I cannot get behind recommendations of increasing public acceptance of
nursing by being "discreet". For one, the definition of discreet changes -
one person might say not showing the nipple is fine enough but another
person believes it is only discreet if it is in another room. A mother
should cover herself only if it makes *her* comfortable. I wear nursing
clothes and show as little as humanly possible because it makes me the most
comfortable - and what American woman doesn't have body image issues :^)
but I do not do so to make any one else comfortable. We are pioneers, but it
is not our job to make what is normal more palatable to the ignorant and
uninformed. Breastfeeding women are doing what is right, we are trying to
reclaim what has been forcefully *stolen* from us (the right to feed our
babies the normal way, as per our species). Worrying about "discretion" for
the sake of winning over support only sets up a divison - as in, "that woman
is showing some breast!! how awful! why can't she nurse *discreetly* [the
right way] like that woman over there?". It is only a step further before
someone thinks, "but why can't they pump and feed with a bottle while
they're out, like that [proper] woman does?"

People are going to have to get used to seeing breasts, a lot of breasts.
Anyone comfortable enough to nurse casually should do so. Even if I am not
one of them! I am not saying that I don't see merit to the argument, but I
think we need to go further. There was an issue of Mothering that had the
same 2 sides presented

http://www.mothering.com/12-0-0/html/12-1-0/breasts-travel.shtml

http://www.mothering.com/12-0-0/html/12-1-0/bashful-brazen.shtml

Michelle DePesa

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