Photo of BFing military moms sparks controversy

[Anonymous]

People here just seemed to be offended by it. As an extended nurser myself, I was shocked when my husband expressed "disgust" (maybe too strong a word, but my vocabulary seems to be lacking this morning) at a woman nursing at the pool last weekend. You could see absolutely no part of her breasts, in fact I could barely even tell she was nursing. Guess I married a caveman.

[Anonymous]

A real caveman would have thought nothing of it. And you get cleavage a lot. You see it eeveryday with a lot of ordinary tops

[Anonymous]

But that photo shows more than just a bit of cleavage ... starting to see the sides of her breasts. Too much detail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This photo is provocative. So many breastfeeding supporters, myself included, draw a line at what I call the exhibitionist breastfeeders, the women who don't cover their breasts when they nurse. Sorry but the people who chose this photo were naive to think that it wasn't going to cause trouble. Talk about self-sabotaging.

As for the women in uniform, no, that's not the issue. It's the breasts, stupid.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This photo is provocative. So many breastfeeding supporters, myself included, draw a line at what I call the exhibitionist breastfeeders, the women who don't cover their breasts when they nurse. Sorry but the people who chose this photo were naive to think that it wasn't going to cause trouble. Talk about self-sabotaging.

As for the women in uniform, no, that's not the issue. It's the breasts, stupid.

+1

+2

-signed an extended breast-feeder and former ROTC cadet

[Anonymous]

Someone asked how old the "babies" are? 10 months, according to the story. So, even on here I hope 10 months still counts as a baby.

I know you will all flame me for this, but in my opinion the obsession and fuss made with women nursing is nothing less than reflective of the total misogyny of our culture, among both men and women. I know you will swear up and down it's just a matter of "decency" and "courtesy." Fine, I hear you. I just don't buy it. In a culture where there are as many images of overtly sexualized women all over...mainstream magazine covers, television, billboards, Barbie doll, Disney princesses, etc, etc...the sight of a women using her body (particularly her breasts) in any way other than to titillate is jarring for people. Our culture inculcates an attitude that makes it almost impossible not to sexualize women and their breasts, even when they are nursing a baby. That is the role we assign women. Sexual objects.

You think you are objecting on the basis of "decency." But I would ask you to think about why seeing a woman feeding a baby is indecent? Why is the cleavage you see every day...on real women, at the pool, at the gym, on magazine covers, okay, but when a woman is feeding her baby, it isn't? It is because we have all been indoctrinated by our culture to subvert the feminine and to distrust women outside the role of sexual object.

[Anonymous]

Again, it is not just a bit of cleavage. Half of the sides of her breasts are exposed.

[Anonymous]

I'd hit it and her friend on the right

[Anonymous]

When I'm nursing my babies, I'm not terribly concerned about showing cleavage. I don't think that moms should be.

I am glad that these women had these photos taken. Maybe it'll spark some important conversation about supporting mothers in the military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone asked how old the "babies" are? 10 months, according to the story. So, even on here I hope 10 months still counts as a baby.

I know you will all flame me for this, but in my opinion the obsession and fuss made with women nursing is nothing less than reflective of the total misogyny of our culture, among both men and women. I know you will swear up and down it's just a matter of "decency" and "courtesy." Fine, I hear you. I just don't buy it. In a culture where there are as many images of overtly sexualized women all over...mainstream magazine covers, television, billboards, Barbie doll, Disney princesses, etc, etc...the sight of a women using her body (particularly her breasts) in any way other than to titillate is jarring for people. Our culture inculcates an attitude that makes it almost impossible not to sexualize women and their breasts, even when they are nursing a baby. That is the role we assign women. Sexual objects.

You think you are objecting on the basis of "decency." But I would ask you to think about why seeing a woman feeding a baby is indecent? Why is the cleavage you see every day...on real women, at the pool, at the gym, on magazine covers, okay, but when a woman is feeding her baby, it isn't? It is because we have all been indoctrinated by our culture to subvert the feminine and to distrust women outside the role of sexual object.

The thing is this photo was staged. This is not a candid photo or even realistic. Tell me the last time you breastfed standing up, carrying twins. Maybe her breasts were even photo shopped to look more round, etc.

I mean, you are talking about over-sexualizing breasts and breast feeding, but what about when it is done on purpose? If you take a playboy model and attach a baby to her boob, is it now decent? No and neither is this photo.

[Anonymous]

It's just breast phobia. This is what happens when you objectify women's body parts.

[Anonymous]

I think the issue is that they didn't ask permission before posing for this picture. The military is sensitive about the uniform and what it conveys. They have strict rules about where you can and can't wear your uniform. I've dated military guys who were not allowed to drink in uniform, and in some work situations, they are not allowed to wear BDU's (camoflauge) because of the message it sends. (in contrast, the eiffel tower is guarded by soldiers in BDU's with semi-automatic weapons.) I suspect the military is not anti-breast-feeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that they didn't ask permission before posing for this picture. The military is sensitive about the uniform and what it conveys. They have strict rules about where you can and can't wear your uniform. I've dated military guys who were not allowed to drink in uniform, and in some work situations, they are not allowed to wear BDU's (camoflauge) because of the message it sends. (in contrast, the eiffel tower is guarded by soldiers in BDU's with semi-automatic weapons.) I suspect the military is not anti-breast-feeding.

Does the military provide pumping rooms for enlisted soldiers, not just officers? Does military insurance cover lactation consultants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Why is the cleavage you see every day...on real women, at the pool, at the gym, on magazine covers, okay, but when a woman is feeding her baby, it isn't? It is because we have all been indoctrinated by our culture to subvert the feminine and to distrust women outside the role of sexual object.

Who said that it was okay?

I tell you ladies all of the time to have some decency but you think it's funny. You want to prance around on the beach half naked in your underwear because you think it's acceptable. That doesn't mean it is acceptable, and it doesn't mean it's okay.

Whether you like it or not, breasts are sexual and functional. I wish people would stop acting like this is new...it isn't. Pick up this lovely book called the Bible and you will see that even then, it was not unusual to see breasts as sexual (Song of Solomon if you are interested). That doesn't make you a sex object, but stop acting like one and put on some clothes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone asked how old the "babies" are? 10 months, according to the story. So, even on here I hope 10 months still counts as a baby.

I know you will all flame me for this, but in my opinion the obsession and fuss made with women nursing is nothing less than reflective of the total misogyny of our culture, among both men and women. I know you will swear up and down it's just a matter of "decency" and "courtesy." Fine, I hear you. I just don't buy it. In a culture where there are as many images of overtly sexualized women all over...mainstream magazine covers, television, billboards, Barbie doll, Disney princesses, etc, etc...the sight of a women using her body (particularly her breasts) in any way other than to titillate is jarring for people. Our culture inculcates an attitude that makes it almost impossible not to sexualize women and their breasts, even when they are nursing a baby. That is the role we assign women. Sexual objects.

You think you are objecting on the basis of "decency." But I would ask you to think about why seeing a woman feeding a baby is indecent? Why is the cleavage you see every day...on real women, at the pool, at the gym, on magazine covers, okay, but when a woman is feeding her baby, it isn't? It is because we have all been indoctrinated by our culture to subvert the feminine and to distrust women outside the role of sexual object.

I totally agree with you PP! Americans need to get over their fear of the boobs. The furor over this picture and the posts on this thread going on and on about how much of her breasts are exposed...ridiculous. Nothing is indecent about breastfeeding a child.