Should women be allowed to breastfeed in public?

...OMG, BUT THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

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~C
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I don't eat in the bathroom and I'm darn sure not going to ask someone to feed their baby there. I don't cover my face to eat, I don't see why a child should be forced to because of someone else's delicate "sensibilities". I don't wait until I get home to eat when I'm hungry, so I'm not going to request that someone else let the kid go hungry until they are in a more private location...

It's more offensive to me to hear someone, including another woman, request that a breastfeeding mom take it elsewhere than it is to see a breastfeeding mom doing it there in public. I've heard other women say they don't like it because their husbands watch and it turns them on. HELLO! If your husband is getting turned on by another woman feeding her child... you probably have more serious issues to concern yourself with.

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~Fallon~

“What is insanity, anyway? Is it when you scream and everyone else whispers, or is it when you fight for what's right, even when everyone else thinks your wrong?” Ethergoth
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I actually think that it is against the law to require women to cover their breasts in public. I know it is in NY.
So, that being said, yeah, go right ahead.

“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund

If it's a private business, it should be at the owner's discretion.

--Mike

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I actually voted for the "other" category. I am a true believer in the ability of women to breastfeed in public with one catch... they do not need to flaunt it. I am a parent whos wife did breastfeed our children, but discreetly. Not necessarily in private, but covering the breast to some extent does not turn a completely natural thing into something potentially perverted.
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"Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?” (Sun Tzu)

Why would anyone be put off by feeding a child? We have a serious booby problem in the U.S. I love what Eve Ensler did for vaginas with the Vagina Monologues...I think it's time for the Mammary Monologues.

I do appreciate when people cover a little, though I don't think we have any right to require it.

That said, I once witnessed a rabbi breastfeeding her almost three-year-old on the bima during a Purim spiel, which was a little off-putting. Especially since she was playing the bad guy. But that's a whole nother story. Maybe I'm a hypocrite, but in that situation, I thought goldfish crackers might have done the job till the service was over!

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman

I have no problem with breast feeding. I choose to cover up,at least as much as possible. Maybe not to the extreme of covering up your baby's entire face so they are eating in this dark, hot cave created by a blanket.

The only reason why I choose this is because I don't usually like strangers to see my breats, and I don't want to see theirs - It's a mutual thing.
___________________________________________________________________
"Most intellects do not believe in God, but they fear us just the same." - Erykah Badu

About this woman who started breastfeeding in a restaurant, and people started giving her looks. After a little bit, the manager came over and requested that she go to the restroom and continue feeding her baby there. She replied, "How would you like to eat your dinner in a bathroom?"
Needless to say, she stayed put. :D

There is a time to live, and a time to die. But now it the time to break it down!

Considering breast feeding is natural, I don't get why people are so opposed to it. I'm not saying women should take their shirt completely off in public to feed their baby. That would be indecent. I wouldn't eat in a bathroom, no one would. So why make a baby eat there? Babies often have to be fed on a time schedule, so not feeding them is like punishing them for something they didn't do. I don't see why a normal life process is so offensive to people.

~Jessica Mondillo
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/jmondillo

Now, we all know I'm pretty twisted, and, well, love boobs. However, I think that my concerns shouldn't be as shallow. Of course, I voted that women should be able to breastfeed wherever they want. BUT, I know that men suck. We can't keep it in our pants and even when we can, someone else can't.

So, I bring to you the point: there should be no laws saying that a woman cannot breastfeed in public, but I would never do it if I were a woman with a child. Yeah, I can see the child's need for food, and yes, I know it's natural and not even remotely sexual. But I would still worried that there would be someone watching who couldn't keep it in their pants.

Plus, think of all the teenage boys. If you are just whipping it out in public, you're going to have a flock of teens watchin'.

Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
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I voted other because I disagree with the use of the word public. Stores and malls are owned by people, who should set down the rules for their organizations. I have a fundamental disagreement with the existence of 'public' (government) schools, parks, and other such buildings.

Let's uphold property rights and leave this decision to the owners of the property, no more of this public property stuff.

I don't think women should breastfeed in public. First of all, who in the world would want to show everyone everything? I think most women have some sort of modesty. That's just an assumption. I know there are probably some women who don't care, but you get my point.

Another thing is it would be somewhat awkward to walk past a woman who was nursing. It would be hard to ignore something like that.

One last thing, I completely agree with Nicolas Aden with his whole point on men.

it's a boob. you see them in movies ALL THE TIME.
I don't see why it's such a huge deal.
Us Americans are so overly modest.

I voted 'Other' because I didn't feel like I completely agreed with all the poll choices.

Why I couldn't agree with "Absoultely, it's completely natural..."
I feel that women should be allowed and have the availability of the choice since it is their bodies and really for the nourishment and benefit of their children. I don't think there should be a problem with that since when a baby is crying or making a fuss, feeding the baby should quiet them down -- and since most people get easily bothered by a baby's crying, most people should be fine with this arrangement. But at the same time, depending on where the woman is at, there will be places where people will control what they can or cannot do in public (such as restaurants -- like the no shirt, no shoes, no service rule). So in those cases, breastfeeding might not be able to be allowed. And then there is the general public who might not feel comfortable with the idea of a mother breastfeeding. I personally feel that it should be perfectly okay and other people's opinions shouldn't matter, but at the same time a good majority of the people feel that PDA's are unacceptable in public..so how would they be able to handle breastfeeding in public?

Why I couldn't agree with "Only if they're covered."
Because if they're going to allow breastfeeding in public, they might as well just let them do it covered or not.

Why I couldn't agree with "No, they should only do it in private; it's indecent otherwise."
I think that breastfeeding a baby is one of the most beautiful things that a mother can do for a child. If a mother wants to do it in private or public then that's her choice but it's unfair to call it "indecent".

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"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it." -- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

i believe that due to society today, people believe its ill mannered to show body parts, so i think society wouldn't except a woman showing her breast while she feeds a child.

If others are eating why shouldn't the infant? Infants work on a different schedule as others though which leads me to say that breastfeeding should be permitted. Many women do succeed in being discreet enough, occasionally someone feels the need to point it out.

Locking our nursing mothers behind closed doors (especially in germ infested places) is disgusting and shows just how little respect we have for humanity. You might as well put the women in burkas and try to call yourself a free nation.

If you don't like it avert your eyes. If a man is turned on that is his (much more embarrassing) problem to deal with. Welcome to the real world where even children need to eat. They don't come out eating carrots and cookies!

Think about it...

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tomorrowtoday

I chose other.

I do think it should be allowed. I have no problem looking at boobs that don't belong to me.

However:

If it's not a big deal to just find a private place to breast feed, they should do that. Women who are breastfeeding need to realize that it does, for whatever reason, make people uncomfortable, and that's ok.

If you're strolling in the park and baby needs to eat, then by all means, sit on a bench and feed your kid. I don't think it's ok to just let your boob fall out of your shirt on an airplane or in a restaurant with the mindset that it's ok to make a scene if someone politely asks you to cover up or use the restroom because, OMG you have RIGHTS!

Everyone does not think the way you do and everyone is not ok with seeing a woman breastfeed. That doesn't mean they're part of the He Man Women Haters club.

I am often under the impression that some women will intentionally bare their breasts in public because they want someone to defy them. They want an excuse to loudly defend their rights as women. They're daring someone to defy them because they want the attention. That is not ok.

http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof

"...There is a crushing guilt that comes with being a Catholic. Whether things are good or bad or you're simply... eating tacos in the park, there is always the crushing guilt."
-30 Rock-

Lovely Lady***
In my opinion breastfeeding shouldn't be viewed as disgusting and pertained as nudity because it is natural to breastfeed a child. And plus, if your child was hungry and crying you wouldn't be able to do anything but feed your child. But I believe you shouldn't just pull them right out in the open because you never know how another mother may feel if their young son sees this being done and they might already have a negative perspective for breastfeeding. So you should always be considerate of others feelings and if you can go sit down and gently place your child's head under your shirt then do it. But if you just have to pull your shirt all the way up, then please just be mindful of other children and their parents and go around the corner or go somewhere you know there aren't many people. Thank you!!!

If the babies hungry I saw pop the tit out and feed the poor little creature, breasts are just another part on the body, deal with it.

say* not saw.... thinking about too many things at once here sorry

Oooooh very nice : ) Thanks !

My sociology professor who is from Nigeria made an incredible observation the other day. America loves its women, but only parts of them. I voted for the covered option not because I think it should be hidden but just for the fact to protect women from a society of pigs. Its natural, when I have children, if they are hungry I will feed them and I will not feed them in a bathroom. People need to start realizing Hollywood is not reality and the world is natural not made of plastic. Breasts were meant for feeding children not to be play things for grown men.

I would like to suggest to any woman whose man turns to look, immediately start talking about the following turn offs:

1) His mother
2) His grandmother
3) their future children

Honestly, as a girl who can fully appreciate the female body, the only thing I think when I see a mom with a baby sucking on her tit is MOM. Seriously, that's just weird to be turned on by that, unless you're the father of the bundle of joy.

"I will greet this day with love, and I will succeed!"--Og Mandino

It is so difficult to accommodate everyone's rights; the baby's, the mother's, the general public. There should be accommodations for such incidences, we accommodate everything else! At every place i go they have handicap ramps and parking, expectant mother parking, smoking sections, seating etc..why not have privacy lounges too? This seems like the logical progression since our culture hasn't caught up with....um, evolution! haha! (because it is natural) But since just over a 100 years ago it was scandalous to show our ankles then maybe showing a boob may be hard for some to do and to see.

...many bathrooms in department stored actually have a lounge area separate from the bathroom stalls

~Nouveau Hippie~

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
Carl Jung

Mommy's feeding babies...

It's a beautiful thing.

I don't care what the law is... my baby will eat when he's hungry.

And I'm not feeding him powdered or pre-made bullshit, either. He's eating au-naturale.

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You are the Voice of the Childwen of the Revowution! [Toulouse, Moulin Rouge]

I think it depends on the situation. If the mother has no other alternative, why not breast feed her baby in public? I'm kinda leaning in the way of covering up, but I'm no mother so I don't feel I have a say in that.

I checked "It's natural" but then, so is sex. So is defecating. I doubt if we'd accept those activities as "natural, so don't be ashamed", so that kind of logic doesn't seem very helpful.

I think this is better considered as a feminist issue. You can't argue with the biology: it's women who are the ones with the responsibility to feed babies, as long as they aren't getting milk out of a bottle. But anything that we force on them to make it more difficult is a restriction on women's lives. If we call nursing a baby "indecent" then that's telling a mother that a major component in her relationship with her child isn't fit to be seen. If we accept that women need to do this at some point in their children's lives, then letting women be full members of society requries us to accept seeing breasts, and what they're used for, from time to time. No doubt some women will want to be discreet and others totally open, and for plenty of women it would probably depend on the circumstances of the moment. That's fine, if it's their choice. But I think we'd be better off if nobody else made an issue out of it.

Perhaps, I'm modest, and perhaps it's just based on what I'd do. I realize it's natural, but that doesn't mean we have to flash it all over the place. Sex is also natural, but we don't do that in public. Having children is natural, but for the most part, unless it's an accident we have certain places for that as well.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. ~Voltaire

Did you ever hear anyone say, "That work had better be banned because I might read it and it might be very damaging to me?" ~Joseph Henry Jackson

LizzieD

I chose "Other" because I agree that it is absolutely natural and should be allowed in public, but I also think that the woman should cover herself also. So why didn't I pick the second option? Though I personally think the woman should cover herself out of common courtesy to others I don't think that breast feeding should have stipulations on it. Ultimately when the child is hungry it should be fed. Yes, I think the mother should cover up as not to expose "intimate parts" to the world around her, but if this can't be done then I think it is up to the public to do the right thing - understand that it needs to be done and its not polite to stare or make faces at other people. ("If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." )

Who are we to say what is right. It is not our choice as to what other mothers do with their children...

Life is like photography you develop from the negatives!!!

I think that if someone has a problem with it they should look the other way or leave. Because for most people ( not including myself) their mothers breast feed them, in PUBLIC!!!

I Vote if the ones fed off the other has to be put out for amuzement.. unless they're bologna's... then we can do without the amuzement... and feeding while jogging... smiled apon...

Everything, you have done, and will do, is chemically predisposed by matter, even the fact you are reading this message. You make no choices, only perceive a given reality.

I say go with it. It's completely natural. Children won't be affected by this. They will only ask questions about it. The one thing that might be a issue is teenagers. With the lack of maturity, yes I can admit that, many will laugh and crack jokes if they see a obese woman or saggy breasts. But the women that do go ahead with revealing their breast to feed their children must realize that this ill happen and should not worry about it.

Mike Kramer

Some people may find it horrendous to see a woman breast feeding her baby in public, and that's great for them. That's their opinion and they're more than entitled to it. But did those people ever stop to wonder what the baby's opinion on the matter might be? I know this sounds a bit over the top, considering the opinion of someone who can't honestly understand the situation, but humor me. Even if you were a baby, I'm sure you could still register the sounds of running water and flushing toilets that signify "potty time", not to mention smell the rank odor that most public bathrooms seem to carry, and you would not enjoy trying to eat in such an environment. The baby should be allowed to eat wherever he or she chooses. If you would like to eat in a bathroom, then good for you, but that doesn't mean everyone else does too.

I think that a woman shouldn't be able to breast feed in an open public area. I believe in decency and think that she could at least do it in a bathroom or dressing room, instead of whipping out their breast in public. I feel that if they must do it in public, they should at least cover themselves up. No one wants to see that kind of thing.

I voted it's natural and should be allowed. That said I think women should be discreet about breastfeeding in public.

I have a friend who regularly breastfed her baby in front of friends. Sometimes if the baby was hungry but distracted she would end up sitting talking with her shirt open, breast bared, and baby spending as much time twisted around to look at other people as nursing. I think that is perfectly acceptable at home, but I think it would be inappropriate in the middle a public place. If you're in a public place and baby is too distracted to eat I think you should find somewhere more private (a quiet corner, your car, a less busy room, etc.) or bottle feed.

If a business (or any public space) provides a nursing room or other facilities to comfortably and privately accommodate a nursing mother and her baby, I believe the mother should take advantage of that space (and before you ask, no, a bathroom does not qualify as comfortable unless it has an attached sitting room). I also believe if a child is old enough to eat solid food, you should try to avoid nursing them in public, even if they do still nurse at home.

"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible."

It's quite natural for women to breastfeed in public. I'm not sure why it bothers other people so much. If a child is hungry you feed them the second you have food to give them. Well for a mother they have food at that second. So why should they have to take it someplace more private? It's discrimination against mother's who breastfeed.

I believe that women should be able to breastfeed in public. They shouldn't have to go in a private place that is not fair.

new borns kind of mold into a schedual depending on what time you most regularly feed the baby around. so if your a mom who chooses to breast feed but you feel nervouse about being "cought" in public trying to feed your baby, you could try feeding before you go out or befor the time you usualy go out to handle your personal business. i for one have no problem with women breastfeeding in public. but it is a little out of the ordinary to see a woman feeding her child in public. just not something we are "used to" i suppose. ~}chatiks si chatiks{~

I think women should be allowed to breast feed in public.
It's theirs and the baby's right.
But I think if they do, they should cover up or be discrete about it, for themselves mostly.