Take Cover! We re seeing way too many breasts.

National Review Online | May 14, 2002 | Betsy Hart

[LavaDog]

We've all heard that "breast is best" when it comes to feeding infants. But does the entire village have to share in the process?

Recently I was doing what I usually do with four young kids: Trying to keep from drinking until at least 4:00 in the afternoon. Part of that routine included getting the five-year-old to gymnastics class — with the three-year-old and the ten-month old in tow. Usually it's quite the mob scene. Moms and kids everywhere in a huge portion of the gymnastics floor loosely called the "entryway."

That day I had to do a double take.

Sitting right in the middle of all the kiddy and other traffic was an attractive thirty-something mom — with her shirt just about up to her neck and with no discernable undergarments, meaning, yes, she was bare-breasted, feeding her not-so-young child, probably about 14-months old. Let's be clear. She was leaning back on both hands, essentially thrusting out her chest, while the little guy held her completely exposed breast and sucked away, while she casually held a conversation with another mom. (I've probably already been a little too graphic for some my male readers. Chill out.)

I decided I had to say something. Now I've read there's a chemical in the brain that controls inhibition and that it sort of dissolves as one gets older. If that's the case then I expect to be truly dangerous by the time I'm 40. In any event, with my baby on my hip, holding another by the hand and the five-year-old following, I said "Is it too much to ask for you to cover up just a bit? If my eight-year-old son were here right now (never mind my hubby) I would be very uncomfortable." She looked at me as if I had not spoken English. I said, "I guess it would be too much to ask. " Major sigh.

This breastfeeding mom may have been one of the most blatant I've observed, but the fact remains that I've seen more breasts in my adult life thanks to mothers feeding babies than I ever did in a high-school locker room.

But breastfeeding in public does not have to mean publicly exposing one's breast. I've breastfed my four children, and on occasion when they were newborns and eating every hour or two I've even done so in certain public places where I knew I could be so discreet that no one would/could know. Very soon, of course, babies are — or should be — going hours between feedings. So, why can't a mother either arrange her outings around the feeding schedule of her little one, or at least take the simplest measures to be discreet when she doesn't?

But I've found that to even suggest that breastfeeding moms practice such thoughtfulness or self-restraint is considered scandalous in activist circles. (Never mind that I schedule around my four children all the time. For instance I might avoid adult-oriented restaurants or too many errands because it wouldn't be fair to the either kids or the other folks around them.)

Common courtesy, R.I.P.

I know this because having written a lengthier syndicated column on this very subject recently, I was bombarded by "hate mail" in response. But the biggest complaint by far was that I seemed to be a representative of some ancient civilization that viewed breasts as — gasp — sexual.

Well yeah, duh.

In some cultures, it may be that an enormous brass plate placed in a woman's stretched out lower lip is considered sexual, but in the West, it's breasts. (Whew.)

I asked several readers who wrote foaming, gasping e-mails to me, if they really don't view breasts as sexual then would they mind if I paraded half-naked in front of their husbands and sons? Okay, maybe the better idea would be somebody slightly better endowed parading in front of their husbands and sons, though I'm not sure that in the end it makes much difference and that just sort of reinforces the point.

Anyway, it does seem as if women who are adamant about public breastfeeding have another agenda in mind besides nourishing their infants. I mean why all the fuss over something that if done discreetly isn't even noticeable?

Because a woman's breasts are no longer just a part of her body, they are the ultimate political hot zone.

Breastfeeding advocates are actively pushing legislation in about 30 states that would enforce "breastfeeding anywhere anytime" laws. Many states, like California — no surprise — already have such legislation. And throughout the country, lawsuits over the public breast-feeding issue are rife. Guess who almost always wins?

In one case, the AP reported, a Hooters waitress had the gall to suggest she was "humiliated" to be told not to pump her breast milk by her superiors. (They didn't report it quite that way.) Don't get me started, except to point out that the idea that a Hooters waitress could be humiliated by anything is the definition of absurd.

But, it turns out she was on the cutting edge. Breastfeeding rights aren't good enough anymore. Today the golden ring is the right to PUMP anytime anywhere, though for now the emphasis is on the workplace with proposed federal legislation that, if its advocates have their way, will promise just that. Activists "claim" that women prefer to do this activity in private, but as they well know the reality is that that's hardly always possible. And nourishing for baby or not, you haven't seen unattractive until you have seen a woman "pumping." Been there, done that. In fact widespread viewing of this activity might be the one thing that really could desexualize breasts in our culture. (Hmmm. Could that be what the activists really want?)

In any event, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that many a "pumping mom" is just trying to make up for her guilt over letting someone else take care of her baby for most of the day.

Still, the ongoing, informal survey I've conducted over the years suggests that while there may be a growing tendency toward "I am woman watch me breastfeed," there are a whole lot of hairdressers, cab drivers, "housewives," professional women, husbands (enlightened or otherwise) — you-name-it — who remain quite emphatic that it's not something for the neighborhood or the office to share.

But, just try explaining that in a culture where it has somehow become "Women's breasts uber alles."

[SuziQ]

That is what she should be taking issue with, not the breastfeeding.

I believe that's what Betsey Hart WAS doing. She mentioned that even she had breast fed her four in public at times, but tried to be discreet about it. I know I always tried to be discreet, but sometimes my kids didn't cooperate. We called the first one 'the barracuda' because he nursed so noisily! I sat in the back at Mass one day, blanket carefully positioned over baby and me, and what your heard from underneath was SLURP, SLURP!! I would have gone into the cry-room if the Parish had had one, and there was no vestibule to sit in, so I was stuck there with a slurping baby!

But there is no need to disrobe in public, and if the child is 14 months old and grabbing the boob, he or she can wait a little while to nurse! I share the opinion that the woman in the gymnastics place was an exhibitionist; a militant lactationist!

[ThreeOfSeven]

I can understand why you might feel that uncovered breasts are sexual. They aren't usually out where people can see them. I feel the same way about a shapely pair of legs in the springtime, but by summer I'm used to seeing legs and they don't have the same charge (though I still appreciate them). Covered body parts are like forbidden fruit. They seem more attractive, more sexual, simply because they are hidden. Sexuality is an attribute of the whole person, not any particular body part. You don't give your husband and son enough credit for being able to control themselves. Men and boys are capable of controlling their behavior, even in the presence of sexually attractive women.

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Your right, taking a photo of this will raise some real rapid responses by the feeding Mom.

Your response to the irate women is "I just wanted to remember this natural maternal instinct!"

[1Old Pro]

I hope these details are firm so as I can come to a well rounded opinion unlike the person who claimed the world was flat.

[jpsb]

What a terrible idea! Your idea would take all the fun out of "sneaking a peek", wet t-shirt contests, topless bars, skinny dipping, etc. Terrible terrible idea.

[Constitution Day]

You are too kind.

Ireland must be a special place indeed to have produced a lady so considerate as you!

[bribriagain]

I will fight to the death for a womens right to bare breasts.

[Petronski]

Seeing too many breasts? Isn't that something like breathing too much air? (Even if I hyperventilate and pass out, I still don't stop breathing.)

[Jasper]

Man, I love 'Hooters' !

Thanks Happygal...you're alright!

[dmz]

why not, the rest of us eat in public. It's kinda funny that there is more support for public smoking around here than public breast feeding...go figure.

[bribriagain]

I counted 57 in the picture.

[Happygal]

Man, I love 'Hooters' ! Thanks Happygal...you're alright!

Just doing my bit of public service. On the next Lord of the Rings thread, I want to see multiple and gratuitous pictures of Viggo Mortensen, as payback! *LOL*

[ken5050]

Several years ago, we're at Sunday brunch in midtown Manhattan, before taking in a matinee..large crowd in the restaurant....table across us has a large group, including one mother holding an infant, I'd say about 12 months old...the baby was in my field of vision, and was cute, so I'd been looking at him from time to time...the mother was wearing a slingly type thing, like a wide bandolier, across her t-shirt..all of a sudden, she pops it open, pops the baby in it, covers the baby, pops out a breast..I never saw the breast, only the hand movement under the sling ( again, for want of a better word)..and pops it into the baby's mouth...whole thing took about 10 seconds...I don't think she even stopped talking while she was doing it....and you couldn't see a thing..it was so natural, so artful, and so modest...and that's the way it should be....

[MEGoody]

As the writer says in the article, she breastfed her babies, sometimes in public. Her issue was lack of discretion.

[jpl]

Don't get me started, except to point out that the idea that a Hooters waitress could be humiliated by anything is the definition of absurd.

For the life of me I never understand why Hooter's waittresses are the subject of such contempt. They're not strippers or street hookers. I've seen far more skin at public beaches (with very young children around).

[joathome]

Gee, I don't know where this took place, but I have never seen a woman completely exposed. I have seen A LOT of women who I knew were discreetly breastfeeding. If we took an honest poll, who could really say they've seen this occur before? One time? Two times? Five times?

[Jasper]

I'll see what I can do. I'll let my wife select the pictures - womens perspective ya know. ;^)
In the mean time I gotta get the picture postin' thing down first.

FreeRegards,

/jasper

[the bottle let me down]

bump for later

[joathome]

Schedules can be arranged.........

OH, please.......not the schedule thing again! Were you around for the last breastfeeding discussion with the old couple at Wall Mart?

Babies need to eat when they get hungry. Period. Sometimes, moms have no backup and must get out. There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding modestly, and if you have a problem with that, I suggest you see a therapist!