything they enjoyed and assign value to it for generations to come to assimilate that same value.
By this point, you’re probably either agreeing or wanting exact proof. Well, if you never paid attention in history class or too oblivious to notice the pattern, let me bring you a newsflash. Even if we could trace the evolutionary hiccup in our culture that tells us to sexualize the female bosom, who cares? Whatever people began this are dead. Why does their mistake have to continue? What legacy did they leave? Not much of one, anyway.
Today we live in a world where people can't rely on their own logic and are forced to fall back on what they were told. Female breasts are only considered vulgar in public because we are TOLD they are, not because they ARE. So are they vulgar for any solid logical or scientific reason other than your pants feel a little too tight? Or are you just operating on a broken social folkway that should have been quashed decades ago?
You should have the right to feed your child whenever or wherever the need arrises, and not have people stare at you like you're doing something wrong or disgusting. Get that opposing argument that breastfeeding is the same as peeing or having sex in public out of your head. Once one of those can sustain a life then we’ll talk.
I honestly don’t understand the big deal. Listen, if you wanna use the example of people kissing in public, which many including myself find uncomfortable, but it’s unnecessary to set up a debate to stop them as they should be able to show affection if they want to. You can also look away or remove yourself if it offends you. If you’re not aware, when it comes to breastfeeding its not like you whip it out and its on show you hardly see any breast at all unless your a complete pervert. I agree it can make people feel uncomfortable but its been done for thousands of years and in most cultures its seen as an everyday thing. So why the sudden debate in American society?
If you don’t like it here’s a fun idea: Look away. Babies have to eat, just like you do.
Anyways, you do realize it’s kind of necessary, right? Newborns have to be fed every 2- 3 hours, and let's be honest, where the heck are you going to find a place to do that while out that isn't "public". Restrooms are unsanitary and there's really no where else to go.
Breastfeeding is more beneficial for babies than drinking out of a bottle. They are less prone to infections, it is cheaper, and is a lot less work. Being a mom to a baby is A LOT OF WORK, as we’ve all seen. You work directly with the baby for at least 11 hours a day, and at that point, the last thing you want to do is listen to the people who are telling you to work with a baby in a way that is convenient for THEM. That's just selfish. Go ladies!
Should a woman really have to seclude herself in order to breast feed? Just because we have built up such sexual, unnecessary sexual connotations towards breasts?
The answer is fuck no.
To anyone that suggests that such an act is attention seeking is just ridiculous. I would not want to expose my breasts to anyone, and I have not yet had any children. However, if my child needed feeding I would provide the best I could give, regardless of the fact that someone might glance up and be disgusted by the sight (even though all they would probably be able to see is as much as if I was wearing a low cut top given that my baby's head is in the way).
Really at the end of the day, I just can't be bothered with the delicate sensibilities of lack-wits who don't understand this has nothing more to it than feeding a hungry baby in a totally normal way. And since eating in the bathroom is no big deal, how about the candy asses who are intimidated by a nursing baby take their meals in there and stop fussing?
Thank you and have a nice day.