Angelina’s Cover and the Breastfeeding Debate
Some time ago I was watching an episode of Judge Judy, and I don’t remember the details, but the lawsuit was sparked because a woman had chosen to breastfeed her baby in public. It seems to me that there will always be people who have strong feelings about this one way or another. Well I think anyone who has a problem with it should try putting themselves in the shoes of a nursing mom. I’m sure no mom actually prefers to have to nurse in front of strangers, but sometimes the situation just doesn’t leave many options.
Adding to the discussion, Angelina Jolie’s cover photo for W magazine seems to show her breastfeeding, and of course there are supporters and detractors. But is it anybodies business really? Now, I wouldn’t allow myself to be photographed breastfeeding, let alone have it splashed across the cover of a magazine, but any woman who chooses to do that should be free to do so.
Take a look at some of the shows on TV, and I’m not talking cable here. Look at some of the images we are exposed to daily. Networks are constantly pushing the envelope as far as it can go, so does the image of a baby nursing really warrant that much attention? Are Jolie and partner Brad Pitt to be blamed for allowing this picture to be published in the first place?
For my part, it’s difficult to see why something as fundamental and important as breastfeeding should cause any kind of controversy. Jane Crouse, spokeswoman for La Leche League International, a breastfeeding support group, had this to say, ‘I think we do need more role models like Angelina Jolie willing to be photographed and say, ‘Hey look, it can be done, it oughta be done.‘ I’m afraid I’m not with her on that one. Do grown women really need role models when it comes to the decision to breastfeed? Is the suggestion here that more women will be inclined to nurse their babies because a celebrity has been photographed doing it?
I don’t think La Leche is giving women enough credit. The decision to breastfeed is a personal one. While we may feel inclined to make assumptions or judgments about a woman who decides not to breastfeed, we should keep in mind that it is a personal decision. Any mother of a young baby should certainly consider the well documented evidence of the advantages of breastfeeding, but ultimately it is a private matter.
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Secret Mommy says...
I agree with you that grown women don’t need role models (for anything, really) but I like the publicity that famous moms get for breastfeeding because I keep hoping that it will encourage our culture to be more accepting of this entirely normal way of feeding a baby.
Just today I was sitting in my car feeding my son while out on errands because I didn’t know what sort of response I’d get at any of the places we needed to go. And even in my car I was worried that someone would walk by and make rude faces or gestures. (No one did…)
Before I had a baby I used to be one of those, “Oh, I wish they wouldn’t, but if a woman can be discreet about it, then she could feed her baby in public.” Now I’m fully 100%, “Feed your baby anywhere you need to! It’s not your job to be ‘discreet’! It’s everyone else’s job to either accept that the baby is eating or look away.”
I’m not that big of a fan of Angelina Jolie, but in this case I’m happy that she and her family are promoting the natural-ness of breastfeeding.
Secret Mommys last blog post..Leftover lanolin…
M?ire Clements says...
I’m with secret mommy and rather like that Angelina’s “exposure” has given breastfeeding yet another vicarious celebrity endorsement.
We live in an era of such political correctness that breastfeeding is continually being marginalized and examined under the keywords of controversy and debate.
I long for the day when the breastfeeding conversation is no longer such a charged subject. Perhaps it will happen in the lifetime of babies currently being breastfed.
Until that time finally comes…I will continue to do my part to create positive Conscious Breastfeeding Connections wherever I can, both online and off.
Thank-you for your inspiring posts.
M?ire Clementss last blog post..Breastfeeding Angelina Exposure: Vicarious Celebrity Endorsements are Welcome
Niki says...
I live in Europe and that breastfeeding in public should even be a point of discussion seems UNREAL! Every woman should feel free to breastfeed whenever she feels it is right for her or her child. I am currently breastfeeding and I think it is way less embarrassing than leaking boobs! If I ever got a disagreeable comment I would ignore it and if I ever hear someone making a comment to another woman I would jump right in and defend her. About the photo with Angelia Jolie, if this makes the general American public more accepting of public breast feeding all the better. Hey isn’t she English?