What do you think about breastfeeding in public?

[ninjatofu]

Yep. I've seen them, I know them and I find them offensive. They're also typically the ones that are also in your face about extended breastfeeding, attachment parenting, cloth diapering, using organic cotton balls instead of chemical ridden wipes, co-sleeping, self weaning and freely pointing out all of the ways I am neglecting my children for doing things differently and that I should just hand them over to CPS now.

I also don't like the "I don't give a fuck if you stare, I'm feeding my kid" and "how would you like it if you had to eat with a blanket over your head" people. I think that they are so geared up for controversy that they're pumped with rage and adrenaline before they even leave the house, despite the fact that most people, like myself, don't give a flying fuck what they do to feed their child, aside from an occasional "oh hey, that's a boob. Huh" and then look away. For what it's worth, I have the same reaction with a lot of things.

"oh hey, a boob."
"oh hey, a cute dress"
"oh hey, a unibrow"
"oh hey, two turtles skronking on the Internet"
"oh hey, that kid just puked"

It's human nature to gawk at stuff we don't see everyday, people need to get over seeing breastfeeding in public, but public breast feeders need to get over people looking, and stop thinking that everyone is out to get them.

[anna7602]

Jun 1, 2012 10:20:41 GMT -5 ninjatofu said:

It's human nature to gawk at stuff we don't see everyday, people need to get over seeing breastfeeding in public, but public breast feeders need to get over people looking, and stop thinking that everyone is out to get them.

Fair enough that you'd be over these folks if you know a lot IRL (I deleted that part of your quote to not make this outrageously long).

But your last bit is an interesting point. I've spent a lot of time in places where people DON't gawk if you nurse in public and it's awesome. I can only imagine that a woman might feel a bit isolated and defensive if she's nursing in public in a place where people aren't used to it and ARE gawking. I think you might only need to be told once to your face to "please cover up" to feel like everyone is out to get you.

I'm just speculating here. But, in general, I get your point. I think you nailed it with the litany of cloth diapering, etc. It's not just breastfeeding, it's every mothering choice that needs to be held up as an example of someone's superiority. I hate those types, too. But I think it's sad when the public confuses regular mothers who cloth diaper or breastfeed or whatever with the ones who want to tattoo the news on their faces and lord it over everyone else. Sometimes, a woman who is nursing in public is just... feeding her child, not trying to make a political statement or be in someone's face about her parenting choices.

The recent TIME magazine cover has had me thinking about all of this crap a lot.

[popcorn]

I agree with you tofu, but I also think you are having an extreme reaction to these women who are passionate about it. The only reason they are passionate about it is because it is a right that has been challenged. Someone has to be up in arms about it or it could very well be taken away--lumped in with public nudity and the like.

I personally didn't even realize it was something people cared/thought about until I was on thebump. To me, it's as simple as my baby is hungry, I will feed my baby. Duh. I was very shocked to find out anyone would find it disgusting or rude in any way.

[ninjatofu]

Alright well, to be fair, I'm on a shocking amount of steroids right now and although my head is clear for the first time in months, I'm near to turning green and having a Hulk Smash type of moment.

I get that being asked/told to cover up would be offensive and make a person feel self conscious. However, I'd never do that to someone, and my response would have been to calmly and politely tell the person to look away if they are feeling uncomfortable. Then I'd probably roll my eyes. In the state I'm in now I would quite possibly drop my babies and carve out the person's eyes with a butter knife. That could be the roids again, though.

However, I do feel strongly, even when unmedicated, that many mothers feel they need to aggressively defend their choices and inadvertently end up being the ones that offend, or bring conflict with them.

[popcorn]

Jun 1, 2012 10:51:50 GMT -5 ninjatofu said:

However, I do feel strongly, even when unmedicated, that many mothers feel they need to aggressively defend their choices and inadvertently end up being the ones that offend, or bring conflict with them.

This is true.

I hope you're feeling better!

[Deleted]

I think that most people don't care, but that breastfeeding does make some people uncomfortable. Most of the commentary is online and we all know that the internet brings out the over-opinionated idiots. A lot of what people say online would never be said in person. (obviously some exceptional idiots who make everyone's lives difficult)

[GilliC]

Okay, I'm looking at the picture in the article, and I don't see how on earth that woman on the right is "boobs hanging out."
^o)

I don't see why people even care. Personally, I'm much more offended by men peeing all over the place in public. You can make the same arguments about not wanting to see a random penis or about thinking, "Oh hey, a penis" and then looking away, but there's still going to piss all over the place after he's done. And even once it dries, it's going to stink.

If women sprayed milk all over a park bench and then walked away, I can see why people would have the grounds to complain. But I've never seen that happen.

[clickerish]

Jun 3, 2012 9:50:05 GMT -5 GilliC said:

If women sprayed milk all over a park bench and then walked away, I can see why people would have the grounds to complain. But I've never seen that happen.

;D Quality response right there.