The Taboo: Breast Feeding
It's A. here and I'm writing about a recent controversial topic in society.
It is very clear that in western culture breasts are commonly displayed in the media e.g. in advertising and celebrities. However, simultaneously there is social prohibition when women show their breasts; cleavage and breast feeding are both frowned upon and women can be judged negatively for either case. Also in several western countries topless bathing is allowed, but once the women leaves the beach she will be considered sexually inappropriate. This interesting dichotomy and its impact on breastfeeding is what I’m trying to explore. It is confusing how we celebrate the breast, but then disapprove of it also. Breasts are primarily for breastfeeding not to be sexually objectified. Nurturing your child is an essential part of being a mother and breast milk has many benefits for your baby, as it contains all the anti-bodies, nutrients and vitamins needed for the first 6 months of the baby’s life. In most cultures around the world a woman breastfeeding has no sexual or inappropriate connotations. The most common reason people find breastfeeding offensive is that they believe that if it is against the law to be nude in public (which it isn’t); therefore it should be against the law to breast feed in public. However, nudity is constantly in the media with women in minimal clothing and this is less controversial than a natural occurrence that provides nutrients to a baby. “A woman with her bare chest fully exposed is not something a parent wants their child to see,” is a common refrain. Although, surely this is only teaching a child the life cycle and how they were fed when they were younger. Alternatives such as covering with a cloth can be a woman’s choice, but not a rule as it may be uncomfortably warm and stuffy therefore agitating the baby. When babies are first born they need to be breastfed at least 8 times a day. Therefore, are mothers meant to stay at home all day so they don’t breastfeed publicly? People need to be reminded that post-natal mothers gain great benefit when they leave the house and socialise. If “women hold up half the sky” then why would we leave them out of civil society whilst breastfeeding. Breasts are a secondary sexual characteristic of female humans which is exploited in many ways. Nowadays many modern day males in this society are also keen in sexualising their chest; many men display their pumped up pectorals and waxed tanned chests at any opportunity. When will we women have parity of freedom with being able to be topless? I realise we have a long way to go before that vision becomes reality, but surely if anything, breastfeeding should be accepted in society.
