Ina May Gaskin writes about nipple phobia and says it is endemic in the US.
That ultimate example of the US-American female body, known (if not loved)
by little girls all over the world, has disproportionately large breasts but
NO NIPPLES.  You've probably guessed I am referring to Mattel's Barbie.

Lest anyone think Mattel is discriminatory only to women, I remind you all
of the even less anatomically correct bulge between the legs of Barbie's
intended, the redoubtable Ken.

I use a photo of a Barbie sitting up in bed, reaching out as if to receive
her baby for a feed, to show the *original* Woman with No Nipples.  The
question of what to do when the mother has no nipples often comes up at
in-services for hospital staff, on the topic of difficulties at first latch.
Rather than ridicule the questioner, I point out that severe engorgement
obliterates the nipple (and the breasts are Barbie-like in consistency) so
the person is really onto something important...  but the picture helps
lighten it all up a bit.  Then I can launch right into the Gospel of RPS
(hope no one is offended by the religious connotation  - I really have such
respect for the technique).

I wonder how Mattel decided it would be OK to market that doll, as long as
she didn't have nipples or obvious genitals.  And what has that toy done for
the notion of what is acceptable and what is not?
Rachel Myr
on a roll in Kristiansand, Norway

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html