Breastfeeding

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Never has food and feeding being controversial than when it comes to women breastfeeding a child in the view of others. Some will say it is needless exposure while other will argue that it is a natural thing to do. You can't prevent a baby from eating just because it might offend someone. This controversy is mostly encountered in western countries. These same countries will allow topless bathing, naturism, world naked bike ride, Spencer Tunick Naked photo shoots and other skin exposing practice in the name of freedom of expression. On the other hand, they will frown on a woman breastfeeding in public. Why is breastfeeding so offensive? Has it got to do with the fact that breast has been transformed into a sexual object? We should also ask ourselves, what is the primary function of breasts? Feeding or just food for the eyes? Might the controversy stem from misplaced jealousy by other women feeling that their husband might be enticed by the spectacle? Has it got to do with men and their obsession with breasts?

If you were to take a wider view of breastfeeding, you will discover that showing your breast in public is not such a big deal depending on where you live. In some cultures, breast just doesn't matter and is not considered a sexual object. Hence, woman go about their daily chores topless. In many parts of the world, toplessness was not a taboo until the arrival of Christianity. Religion seemed to have an had an impact on the way people view the breast and its use. However, it is still the norm in some places for women to breastfeed in public view without anyone going berserk about it. Hypocrisy might also play a part in the way public breastfeeding is considered. People who feel righteous indignation might secretly enjoy the spectacle of a woman breastfeeding in public. This brings to the mind the US senator Roy Ashburn who was publicly anti gay but was secretly gay. When he was caught and had no choice but to admit his hypocrisy

When it comes to men, they are not too bothered by a women breastfeeding in public as men general love breasts. They might feel uncomfortable but that has nothing to do with not watching. Most men would not like to see their wives being stared at by other men. It is like a private property. For my eyes only and you should look away, you pervert. The others will argue that they are allowed to look at whatever they like. After all, it is a public location and you should desist from breastfeeding if you don't want people to look.

Another Breastfeeding controversy cropped up a while ago during a TV documentary. A woman who breastfed her 8 year old. Is this child abuse? Why the public outrage? I am sure there are many women out there who still breastfeed their children to such an age or even older. If we do not know about it, then we are not bothered by it. The fact that the story was televised, gave people something to talk about. It probably helped other women to continue breastfeeding their older children as they now know they are not alone. It beckons the question, when is breastfeeding a child too long? When is a child too old to latch on to mummy's breasts? Some years ago, another mother Lynn Stuckey was ordered by a court to stop breastfeeding her 8 year old son. She made the mistake of going on national television to advocate her belief in letting her son wean himself off breastfeeding. It seems what the public doesn't know will not hurt you.

There is no fixed time to stop breastfeeding your child. As long as you stop before his 18^th birthday, there should be no problem. No matter what you do with regards to breastfeeding there will always be someone who will have a disparaging comment to contribute. You have to do what you want and assume the consequences.

It has been said that children who are breastfed have a higher level of Intelligence. I must have been raised on hamburgers from day one. If that were to be the case, all you need to do is breastfeed your child until he becomes Einstein. Is breastfeeding the key to Einstein brilliance? Breastfeeding helps children bond with their mother and that can increase the child's overall wellbeing. To equate breastfeeding to intelligence is an effort to over simplify the issue. Basically there are various reasons that contribute to intelligence and breastfeeding alone cannot be credited for higher IQ.

Shock culture has also contributed to the controversy surrounding breastfeeding. Some women feel the need to make a statement about their rights. They could easily breastfeed their babies discreetly without even people noticing. Yes it is possible to breastfeed an infant without showing any skin. Is it less comfortable? Not quite! Has it got something to do with sticking the middle finger at anyone who might want to control the way you behave in public? That might be the reason why some women insist on breastfeeding without taking the time to do it discreetly.

Sexual or functional: What is the purpose of breasts? If you were to look into the animal kingdom, breast is functional and that is all there is to it. When it comes to humans, breast used to also be functional. However, times have changed and the fact that we have gone from the optional clothing culture to creating laws about decency, has had impact on the way we see breasts. There is a bit of mystery surrounding breasts which it quite ironic because in other parts of the world a woman who shows her breasts is not offending anyone. If she were to show her ankle, that would be considered offensive and reprehensible. Is the ankle more sexual than the breasts? It must be in the mind. The breast is functional and always has been. The baby needs his milk.

We have move away from not being ashamed of breastfeeding to going completely conservative about it. If history is something to go by, then there might come a time when public breastfeeding will be a "no issue". Remember the time when people had to be fully clothed in order to be able to go swimming in public? If you were to compare that to today's standard, you will notice a huge chasm between then and now. The same thing is bound to happen in the future with regards to breastfeeding.