[Excentrique]

All this breastfeeding argument has got me thinking about tribes and native societies. Often in these more remote communities women only wear a skirt or similar. The breasts are not covered. Women are seen feeding all the time without any part of the area covered and no-one seems offended.

Maybe the issue is that breasts in western society are overly sexualised, and that is why everyone gets so offended by public breastfeeding. Or do the men in these cultures get annoyed when they see the women feeding their babies outside the hut?? lol.

WDYT?

[countrymel]

In cultures where breasts are exposed in traditional clothing you will generally find that it is the female backside that is the erotic, highly sexually charged area.

So wandering around in your short shorts and a smock is obscene.. bare breasts and a skirt you are ok.


(although if your breasts are a different colour to the regular breasts on show you will still find yourself the centre of a lot of attention! *please note voice of bitter experience in posting*)

[Riotproof]

Countrymel, That requires more explanation.

Yes, I think there is this false idea that breasts are sexual, so some people can't separate out the functional aspect. They see babies feeding as sexual, primitive, uncouth.

[I'm Batman]

oh Mel, did you put on a show?


hahahhahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahhahahahahhahah

[countrymel]

Hey everyone else had theirs out I am nothing if not a follower!

Unfortunately my glaringly white breasts with their tiny pink nipples were even more interesting apparently than my curly blonde hair! (which had been getting quite a workout - it's hilarious apparently!)

My boyfriend of the time returned to the village and was highly amused to seem me surrounded by a gaggle of women who were all taking turns to cup my breasts in their hands and speak earnestly among themselves..

I swear there was only 5 people there when I arrived, by the time he turned up there were about 30!


Ah... happy days, happy days!

[RatbagBob]

It's not a false idea that breasts are sexual, that is what their primary purpose in western society is. I'm not sure how it happened, but the dominant narrative in western society is that breasts are there for the titillation of men. That's why we have page 3 girls, that's why we have push up bras, cosmetic boob jobs, low cut tops, men yelling out "show us your tits" or "get your boys out for the boys".

It's also why so many men, and women, find it so deeply disturbing when they see breasts being used for their biological purpose, ie feeding the young of our species. And when you combine into that the fact that for the last few generations, bottlefeeding was promoted as being much better than breastfeeding (thus allowing no dilution of the "breasts are for men" idea), you can sort of understand, although NOT agree with, where their minds are at.

[Riotproof]

My bad, bob, I should have said "only" sexual.

Mel, that is hilarious. I wonder what they were saying.

[sarkazm76]

I had this same realisation yesterday - men and some women don't want to see women breastfeeding because they want breasts to remain solely sexual. If they see a baby suckling on a boob it makes them uncomfortable because they cannot take their perception of the sexual boob out of their mind - and they don't want to. Because sex is far more enjoyable for them then you feeding your kids. And it's all about them and their needs of course.

[RatbagBob]

No probs, Riotproof, I did think it was a leetle unusual of you to have phrased it that way.

Lol, Mel, they were probably exclaiming about the whiteness, and the little nipples and wondering if they'd do the job

[Dinosaurus]

Mel that is an awesome story.

I agree with Bob. My DH was/is a full on boobs man, not in a gross way (in fact it was many months into our relationship before i figured this out as he would never have said anything himself) but still, he likes boobs.

Since I have been BF almost constantly for the last 3 1/2 years he wont have a bar of them being sexy, he says they're not for that any more - like BF has somehow broken the joy he used to get from them.

Don't get me wrong, I have a wonderful DH who I adore and respect and visa versa, he is a feminist and completely agrees with all my BF, extended BF, public BF whatever - but there is a part of him that feels that loss.

And he's a keeper. SO I figure all the voices screaming "be discreet, cover up, stay at home" have similar or stronger feelings than him but are happy to vocalise it more.

Neither of my GMs breastfed, the government provided them with formula and bottles. My Mum didn't breastfeed. I am the first person in my family in 3 generations to breastfeed. That's a whole lot of influence to undo and i imagine it will take more than 3 generations since it isn't government sponsored.

Sigh.