A modesty issue
So, the other day I was at Norman's local hippie-mart, buying some bread. There were a few other people in the shop, including a few women at a table eating, one of whom was holding a baby (and wearing a tank top). Anyways... not long after I'm there, baby gets hungry, so what does tank-top wearing, hippie mama do but follow her uninhibited lifestyle and feed the sweet baby whilst carrying on her conversation.
Now... part of me was made uncomfortable by a breast in public (even if it did terminate in a baby), but another part of me was happy that she didn't feel like she had to cloister herself away and could carry on with life with her baby, and that none of the other people (hippies) in the shop were bothered. It wasn't trashy, and it wasn't overly exposing, but it was still public boobery.
Part of me wishes it weren't so uncomfortable and that such a natural, good thing could be more easily embraced, that the sight of a boob could be not as big of a deal (in this context), but still be special in other contexts.
But then, I guess there are all kinds of other "natural" things that still want to have a level of modesty. Still putting together thoughts on this issue.
Now... part of me was made uncomfortable by a breast in public (even if it did terminate in a baby), but another part of me was happy that she didn't feel like she had to cloister herself away and could carry on with life with her baby, and that none of the other people (hippies) in the shop were bothered. It wasn't trashy, and it wasn't overly exposing, but it was still public boobery.
Part of me wishes it weren't so uncomfortable and that such a natural, good thing could be more easily embraced, that the sight of a boob could be not as big of a deal (in this context), but still be special in other contexts.
But then, I guess there are all kinds of other "natural" things that still want to have a level of modesty. Still putting together thoughts on this issue.
posted by Laura Negus at 5:23 PM
5 Comments:
And what of breastfeeding during church? It seems to be a big no-no, but I can't figure out why. I've only seen a couple of women brave enough to breastfeed in the sanctuary (very discreetly, I might add) at CTK. What do you think, Laura?
I once had a blue-footed booby.
As a pet of course.
it seems to me that the simplest solution to the breastfeeding in public issue ends in a lightweight washable shawl.
i certainly am all for public breastfeeding--any time bebe needs to be eating,bebe should be! mamas can bottle their milk, sure, if they're worried about offending people with their public feeding, but i remember when i was younger, and my mom had sisters/friends with babies, and they would just unbutton and go at it, but toss a wrap of some variety over the top, so as to not distract.
complext issue.
Maybe I oughtn't be commenting in the midst of an all-female discussion (I can already hear indistinct male voices shouting "don't do it!"), but I'll just throw in my thought. As Laura pointed out at the end of the post (albeit with scare quotes), just because a thing is natural and good does not mean it is appropriate in every context. Sex is both, but sex in the middle of the hippie-mart would not be a good idea. Men relieving themselves in public is equally a bad idea (whether it is common on the particular golf course or not). A number of forms of personal grooming are similar.
I don't know whether breastfeeding falls into this category or not. I can see how it could be fine, and how it could be inappropriate. I can even see this being appropriate in a single sex public sphere, but not necessarily when men are around. I really don't know, but it is certainly not a straightforward issue.
I will hear no words spoken against the great European, and particularly British, institution of men relieving themselves in public thank you.
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