their babies, no more, no less.
“If you want to breastfeed that’s fine, but I don’t need to have it shoved in my face.”
Between women “whipping it out” and “shoving it” in people’s faces (or “thrusting it,” as one delightful commenter kept saying), breastfeeding in public has apparently become very violent. I can see why it concerns people so much.
Seriously, though. I’ve never had someone shove a breast in my face. If that’s happened to you, then by all means, rant away. But a mom nursing a baby in the same room as you is not the same as shoving it in your face. That phrase, along with “whipping it out,” really need to go. It paints a picture that’s just not accurate 99% of the time. (Plus I can’t get that visual with the whipping sound out of my head. WHHPSHH!)
“But breasts ARE sexual. You can’t change the way people—especially men—see them in our society.”
Actually, I think we can change that, by making breastfeeding a more normal sight. But I’ll get back to that in a minute.
Breasts are used in sex by most people, that’s true. So are mouths and tongues, and no one has a problem seeing those things being used in public for non-sexual purposes. Breasts are not genitalia (more on that in a bit, too). Breastfeeding is an asexual activity. If a woman can have her breasts sucked on by a baby without being sexually aroused, then people should certainly be able to see a baby breastfeeding without being sexually aroused.
I know a lot of men who grew up seeing breastfeeding in their families and social circles. And you know what? They’re not a bunch of perverts. They’re not breast-obsessed. In fact, I’d wager that they’re less breast-obsessed than those who only grew up seeing breasts as sexual objects. They see a woman breastfeeding, and even if some breast shows, it’s not a major deal. It IS possible to differentiate seeing a breast in a breastfeeding context and seeing a breast in any other context. It IS possible to see a woman breastfeeding and not get turned on by it. But breasts have to be seen in that context in order to get to that point, which is why I think people shouldn’t make a big deal out of seeing breastfeeding. Does that make sense?
Also, if I were a man, I think I’d be a bit put out by the notion that I have no control over myself. Mature men are not slaves to their sex drives. Unless we’re talking about actual pervs
“Women should cover up to breastfeed because there are all kinds of sickos/perverts out there just looking for a peep show.”
There are weirdos out there, yes. There are strange people with all kinds of fetishes that I’m not going to bother myself with. The fact that some guy might have a foot fetish isn’t going to keep me from wearing flip-flops. If a perv sees me breastfeed, I really don’t care. If that’s why you cover up to breastfeed, more power to you, sincerely. But not everyone has that concern.