Ann,
I have a different take on a couple comments you made:
"The picture I have in my mind both from myself personally nursing and
others
that I have noticed in public is not offensive. It was discrete, in
good
taste and with modesty. Were these moms listed in the example without
modesty or overly exposed?"
"There is a difference in exhibitionism, filth and plan old
Porn. Were these mom's in this category or were these court cases just
the
extreme?"
Yes, some women may take delight in showing as much breast as possible
while nursing for their own "shock effect", but I think these are
definitely in the minority. The terms "discrete", "good taste" and
"modesty", in my opinion, can carry the implication that there's still
something primarily sexual or "naughty" about nursing breasts. It
caters to the popular notion that breasts are first and foremost for
pleasure (and maybe primarily the pleasure of men in this situation),
for tittilation, and for selling things and, oh yes, they can also
noursih babies as long as you don't let others really know what's going
on!
There are some who feel that as long as nursing moms try to hide what
they're doing, that this notion will continue to prevail. Maybe it will
take a lot of "in your face" breastfeeding for some to realize how
normal and loving it is-not how sexy it is! Also, "discrete" nursing
doesn't always work. If mom and baby are still learning, if baby needs
a little extra help getting latched effectively, if mom needs to see
what's happening and can't latch just by "feel", if baby is bothered by
clothing across its face while nursing - in these and other cases, it
doesn't work for mom to have her breast covered completely while baby is
nursing.
I have heard that in some societies where women are expected to have
their bodies (including their face) covered in public, if breastfeeding
is the norm, it's OK for her to nurse in public even if the breasts
show! For some men, seeing a woman's ankle or mouth may trigger a
sexeal response, but unless it is the society in general that feels that
way, we don't ask women to keep them covered.
I'm not saying every mom should strip to the waist to nurse in public,
but if it works better for her not to cover up and if she is
comfortable, she should not be made to feel she's doing something bad.
Winnie
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