"Being offended by seeing a breast while a child is breastfeeding is equivalent to being offended by seeing a person's tongue when they are eating, as both can be sexual organs, yet the main function of both is for the nourishment of the human body"
Leah's Birth
11 years ago
4 comments:
I’ve never heard of this comparison. I think it’s interesting, although I’m having a hard time taking the comparison seriously. People stick their tongues out joking with others, sloppy eaters chew with their mouths full of food (yuck) and you even see another persons tongue while they are speaking. I am not turned on sexually when I see a person’s tongue. I don’t think most men would even be turned on if a woman stuck her tongue out. Although, if a woman showed her breasts, I’m sure a man would be turned on. I think our culture has been too obsessed with breasts as being sexual and not as being a form of nourishment for a child. I believe the two purposes of breasts (nourishment and sex appeal) haven’t been in an appropriate balance. If you travel to other parts of the world where breastfeeding is much more accepted and a natural occurrence, it is not a big deal when a woman is seen publicly breastfeeding, and breasts still maintain their sexuality. And, no one is offended by seeing a nursing mother and child. I'm curious what others think too.
Ashley, I agree. Breasts in our society are completely seen as sexual and not for nourishment and we need to follow suit of other cultures and realize that its one of the most natural things a mother can do and not make a huge deal about nursing in public.
The discussion where I found the quote was talking about arguments to say when people tell you they are offended that you are breast feeding in public. I think the comparison was made to the tongue because some people do get offended when they see people eat with their mouths open just as some people get offended while seeing a woman's breast (more nipple) while breastfeeding. Eating, even if being the most polite, can have some tongue "flashes" when opening the mouth for food just like even the most discrete mother can show her nipple while her baby latches on.
Its the point that these things can cause a person to be uncomfortable but that doesn't mean that the person who is uncomfortable has the right to make someone stop eating because they don't like seeing them chew with their mouths open. For some reason people feel they can ask a woman who is feeding her child to move because they don't like it. Its ridiculous.
As far as the tongue being "sexual" I think in many ways it is. Kissing is very sexual and so is oral sex but the main purpose of the tongue is speech and eating just like the breasts can be sexual but the main purpose is feeding a baby. I agree the tongue can be gross (full of food.. bleh!) but I think the main purpose of this quote is just to compare being uncomfortable and saying well since you can do something that I don't like why do you expect me to move and feed my kid in the bathroom? (which is where a lot of women are told to go breastfeed) KWIM?
Hopefully that novel made some sense..lol
Well said, and I agree.
Right on!
People are so lame in our society when it comes to this. It's so so sad that a woman has to feel "weird" about feeding her own baby around others.
I do it anyway. In restaurants, in malls, in my car, in stores. Anywhere that has a seat, my baby can eat! Well, I've even nursed sitting down on the sidewalk during a walk, so I guess the seat is optional! Hahahaha...
I just think it's super important for people to start being exposed to reality. Especially other young mama's. They need to see that it's normal and okay.
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