Yes, America, 'Whipping Out Your Breasts' To Feed Your Baby Should Be Normalized
Start writing a post
Adulting

Yes, America, 'Whipping Out Your Breasts' To Feed Your Baby Should Be Normalized

The original purpose of the breast was to feed our young NOT to be sexualized.

90
Yes, America, 'Whipping Out Your Breasts' To Feed Your Baby Should Be Normalized
Photo by willsantt from Pexels

I gave birth to two healthy babies and breastfed them up to their first birthdays. During those two periods that I nursed my children, I could count on one hand how many times I breastfed in public, a whomping total of three times!

With the amount of publicity breastfeeding in public is receiving on social media, you would have thought that I would not be hesitant to feed on demand, no matter my location. The truth is, although there are celebrities using their social media platforms to take away the shame associated with feeding your child the way nature intended it, we live in a cruel and close-minded world.

A world where other women will shame the nursing mother, where nursing mothers are asked to toss a blanket over our baby's face and expect said baby to eat under the smothering heat of the blanket, where nursing mothers are accused of exposing our bodies sexually while feeding our children.

This world that we live in makes it hard for women to feel comfortable to even attempt to breastfeed in public.

So, instead of us enjoying a day out with our babies, we are bound to our homes. We may as well have a chain around our ankle and attached to the house for as much scrutiny and vulgarity we receive from those who do not believe we should "expose" our bodies to the entire world.

Don't get me wrong, there are more supporters of breastfeeding in public than there are naysayers, but it is just those few that seem to be able to get to nursing mothers.

It was Sunday, I was in church and my child was crying. It wasn't a loud cry but I decided to breastfeed, although I had expressed breastmilk in the bottle. It was a designated place for breastfeeding mothers but the other nursing mothers had bad expressions on their faces. I felt very bad. After that experience, I will not do it again, I will just give the bottle--International Breastfeeding Journal, 2018

An article in the International Breastfeeding Journal reported 52% of nursing mothers felt uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, 27% felt embarrassed, and 15% felt stigmatized. Another 80% covered their breasts while nursing and 70% felt that privacy was needed to nurse.

During the time I was nursing, I felt uncomfortable and feared either the approach of disapproving strangers or the obvious pointed stares. Due to my fear, I made sure to express my milk before leaving the home, knowing that sometime while I was out and about, my child would start the hunger cries.

Breastfeeding existed with the creation of humankind. It was the way women fed our young since the beginning. Somehow, breastfeeding became taboo to the public.

In 2018, a magazine cover of a breastfeeding mother in India caused outrage. We think, oh, well that is India. It is more conservative than Western culture. Chitra Ramaswamy stated for us Westerners who felt the superiority, not to feel so smug because we are not far off from India when it comes to nursing in public.

Ramaswamy writes, "Breastfeeding is bloody hard work, and I write this with my own seven-month-old on my breast, not for authenticity's sake but because she is hungry. It takes patience, practice, commitment, physical strength, good humour, multiple tubes of Lansinoh cream, and enough chutzpah to withstand the stares, unwanted advice and general opprobrium that come your way whenever you need to feed your baby while out and about. This is why a third of women feel embarrassed breastfeeding in public, according to one UK survey.

Reading stories of empowering women breastfeeding in public makes me wish I had more courage to do it myself. I often am in awe while being with another nursing mother who does not care if her nursing her newest addition will cause discomfort or ire. I often will watch my friend and think, the next baby I have, I won't fear the judgmental looks and if God forbid, someone decides to approach me and tell me what I am doing is indecent, I will gladly enlighten the individual.


The cover reads, "Don't stare--we need to breastfeed."The Guardian


I've breastfed both my babies; my son until he was nearly two (go on, judge me). This has meant feeding on the bus, in cafes, on park benches, in front of my dad, and – on one particularly fabulous occasion – on stage while I was discussing Anne of Green Gables. I have felt embarrassed, vulnerable and exposed. Once, I retreated to the toilet. It's not easy whipping out an intimate and sexualised part of your body that has doubled in size and developed the ability to shoot multiple jets of hot milk from its core. This should incite praise, compassion and awe, as opposed to accusations of indecency--Chitra Ramaswamy.

Alyssa Milano, actress and activist, is one of many celebrities who take a stand on normalizing breastfeeding. In 2016, Milano promoted her campaign of #normalizebreastfeeding by posting a brelfie of herself and her child while nursing.

While on the Wendy Williams Show, Alyssa and Wendy discussed the sexualization of breasts, prompting Wendy to call them "sexual things" when they're not being used for breastfeeding. Alyssa respectfully argued, "Yeah, but they weren't — biologically they're not made for sexual things. That's what we've done to them."

Alyssa Milano on Weight Loss and Breastfeedingyoutu.be

Report this Content
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

18754
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

947065
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

123642
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments