Photo of BFing military moms sparks controversy

[Anonymous]

The republicans will be in control soon and this type of stuff will stop.

[Anonymous]

This is the part that surprises me from the article:

Air Force spokesperson Captain Rose Richeson told MSNBC: "Airmen should be mindful of their dress and appearance and present a professional image at all times while in uniform." Military moms who are still breastfeeding are encouraged to pump and bottle-feed their babies while they're in uniform.

[Anonymous]

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

wow, you must have studied the picture in detail.....

You are a closet peeping tom

[Anonymous]

PP, how much is exposed is hard to miss. As others have said, it is staged and draws attention to that area. What a ridiculous comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the part that surprises me from the article:

Air Force spokesperson Captain Rose Richeson told MSNBC: "Airmen should be mindful of their dress and appearance and present a professional image at all times while in uniform." Military moms who are still breastfeeding are encouraged to pump and bottle-feed their babies while they're in uniform.

If you haven't been in the military the dress code can be baffling. It may seem like the above statement is controlling to a civilian, but in the military its the norm. For example, while in dress uniform you cannot carry a back pack on both shoulders (only one shoulder), you must salute any officers that you pass, you must walk a certain way, must be actively working, etc. It's all very regimented so that you are very professional at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?[/quote]

Yes and yes.

Again the uniform is part of it. There are many, many things you cannot (or should not) do in a "working uniform", posing for a breast feeding photo is obviously one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Each service has its own regulations. The Marine corps requires a pumping room and refridgerator for any breast-feeding mother - it is not rank specific. Tricare covers lactation consultants. I was visited in the hospital by one, even though I did not ask for one.

There are a series of photos by a professional photography. There are two of the women in uniform - in one, the one with two kids is looking at her children; in the other, she is looking at the camera. I'm sure they took multiple photos and chose the ones that looked the best and would garner the most attention.

At first blush, the one with her looking at the camera with her rather large boobs seems like a cover shot screaming "look at me!". But if you look at the entire scenario - two moms breastfeeding on a park bench, one who literally cannot cover much of her breasts due to the fact that she is nursing two children, it is much more "innocent" and, in my opinion, beautiful.

However, they should have gotten approval from their chain of command before having a picture taken like that in uniform. They may have thought it was just about their moms group and didn't realize it would go viral.

[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.

You're absolutely right. And well-said.

[Anonymous]

Both women had to know that this would create controvercy. When you join the military, you live by a different Code. Both have lost their careers.

[Anonymous]

Why are people so fricking prissy about moms breastfeeding their kids? I happen to think breast feeding is horrible and dehumanizing but if someone else wants to do it...that is their business. So why is every prissy woman out there upset about these military moms? Oh right...the military hates women and many women hate other women.

[Anonymous]

Wait, why is pumping more dignified to do in uniform than breastfeeding? That makes littls sense. Pumping seems like the essence of indignified to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both women had to know that this would create controvercy. When you join the military, you live by a different Code. Both have lost their careers.

code?
Like abuse of iraqi prisoners?
Have you read about the sexual harassment women soldiers face when stationed?

[Anonymous]

The military dislikes women and still resents having them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, why is pumping more dignified to do in uniform than breastfeeding? That makes littls sense. Pumping seems like the essence of indignified to me.

You don't pump in public. The miliary didn't "hate" women when I was enlisted. They had pump rooms and permit four months of non-deployable time after a birth so that you can have time to breastfeed and recover from birth (maternity leave was still six weeks). The miliary is actually pro-breastfeeding, but anti-posing for breastfeeding pictures in uniform. I don't think these women did it maliciously. I agree with a PP that they likely didn't expect this to be headling news.

[Anonymous]

The article addresses part of it; the military has strict rules about the uniform. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

And the uniforms themselves come with their own sets of rules.
According to Military Spouse Central , public displays of affection -- even something as innocuous as holding hands -- are not allowed while wearing a military uniform. Also forbidden while in uniform: eating, drinking, or talking on a cell phone while walking, carrying an umbrella that's not black, and (in some cases) smoking or even chewing gum.