Why is breastfeeding in public acceptable?

Breast milk, one of the few things left that the govt. cannot tax!

This opposition to breast feeding really is baffling. Whether a woman chooses to feed her child in a restaurant or public park or her own home. It's her choice. It's as natural as breathing and nobody else's business.

Look, coffee shops and cafes are not the place for babies to be drinking breast milk ffs, it's not natural.

They're for adults to be able to relax and drink some coffee with steamed cow titty milk.

Deleted User wrote: »

Bizarre and stupid rant. Of course there are societies that don't sexualise breasts. They can still be attractive, but they aren't a sexual thing meant only for your partner.

How would a tribe in Ethiopia or the Amazon still get aroused by something they see all the time, with their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, cousins, and friends all topless their entire lives..

It really is bizarre, not sure what I said that deserved that mouthful of abuse, because there's nothing very controversial in what I said.

It's not just Africa, the Chinese used to publish books of erotica about sex acts that could be performed with women's bandaged feet, whereas foot fetishes are more of a personal thing in our society. It's really all about what you "learn" is sexy in your society. Because the reality is that almost any part of the body can be seen as sexually attractive, and probably is by some.

Buttocks are a better indication of female fertility than the size of breasts, because large breasts don't correlate to having more milk, never mind being able to have a baby in the first place, where the shape and size of the buttocks shows pelvic width. And there are places where buttock implants are more common than breast implants, South America for instance.

So yeah, sexual fascination with breasts is not surprising, but no more so than other areas of the body that we don't consider taboo.

I don't actually believe that people who object to seeing a woman breastfeed do so because they find it arousing, it's more because they find it an uncomfortable reminder that we are "just" animals.

I've never actually heard a man say that he was aroused by seeing a woman feed a baby. Now maybe they just don't want to admit it, but then why is there so much emotion in some objections to public breastfeeding (like the crazed rant above)?

fash wrote: »

Incorrect:
A significant function of the human female breast is to serve as sexual signalling: compared to other species or the size necessary for feeding offspring, the human female breast is exceptionally large. Compare the breasts is orangutans for example. Furthermore from an evolutionary perspective, human female breasts were quite small until humans changed from front to back to front to front copulation.

I would note that the human male penis is similarly outsized compared to strict function.

That's only one theory, not a proven function, unlike milk production which is an actual function. Cows udders are massive but we don't consider that this means they serve as anything other than to provide milk. Our upright stance is why breasts have become so visible, so it's not surprising that they are noticed by men, but various parts of the woman's body are mentioned at least as often in love poems and erotica than her breasts.

Paladium30 wrote: »

It can be hard to convince a lot of women to breastfeed as they prefer the convenience of using formula instead.

Lovely. If you think making up bottles is more convenient than breast feeding you have little practical experience of either. The only inconvenience of breast feeding is other people's reactions.

Paladium30 wrote: »

I have plenty of experience making bottles and feeding babies, I have two children. Breast feeding means having a baby attached to her breast, which can be sore, it means it's more difficult to ask someone else to feed the child. Breast pumping can be inconvenient. Bottles are fairly easy once you get into the routine.

I breast fed all of mine, and from observation of friends, bottle feeding is far more of a pain, having to keep bottles sterilised, have a supply of clean water and enough formula whenever you go out, and somewhere to make it up. And expensive.

Nobody needs a breast pump BTW, it's only if you also want the one single advantage of bottle feeding as well as the advantages of breastfeeding. Though of course it does come with similar inconveniences to bottle feeding, except you don't have to do it all the time.

No, as I say, the only real problem with breastfeeding is idiots who insist on conflating it with some sort of exhibitionism.

Paladium30 wrote: »

I think one possible reason some people are averse to breast feeding is they like to think of themselves and humanity as sophisticated, breastfeeding is a reminder that we're animals, they don't like that reminder. I think such people would get embarrased about other bodily functions too which serve as a reminder that we're animals.

Indeed. As I said a couple of pages back (though TBF it was hidden at the bottom of a long post)

volchitsa wrote: »

I don't actually believe that people who object to seeing a woman breastfeed do so because they find it arousing, it's more because they find it an uncomfortable reminder that we are "just" animals.

I've never actually heard a man say that he was aroused by seeing a woman feed a baby. Now maybe they just don't want to admit it, but then why is there so much emotion in some objections to public breastfeeding (like the crazed rant above)?

Paladium30 wrote: »

A lot of women just don't want to do it as they're more comfortable using formula. If you organise yourself it's fairly handy sterilising bottles and having formula with you etc.

That's my point.

Apart from anything else, "organising yourself" when you have a small baby is complicated enough, so yes of course it's possible, but it's extra effort and expense, so if you ask yourself why women "feel more comfortable" you could perhaps move away from the slightly odd comment you made earlier about (men - of course) trying and failing to convince women because women want the extra convenience of bottle feeding.

The reality is that women are the ones who get judged - whether they breast feed (for not being discreet enough, ie not hiding away in a public toilet) or for bottle feeding (for not being bothered being available for their baby).

Jesus there's an awful amount of spoof here.

If you're uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public, have a word with yourself.

Lads, the OP is just an Journal.ie 'journalist' looking for another kneejerk clickbait article.

Don't feed the journalist.

Paladium30 wrote: »

A fascinating observation!

Don't be an asshole. You are the one comparing drinking water to drinking breast milk.

Paladium30 wrote: »

I asked why is breastfeeding more natural than a person drinking water. It's a question given the assertion that breastfeeding is the most natural thing.

Oh are we making lists of random natural activities?
Is drinking water more or less natural than breathing?

Paladium30 wrote: »

I never suggested walking from a tree to a river is more natural than breastfeeding, I said it's no less natural than breastfeeding.

I'm an advocate if breastfeeding and women being allowed to do it in public, it's healthiest for the child. What I'm challenging is the assertion that it's the most natural thing which is meaningless hyperbole.

See, I assumed the poster meant "most natural way of feeding a child". Perhaps you didn't understand that. Do you really need everything explained to you to this degree of literalness?

I've always thought boards was full of weirdos, but this thread is just disturbing.

the beer revolu wrote: »

I've heard that in Scandinavia, it's socially acceptable for menstruating women to go out in public!
What next?

An increase in bear attacks?

5uspect wrote: »

It’s also worth pointing out that breastfeeding women are protected by law under the Equal Status Act.

Here too?
I know that is the case in the UK