Should women breastfeed in public?

2017-11-27T02:09:04-05:00

I have seen stories of women being shamed for breastfeeding in public. Why is it a problem? It’s a natural act of a mother feeding her child. It’s not sexual. I think the problem is people sexualize anything that has to do with a woman’s breasts. What are your thoughts?

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2017 2:13 AM

2017-11-27T02:13:05-05:00

Just my opinion I have seen done in public multiple times I personally don't care I don't put much thought into that.

Response by CPL Dave Hoover made Nov 27 at 2017 2:15 AM

2017-11-27T02:15:02-05:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member I think modesty is a big issue for some. Some are not discrete. And unfortunately as natural as it is, some guys are wired to tight.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 27 at 2017 3:00 AM

2017-11-27T03:00:14-05:00

That's what breasts are for. It's no big deal to me. If people get upset over it, they're the one with the problem. Women should be applauded for nursing their child the way nature intended.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Nov 27 at 2017 4:00 AM

2017-11-27T04:00:52-05:00

It depends on what you mean. The simple act of breastfeeding is not a big deal, but in our society, the public uncovering of breasts is a bigger deal. As SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" mentioned, most women are discrete and will do any breastfeeding in public places under a cover, and that truly is no big deal. But not all women are that discrete. If you are talking about women baring their breasts with no effort at all to be discrete, that's something more than just breastfeeding.

Response by Sgt Bob Leonard made Nov 27 at 2017 5:38 AM

2017-11-27T05:38:33-05:00

We have four children. All of them breastfed.

My wife worked for several years for our county health dept. One of her jobs was teaching and advocating for breast feeding.

We're both sympathetic to, and she's an advocate for, breastfeeding.

That said, as has been said by others here, discretion is the gold leaf of breastfeeding in public. There are two common statements, however, that need to be recognized for their "mutual antagonism".

"It's natural, not sexual." (And it's corollary, "That's what breasts are for.")
opposite
"So long as they're discrete and don't show too much breast."

In our society/culture, breasts ARE sexual! (Has anyone ever really bought Playboy for the "articles"? REALLY? Remove the pictorial segments and it's unlikely any of us(?) would ever have given one a second look, much less bought one.) And breasts are sexual long before they're a food source for infants.

If they're not an 'item' of sexual interest, then why the need for 'discretion'? If 'discretion' is needed, then, ipso facto, they ARE 'items' of sexual interest. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Like Certs is a candy mint and a breath mint. "They're two ("clap"), two ("clap"), two mints in one."

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made Nov 27 at 2017 5:54 AM

2017-11-27T05:54:40-05:00

Why not?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 27 at 2017 6:46 AM

2017-11-27T06:46:12-05:00

It's a natural thing, just have a cover so the child has privacy, and people don't see anything.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Nov 27 at 2017 7:20 AM

2017-11-27T07:20:27-05:00

If you are going to breastfeed only then you are almost certainly going to have to do it in public, somewhere. Most of the time women use a cover to breastfeed in public. That, for me, is more than enough. My wife breastfeed and that is what she did. Both of my grandkids were/are breastfeed and that is how they are fed in public.

We cannot get around the fact that western civilization has sexualized breasts. They are used in tight tops and bikini's to sell everything from burgers to beer.

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Nov 27 at 2017 7:44 AM

2017-11-27T07:44:01-05:00

Baby's got to eat.

Most women don't want to bare their chests in public and will be discreet. Most times, a baby will block the nipple (the greatest sexual offender of the breast variety in society) from view. Funny thing is, most of the breastfeeding criticism I have personally witnessed have come from other women.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Nov 27 at 2017 10:40 AM

2017-11-27T10:40:54-05:00

I have no problem with it if they are discreet. However, I have seen some women just flop it out there in a public place like the airport then pick their kid up and attach. That breast was just hanging out for everyone to see, and it will draw attention at that time. Now if they move to a back area out of most public view, cover with a blanket and do it then I think it is ok...Just don't make a public spectacle of it. AND don't do it at the dinner table. I have seen this at a restaurant right in my view sight and I just couldn't eat.

Response by Norah Julmis made Nov 27 at 2017 11:39 AM

2017-11-27T11:39:07-05:00

I'll be honest, I was so afraid of being shamed in public and ending up on someone's social feed that I basically didn't leave the house unless I had an appointment. It was pretty depressing. We traveled 900 miles (by car) when my son was 3 months old to see family and the drive was horrible. I would sit in the back seat of our vehicle (with tinted windows) and a cover to feed my son at rest stops. You wouldn't believe the people who would stand in front of my car and stare at me through the windshield. Even women and old people. I ended up switching to bottles after that trip and I feel like I gained so much freedom. Even with the support of breastfeeding resurfacing, you wouldn't believe the amount of people that still stare or try to take your photo (and yes, even at a doctor's office). I really wish people would get over it.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Nov 27 at 2017 2:27 PM

2017-11-27T14:27:17-05:00

That's a good question and I see that most of the comments are supportive of breastfeeding. Personally, I think the issue isn't one of breast "feeding" per se, but more of an irrational and discriminatory obsession with traditional "modesty." I've never been clear as to why men's breasts are any more (or less) acceptable than women's. Men run around in public topless all the time and no one bats an eye. But, woman be damned if she dares to show too much boob! And if we take it one step further, it's not really the boob itself - it's the areola/nipple. Women's areolas/nipples are verboten, men's are okey-dokey.

There was a public service announcement or something I saw once that illustrated this point by putting up two sets of boobs on a billboard. Both were women's breasts - one was all natural, no photoshopping; the other had male areola/nipples photoshopped over the woman's areola/nipples. Only the natural, women's breasts with women's areolas/nipples were determined to need censoring.

We're a weird group of morally subjective people here in America.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2017 3:27 PM

2017-11-27T15:27:25-05:00

Even babies have to eat, right? The only time this is an issue is when people MAKE it an issue.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2017 3:49 PM

2017-11-27T15:49:14-05:00

A couple of things here.

1. I'm not against breast feeding in public. The baby has to eat. I do expect modesty though. Just because it's a "natural act" doesn't mean one can expose their breasts whenever and wherever they want. In another scenario, as a parent, I've had to let my young son "go to the bathroom" in a parking lot because he couldn't make it to the actual bathroom. Again, we're dealing with a completely natural act, but I made every effort I could to hide him from the sight of others. I think most would understand this. Plus, a child is involved, and like with breastfeeding, sometimes things with kids happen at inopportune times. Natural? Yes. Do people want to see it? No. No difference with breastfeeding. Modesty should be used. That's all I'm saying.

2. Breasts are sexual. Let's not pretend they're not. Are they functional too? Of course, but Hugh Hefner didn't become a gazillionaire because men enjoy looking at "functional" body parts. Guys don't look at women's breasts and think, "wow, I'll bet she can sure breastfeed a baby with those". If we're going to play that card, male "parts" have functional, non-sexual uses too. But we don't allow showing them in public.

Response by Jennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill made Apr 4 at 2020 10:33 AM

2020-04-04T10:33:05-04:00

Yes. Baby gets hungry. Portable milk & Mommy's loving arms are the best for the child.