Facebook is deleting personal pictures of Mom’s breastfeeding and calling them obscene.
Moms are being ordered to cover up in malls and Target if they are breastfeeding.
Isn’t breastfeeding what women are encouraged to do? Hasn’t the healthy party line been to breastfeed for at least the first few months to build immunity in babies? Some communities are encouraging women to breastfeed to help curb childhood obesity. There are proven health benefits for both the child and mother. So, women are being told to breastfeed on the one hand and then told they can’t do it anywhere but in their homes on the other. If they want to breastfeed in public, they must hide themselves away in a bathroom. How dare they offend anyone with the view of their children breastfeeding!
Maggie Gyllenhaal breastfeeding
Women spend their entire lives held up as sexual beings, as objects. But where does that end when a woman becomes a mother and wants to breastfeed her child? Hasn’t the image of “the mother” become one that is without sexuality? Maybe breastfeeding blurs that line for some. We see this attitude in breast cancer awareness campaigns crying to “Save the boobies!” as well. Women’s worth is in their sexuality and if they use their breasts to feed their children (some might say the breasts most primal and “natural” purpose) they are being viewed under that same sexual gaze. Is our society so sexually repressed (and obsessed) that we can’t separate breasts from being sexual objects?
Part of the British campaign to encourage breastfeeding
Many breastfeeding moms are taking to activism to try and bring awareness to the issue. Recently on etsy, an innovative breastfeeding mom created a crocheted “boobie beanie.” They can be made in any skin tone and nipple shade, to match your own.
The Boobie Beanie!
Other mom’s are holding “breastfeed-in’s,” at facebook’s corporate headquarters or at local malls. Celebrities have also taken to the cause, breastfeeding in public and allowing the paparazzi to take pictures of them with their children. In Britain, they even had a celebrity campaign to encourage breastfeeding. Unfortunately, until we as a society can move past this constant sexualization of breasts, I fear things will still be difficult for breastfeeding mommies.
Mayim Bailik breastfeeding on the subway in NYC.
Unruly Bodies 
I can somewhat understand why people would have an issue with breastfeeding in public. Naked body parts are so sexually charged in almost any image that we see whether it be magazines or on television. Because of this, even a body not intended to be shown in a sexual manner is bound to make someone uncomfortable. However, a mothers job is to provide for her child, and if her actions are not detrimental to anyone else’s health or well being why shouldn’t she be allowed to? Women take their children outside of the home on a daily basis so why should their care for these children be restricted to inside of the household? A new born child or infant is not able to suppress its hunger or understand why their needs cannot be met at that instant. In my opinion a unhappy baby is much more distracting than a mother breastfeeding in public. We make it acceptable for people such as smokers to smoke in public when the effects of this are actually harmful to the people around them so why do we crucify mothers who are simply fulfilling their duties by providing for their child?
it is always a pleasure to see anything positive about breastfeeding. thank you!
I guess because I love to knit and do crafty things, I love the idea of using the crocheted breast hats to make a statement. It is incredibility interesting that such a stir can be made about something so basic as breastfeeding. Although in current Western culture not everyone has been breastfed, it is still an essential part of life that exists. No one looks as me strange when I eat carrots and hummus in public, so I think it is ridiculous to condemn a women for feeding her child in public. We all need to eat! I applaud mothers all over for taking a stance and using the judgement against them as fuel to do it more. I enjoyed your point about our cultures obsession with breasts and how they are glorified through the many breast cancer awareness campaigns. The irony is astounding…our country can come together to support “saving tatas” but when we see them being used to feed babies…that is just going to far.
The woman at the end should not be Breastfeeding her child at that age. That is disgusting, that child looks to be in elementary school.
The bottom line is, women are at liberty to breastfeed their own children until they see fit to stop. It has nothing to do with you, your opinions or what you think is best. The world average age for weaning (stopping breastfeeding) is 4 years old. I don’t think that child is older than that. But it also doesn’t matter. It’s none of my business how long she nurses her child.
The woman at the end is Blossom lol. Actors are wierd.
I’ve breastfed both of my babies but I cannot have my breast exposed in a public place like a restaurant. I always carried a receiving blanket or these clothes that are designed for privacy. However, at home or at my family’s houses…..the boob is coming out. I guess it depends on your comfort level. I wouldn’t want to see anyone’s breast while I’m eating at a restaurant but hey if the baby is hungry, f**k it, I can’t shame her. As a side note, when I’m not carrying a C cup while pregnant or nursing my breast are an A cup. Before evening thinking about babies a guy at work said he didn’t even know the purpose of breast since he was a butt man. That makes me wonder if people forget that female body parts aren’t just for their pleasure. Also, family members that are introduced to me breastfeeding during a family gathering are hilariously uncomfortable. Two male relatives expressed that they couldn’t talk to me even while covered up because they knew a baby was nursing. A female relative tried to find me a room so that I could have privacy, even though it was more for her guest comfort. After the initial attempts, breastfeeding is a great experiencing for mom and baby….plus it’s beneficial. I’ve heard all kinds of reasons why women choose to breastfeed like it makes your breast saggy. I hope breastfeeding becomes the norm and women that can….do. We all have to be a part of the culture change. Sorry I was all over the place but there are so many things to consider when talking about nursing. Thanks for the blog.