A controversial tweet from NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne and "nurse-in" demonstrations by breast-feeding mothers at Target stores nationwide this week have re-ignited the debate about nursing in public.
The question of whether it is appropriate for nursing mothers to breast-feed in public areas elicits passionate responses on both sides of the argument. Those against it believe breast-feeding should be done in private, saying it makes them uncomfortable to see a mother nursing her child out in the open. Those who support nursing in public contend that the practice is normal, natural and a mother's right.
Kahne found himself in hot water Tuesday when he said on Twitter that a woman's breast-feeding in public was "nasty."
"Just walking though supermarket. See a mom breast feeding little kid. Took second look because obviously I was seeing things. I wasn't! #nasty," the racer said in a tweet to his more than 100,000 followers.
His tweet prompted a firestorm of comments from both men and women, many of whom chastised Kahne for being insensitive, telling him to "grow up." But several others agreed with him. Kahne issued an apology on his Facebook page Wednesday, ESPN.com first reported:
I tried to confirm this but was unable to. I was told by someone that the mother that Kahne witnessed was nursing a two-year-old kid?
I don't believe anyone has the right to tell a mom where she can nurse her child. It is a very natural and healthy way for a mother to feed her child. I won't argue with that since I was also a nursing mom.
His tweet prompted a firestorm of comments from both men and women, many of whom chastised Kahne for being insensitive, telling him to "grow up." But several others agreed with him. Kahne issued an apology on his Facebook page Wednesday, ESPN.com first reported:
I tried to confirm this but was unable to. I was told by someone that the mother that Kahne witnessed was nursing a two-year-old kid?
I don't believe anyone has the right to tell a mom where she can nurse her child. It is a very natural and healthy way for a mother to feed her child. I won't argue with that since I was also a nursing mom.
However, this is where I am sure I am going to receive some flack. Openly breastfeeding in public can be upsetting to some people, so using good judgment helps a nursing mom steer clear of uncomfortable situations and controversy. Like being asked to go to a more private or secluded place. Some stores and restaurants even provide an area for nursing moms. The bathroom IS NOT an appropriate place for a mother to nurse her hungry child. That's just disgusting and unsanitary.
I would recommend to nursing mothers to be respectful of those who are not comfortable with it and honestly, I wouldn't appreciate my two young sons seeing a woman's bare naked breast. That's just me.
There are many and very lovely breast blankets and covers, shawls, scarfs slings, and even special shirts designed for discreet nursing. There is no reason at all for a nursing mother to just pull out her breast, for the whole world to see, and begin to nurse her child. Sometimes these women do it out of defiance or pride that they can. My opinion folks.
Found this interesting: While the appropriate age to wean a child is not set in stone, it is culturally acceptable in America to nurse a child for the first twelve months. Once solid foods are introduced into the child’s diet and they begin to walk, American customs call for the weaning of the child.
Okay, so why do we see mothers still feeding their children after the age of 2 or even 4 years of age? And some, even at the ages of 6 or 7 years of age? How would you feel witnessing that?
Just thought I would throw that in.
MOVING ON...
I want to wish everyone a very safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! May you all be blessed and covered in the love of Jesus Christ.
I hope to see you all next year! So, please if you are going out, play it safe and don't drink and drive or find a designated driver or carry extra cash for a cab ride home.
I want to make sure I see all of you back for some more lively debates in the new year.
I would recommend to nursing mothers to be respectful of those who are not comfortable with it and honestly, I wouldn't appreciate my two young sons seeing a woman's bare naked breast. That's just me.
There are many and very lovely breast blankets and covers, shawls, scarfs slings, and even special shirts designed for discreet nursing. There is no reason at all for a nursing mother to just pull out her breast, for the whole world to see, and begin to nurse her child. Sometimes these women do it out of defiance or pride that they can. My opinion folks.
Found this interesting: While the appropriate age to wean a child is not set in stone, it is culturally acceptable in America to nurse a child for the first twelve months. Once solid foods are introduced into the child’s diet and they begin to walk, American customs call for the weaning of the child.
Okay, so why do we see mothers still feeding their children after the age of 2 or even 4 years of age? And some, even at the ages of 6 or 7 years of age? How would you feel witnessing that?
Just thought I would throw that in.
MOVING ON...
I want to wish everyone a very safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! May you all be blessed and covered in the love of Jesus Christ.
I hope to see you all next year! So, please if you are going out, play it safe and don't drink and drive or find a designated driver or carry extra cash for a cab ride home.
I want to make sure I see all of you back for some more lively debates in the new year.
7 comments:
Happy NEW Year-My Freedom loving Friend--
Carol-CS
I have nothing against breast feeding, as it is a natural thing to do, but I do believe in the mother being discreet and modest.
Having said that, May you have a very Happy New Year.
It is a contentious issues, but I believe there is nothing wrong with discreet public breastfeeding. Mrs Silverfiddle breast fed all our young 'uns.
I also believe the "lactivists" are nutty and taking it too far, harming their cause.
I wrote a slightly humorous article on it a few years back at Ontological Angst:
Breasts, Bucks and Bondage
Happy New Year!
As long as the breast feeding is done discretely, and it can be, I have no problem with it. But when it becomes a form of exibition I'm opposed. I'm also opposed to kids two years old still breast feeding. That is way too old in my opinion.
Wishing you a wonderful New Year, health and happiness.
Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com
Hope you had a nice Year Year's eve.
I had an acquaintance, female, who was still feeding her 6-year-old. The child would say in public, "booby mommy, booby mommy." That DEFINITELY went into the "nasty" and "creepy" category, but here's the unfortunate catch: she had the child with a husband who cheated like crazy, who she didn't want to divorce, and had the child because, as she said, she wanted someone to love her. All the wrong reasons.
I myself, being a child of the 50s, was bottle fed.
BZ
Carol, thank you! Yep, I am still fighting.
Abouna!! So happy to see you back! I have missed you my friend. I am with you on that, discretion is the key.
Silver, I was thinking the same thing. They are hurting their cause by exposing themselves. I want to tell them to get a blanket or something.
Debbie, agreed. Maybe up to 15-months is okay, but any older, not so much.
BZ, eww...that's just gross. But someone women do that. I think they are the ones having a hard to time to let go, but enough is enough. If the kid was at school, what did she do.
I've been pondering weaning age recently. Found this http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/katherine_dettwyler.html , which opens by observing that non-Western cultures wean later (a few years old) and wonders whether they or we are weird; then tries to predict a weaning age for humans by comparison with other mammals.
If I remember correctly, the WHO recommends a weaning age of around 2 years in non-Western countries. We wean at around 6 months partly because of the exceptional quality / quantity of food available in our culture right now.
Also worth noting that in cultures where breast-feeding is public, breast feeding is easier, it's something that new mothers naturally know how to do having seen it thousands of times. Over here, many new mothers find breast feeding difficult, painful and therefore give up.
I do think our western attitude to breasts is peculiar, but I quite appreciate that we can't just ignore it: the fact is our culture demands discretion.
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