"Breastfeeding Moms Protest H&M"

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

The word "evolve" (like the word "grow") implies that we are on a higher level. That's what I was responding to. If that's not what you meant, then thank you for clarifying.

I think the rest of the world is ahead of the US in terms of their view of breastfeeding.

Grow? Couples grow apart all the time. No one is better or worse, they are just different now. Our ideals grew apart from their ideals. That's the way I view those words.

You are more like a shock jock, doing things that start out as necessary, but quickly will be used as an in-your-face tactic to try and change or shock society. I beleive in not making the general public, or my immediate company, uncomfortable just to make a point. You apparently do not care about the comfort level of your immediate company just as long as you get to do what you have to do.

Again, a little discretion goes a long way. I am not saying run and hide in a corner, cover up what sme people may not want to see. And if you are in their normal line of sight, they should not have to divert their eyes.

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

There is no reason to turn this into a semantics debate. I was explaining my interpretation of your word choice, which you admitted might have been unclear.

I said (multiple times) that I don't support the idea of a protest, and that every mom I know (including myself, aside from the first days in the hospital while we were learning to breastfeed with the help of random nurses) is discreet when feeding their child. My point was that people should do their thing and be left alone. I don't see how that makes me like a shock jock, lol.

You and I are very close in opinions.

You just seem to not care what makes others uncomfortable, and then when someone is uncomfortable, it seems like you would be even more in-your-face, just to prove your point. I disagree with that mentality.

facepollution wrote:

I'm sorry but that simply isn't true. There is much scientific evidence to show that a human female's breasts are primarily there for sexual attraction. Only a small percentage of a breast is made up of mammary glands which produce milk, the rest is made up of fat and conjunctive tissue. Many primates have a flat chest with a long nipple, which is far more conducive to breast feeding as it allows the baby to breath properly. Essentially what all this means, is that if breasts were only there for feeding purposes they wouldn't need to be anywhere near the size they are. There's a longer explanation as to why they have evolved to be bigger over time, which I will happily find you a link for.

But...actually, the fat (adipose tissue) surrounds the milk-producing portions of the breast, also collectively called "mammary glands". It is pretty much proportionate, except in very small-chested women.

I realize this had very little to do with your post, which I found interesting, but I have an itch to respond when it comes to breast anatomy.

AND...I would like to see that article. I am curious to know what context it was written in.

Take care,

scb wrote:

I haven't read the entire 14 pages, but I'm pretty floored by this discussion. The lack of support given to women and children in our society never ceases to amaze me. Even just a neutral stance would be preferable to the judgemental attitudes of some people. :(

Just a quick thought on the comparison between feeding a baby and taking a shit or having sex in public... Taking a shit and having sex can wait. Feeding a screaming baby can't. (I'd be willing to bet that many of those people who have a problem with breastfeeding would also have a problem with the baby screaming from not being fed. You just can't win with some people.)

When your child is screaming to be fed, it is ABSOLUTELY more embarrassing (and more important) than letting people see less of your breast than they would on a public beach.

Once again, I am still wondering how many people that are posting negatively about breast feeding actually have children that they breast fed. No one has owned up yet...

Take care,

know1 wrote:

Yeah - but I'm talking about the incidents where the woman has a copy of the law in her back pocket and is basically trying to get publicity.

Women are actually encouraged to carry a copy of the law in their diaper bag in case they run into opposition. After giving birth to my daughter, I received a wallet-sized card in the mail "from" Illinois first lady First Lady Patti Blagojevich which verified that it is indeed legal to breastfeed in a public place.

aNiMaL wrote:

Again, a little discretion goes a long way. I am not saying run and hide in a corner, cover up what sme people may not want to see. And if you are in their normal line of sight, they should not have to divert their eyes.

Sorry I didn't read the whole thread, but just this last page got me riled up enough. I don't give a fuck about other people's feelings on this. I really, really don't. Should Rosa Parks have sat on the back of the bus not to hurt racist feelings? I don't think so. Attaching shame to breastfeeding in public is a subtle way in which the implication is made that a woman's place is in the home. Rolling one's eyes whenever someone attends to a child because it's "inappropriate" at a certain time and place does as well.

kcherub wrote:

Do you know where I can find a list of states that give out those cards? I suppose I could determine if Georgia has a BF law, but I am not sure where to find the cards. That seems like a really good idea, and would encourage women to handle the situation right then and there and possibly do more good in educating others (say, the person you show the card to if there is a problem) than other means of "protesting".

Thanks!

Hmmmm... I googled "breastfeeding Illinois law" to find the spelling of Patti Blagojevich's name, and found info about the Illinois law, so maybe try something like "breastfeeding law"?

And I agree. If you have proof that it's legal, that should be sufficient.

meme wrote:

I am almost sure it does not depend on the state.

It is a state law...I was actually looking as you posted!

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm

Although I can't say I 100% believe in what my government says, this gives a clear idea of the opinion on breastfeeding and what the laws are (and what states have them).

Take care,

meme wrote:

Should Rosa Parks have sat on the back of the bus not to hurt racist feelings?

That is NOT the same thing... Maybe you might want to read a little more of this thread... And, I think as a society, we have a little thing called modesty...And nobody is saying that women can't breast feed in public...Just wear a cape and stop being so "in your face" about it...

Vedderfan10 wrote:

I don't think it's fair to assume people are OK with seeing people having sex in public...I would be quite repulsed actually...and anyway live sex shows are in clubs and bars and stuff...not at a grocery store or on the roller coaster...

And to be honest, feeding a baby of any age is something that I've always been bothered by...breastfeeding is just annoying...can people not plan ahead, get their baby on a schedule...repulsed is not the right word...

And I don't mind aNiMaL...we've discussed many things before....oh, and if a boob is just a method of feeding your baby, why did Janet Jackson get such heat of her exposed nipple...it wasn't just men sexualizing her boob, women were too...a boob is a boob is a boob...

well, a mom can try to feed the baby before she leaves the house, I always did that but as I had stated earlier the newborns usually fall asleep before they are full and so many time when they wake up they are hungry again. The thing about nursing is that you really aren't as rigid as bottlefeeding because usually the mom is with the baby most of the time it is hungry so it isn't a big deal.
But I will say that there should be respect on both sides. A woman can descreetly feed her baby off on the side somewhere, not in your face and also not in a toilet.Maybe more places should have nursing rooms like some places offer as a respect for both points.