Breastfeeding in public is legal.
Not only that, it should not be compared to other natural functions of the body, like urination, defecation, or even–recently heard by yours truly–decomposition. Because poop isn’t food, despite what your dog might think. Breastmilk is.
Unfortunately, many people are still ignorant of this fact and continue to whine about mamas feeding their children in public. So I thought I’d share a few counterpoints, just for the anti-breastfeeding-in-public crowd.
Starting with this:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/8KMLRmeia8k&hl=en&fs=1&]
See, it’s not so much about a woman’s right to breastfeed in public or her supposed “need” to expose herself. It should also be viewed as the child’s right to eat.
Here are a couple of common points I like to make about breastfeeding in public:
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- I’ll breastfeed my child in the bathroom–where people defecate–when people with poor table manners pick up their plates and meet me there. Because I find that offensive. (Wait, legally I can’t send them there? huh.)
- Try putting a cover on your baby’s head in August (or December for some babies, for that matter). Baby gets p.o.’ed, screams. Mom is left uncovered. The cover is gone, and now she’s showing everything. Real smooth. Thanks for the suggestion that we “cover up.”
- If you don’t like a woman practicing her legal and protected right to breastfeed in public, put a blanket over your own damn head!
- Don’t look.
- “Be discreet.” I pointed out in a post yesterday that “discreet” is like art: It’s defined by the viewer. Why don’t we simply let our babies eat peacefully and quietly without all the rules on just what is “proper” looming over their heads. Tell me, is it more “proper” to have a screaming child in public or to breastfeed a hungry one? And, uh, would you mind if I used Hugh Hefner’s version of “properly covered”?
- Many women show more breasts walking down the street than I show while my child eats.
- A great comment I found in response on an anti-BFing-in-public blog (analogy works for gay couples, too):
Compare your discomfort to…discomfort seeing interracial couples. I mean, they don’t have to FLAUNT that they are together, right? They could be DISCREET about their relationship so as not to disturb the people around them. Wait. That’s bigotry. Bigotry is wrong.
- Women don’t breastfeed to make other people uncomfortable, period. In fact, nursing is for the opposite effect.
- And finally, if logic is still escaping you, check out this PSA:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/E_2v6a6ybaI&hl=en&fs=1&]
Follow me on Twitter, where we can discuss “flashing” in public some more!
“And, uh, would you mind if I used Hugh Hefner’s version of “properly covered”? ”
Oh I am so going to say that the next time I get bugged about being covered.
Beautiful video. Love it. That one baby that was looking straight up at his mom kinda made my eyes leak a little. He looks just like my little boy looked when he was little. On another note, why not tackle the topic of the double standard for toplessness in public? I’m a fairly fit guy, but i’m sure you’ve seen the lard asses with their shirts off at the park. If that’s not offensive then I don’t know what is. I think that would be an awesome follow-up to this post. I agree with you 100% breastfeeding is about as offensive as eating an apple. In other words, not even close. Thanks.
O course woment should breast feed their children when and whereever necessary. I have spent a lot of my professional life travelling the world and have seen public breastfeeding in all sorts of strange places. Always those that I have seen have excercised right with decorum and modesty. They are not exhitionists but mothers with hungry children. I really do NOT understand narrowminded…………..
I am adding this Utube video to my website. The more traffic it gets, the more the perverts who are drawn to websites with breasts will get the right picture. Besides, with all the hoopla about health insurance reform, remember that “Affordable Health Care Begins with Breastfeeding” and breastfeeding is the most affordable way to feed a baby.
Hi Cate,
THANKYOU – what a wonderful article!
I haven’t experienced such negativity personally (I am tandem feeding a 1 and 4 year old), but I know of people who have. On breastfeeding forums, Mamas are always skilling themselves up in case of moronic comments, pity, that.
I find it funny that when it is a ‘slow news day’ and a news report drags up the issue, it is always some old coot saying it is all wrong. Why ask people? None of their business!
Charndra.
P.S @ Keith – a wonderful comment – I agree – I see things at the shops all the time that gross me out, LOL – muffin topped teens is just one example with too tight jeans and a spare tyre hanging over the top – blarrhhhhh!
Brilliant…just brilliant. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.