In a message dated 98-07-23 22:09:18 EDT, you write:

<< I feel the biggest obstacle in western society is the 'sexuality' issue.
Breasts are seen as primarily sexual objects, primarily of men's desires,  and
are used to sell everything from cars to sports. I believe that  universal
acceptance of b/f will occur more readily when the breast is  taken for
granted as being 'for feeding our babies'! and anything else is  secondary. >>

     A generation ago and more Karen Pryor pointed out in NURSING YOUR BABY
that while men have one reproductive function, intercourse, women have five:
ovarian cycle, intercourse, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation.  Something
she didn't say that really needs to be said is that TWO of these functions
involve interpersonal relationships, one between a man and a woman and another
between a mother and her baby.  Freud et.al. made a big deal of the first
relationship while ignoring the 2nd.  Freud wrote of a baby's sucking needs as
if it were a solitary pursuit, totally missing that this is a relationship.
     Nature doesn't give humanity too much help with relationships.
Breastfeeding is special, possibly unique, in that nature/G*d takes us by the
hand and directs us.  When human egos and intellect get involved it's usually
to disrupt rather than enhance breastfeeding.
     Sexual simply means the way human beings reproduce.  Breastfeeding is a
part of the reproductive process.  Therefore breastfeeding is sexual.
     So, yawanna sell the product?  Tell people it IS a sexual role.  Then ask
them if they really want to inhibit normal sexualtiy.
Alice Martino, LLLL, central NY