Soured

[alivemagdolene]

I'm finding myself disappointed in this article. I'm aware I'm not a mother so therefore I lack that insight. I realize that Valenti does, however fleetingly, point out a few of the injustices nursing mothers face.

But she fails to address the institutionalized misogyny that existed (and in some circles continues to exist) surrounding breast-feeding. For years, generations of women were told (almost always by male doctors in a male-dominated medical establishment) what their bodies produced naturally for their babies was inferior to one of any of the commercial formulas available. Breast-milk is still perceived by many as something disgusting and/or unhygienic and the idea of breast-feeding in public equal to masturbating in public.

Of course making the choice not to breast-feed shouldn't be treated as tantamount to child abuse. But the idea that the shaming of mothers who don't breastfeed is not only equal to but greater than the shaming of the act of breast-feeding in general is ridiculous. At least to me.

Comments

[acerc.livejournal.com]

As you noted, things were a lot different in America. I cannot speak with authority about the situation in the UK, only from personal recollection however.

There is a definite bond formed when the mother is able to spend time with the baby, including breast feeding, instead of handing off that role to a Grandparent or Nanny.

I believe society develops taboos about certain parts of the human body. They range from one extreme of the burka to nudism. I guess if women could walk around topless like men do on hot days it would certainly change stereotypical opinion.

[alivemagdolene.livejournal.com]

Heh, funny story about the last bit-- when I was maybe 13, I was playing tennis with my older brother and my dad and being summer outside Baltimore, it was hot as hell. So my brother took off his shirt to play and without thinking, I said "Wish I could do that!"
My brother felt bad, so he put his shirt back on. Were I older/smarter, I would've said he didn't have to, I understand that it's just the way it is, but I still think it's sweet (particularly coming from a 21-year-old, which he was at the time).

My father, of course, being an Italian-American and quite hefty, was required by law to keep his shirt on. ;^)