RSS Feeds: Breastfeeding in Public — US vs. Philippines
I would like to know at what point breastfeeding in public, in the US, became inappropriate. Over the past couple of years, I've seen news items and read articles that refer to people complaining about public breast feeding as something indecent. It appears that many American women will not breast feed in public due to fear of public opinion. Public opinion be damned! According to the breastfeeding laws, the majority of US states have laws that promote breastfeeding, not hinder it.
Public Breastfeeding in the US
The last time I saw woman breastfeeding her baby in the US was…. never. I knew it was taking place, but I never saw anyone breastfeeding a baby… ever. My own wife didn't have the mammaries to breastfeed due being underweight when both of our children were born. I have four sisters and they all have children and I never saw them breast feed either. Everyone I came in contact with used formula instead of human breast milk.
It's a known fact that human breast milk is the most healthy form of milk for babies, with few exceptions (such as when the mother is taking drugs or isn't healthy in some other way). The immunities of the mother are passed to the baby, along with nourishment, which can only be a good thing. I understand that a lot of women who want to breastfeed use breast pumps to extract the milk in private and then feed their babies by bottle in public. The more adventurous of mothers will go so far as to wear nursing bras for public breastfeeding because they can hide everything but their nipple and the babies hide those with their mouths. Again, I haven't seen that.
I lived in the US more than 40 years of my life (with the exception of overseas duty in the military) and I'm amazed that I never noticed the lack of breastfeeding mothers. I think I know the reason. The human female breast has been sensualized for so many years that no one appreciates the basic, natural function of breastfeeding.
I once overheard a conversation about someone breastfeeding at a restaurant. The story indicated that the people at nearby tables were offended when they saw her pull her breast out from under her clothing and stick the nipple in the baby's mouth. Apparently the mother said something to the effect of "you're having your dinner and my baby is having his". If the story is true, then bravo for at least one woman out of the millions of mothers in the US.
Public Breastfeeding in the Philippines
Couples in the Philippines don't believe in family planning. They believe in family planting. Sorry. That's a joke. Really. The reason most Filipino families are large has to do with the Filipino culture. Birth control has been taught in public schools for several years, but a lot of Filipinos simply can't afford to pay for it. I understand, but I think it's cheaper to use birth control than it is to raise a baby. I could be wrong, though, because there are a whole lot of toddlers running around here.
Public opinion is obviously different in the Philippines. I see women breastfeeding everywhere it seems. From within our compound to riding on Jeepneys, there are so many women that seem to have a breast hanging out at one time or another. It doesn't bother me and only a pervert would derive some kind of sensual stimuli from a breastfeeding mother. Poor people won't buy formula and I consider that a blessing, not a curse.
You may hear people referring to the Philippines as a backward and repressed society. When it comes to things like this, I more apt to believe that the American culture is more backward and repressed than Asian culture, which is strange considering the history of women's dresses in the US. There are other cultures that are more repressed, requiring practically everything but hands and the head above the nose to be covered on women, but that's another topic altogether.
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It's just nature. I don't see the big deal either. Maybe its because we've made it a big deal that it has become a big deal. When I see it, it is a bit of a spectacle because I never see it. But after the initial shock of it, I go about my business. Breast milk is much better for the baby after all…and they do get hungry at random times.
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It all comes down to the different culture we are in.
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There was a rally at H&M in Vancouver about this awhile back. There's two sides to every story but I believe it's fine to do it but just not to the point where you're blocking people walking around the store.
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Breast Milk is the best food for babies, so if they need the milk then, moms should breastfeed them asap.
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what others think about you is none of your business. so why bother about it?
What I understand is Filipino is more loving than others.
It's a shame that people have nothing better to do than to bash something as natural and healthy as breast feeding. It's about time we get our priorities straight!
feeding a hungry baby is important than anything.
I agree. It is emergency to feed a baby
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Blessed is the woman who breastfeeds her child"because she passeson this most beautiful gift she received from God..:mothers milk
It's sad that the US culture celebrates breasts as sex objects to be flashed about on every magazine, TV commercial, and billboard there is and yet the simple, natural act of feeding a baby is seen as almost obscene by so many. I think, in part, it's because the US is a richer nation. There is more money to be made and spent, so there is a greater profit from marketing breasts as objects of lust instead of food.