Boobs
This story has begun to wend its way around the world as stories are wont to do these days. Boobs aren't such a problem here as they are in the US (as evidenced by the furore surrounding the Janet Jackson World Series Wardrobe Malfunction). And they aren't any problem at all on the continent where attitudes towards the unclad human form are more relaxed again.
But ... the boobs on show are usually depending from the lithe and tanned form of some bunny in her late teens to early twenties. Attach a baby and here in the UK (if not on the continent) then the "put 'em away" brigade ride out en masse. Lactating women are expected either to stay at home or if they really must be out and about then retreat to somewhere private when the need to feed arises.
The former attitude is usually the preserve of those who secretly believe it was a sad day for the western world when women were finally unshackled, given a pair of shoes and permission to leave the kitchen. I can only assume that those who believe women should retreat to somewhere private haven't ever braved the sort of places set aside either by private enterprise or local government for such purposes ...
Bits and pieces such as the urgh! reaction are incomprehensible. The baby's eating. Never seen someone eat in public? Why is it deemed OK to feed a baby with a bottle in public but not from the breast? Baby's hungry? Baby's not going to be in the least concerned about any supposed distractions (but on the other hand will be very alert to any slacking on the part of the mother, so stay focused on the feed, please)
But what really, truly saddens me is that boobs can't be all things to all people and accessible. And I really don't get what the big deal is about a 13 year old boy who is (or is about to be) almost torn apart by testosterone seeing the consquences in all their glory. Boobs may be alluring but in their mammary function they're two links in the chain that runs from lust to responsibilty.
But ... the boobs on show are usually depending from the lithe and tanned form of some bunny in her late teens to early twenties. Attach a baby and here in the UK (if not on the continent) then the "put 'em away" brigade ride out en masse. Lactating women are expected either to stay at home or if they really must be out and about then retreat to somewhere private when the need to feed arises.
The former attitude is usually the preserve of those who secretly believe it was a sad day for the western world when women were finally unshackled, given a pair of shoes and permission to leave the kitchen. I can only assume that those who believe women should retreat to somewhere private haven't ever braved the sort of places set aside either by private enterprise or local government for such purposes ...
Bits and pieces such as the urgh! reaction are incomprehensible. The baby's eating. Never seen someone eat in public? Why is it deemed OK to feed a baby with a bottle in public but not from the breast? Baby's hungry? Baby's not going to be in the least concerned about any supposed distractions (but on the other hand will be very alert to any slacking on the part of the mother, so stay focused on the feed, please)
But what really, truly saddens me is that boobs can't be all things to all people and accessible. And I really don't get what the big deal is about a 13 year old boy who is (or is about to be) almost torn apart by testosterone seeing the consquences in all their glory. Boobs may be alluring but in their mammary function they're two links in the chain that runs from lust to responsibilty.
posted by Enyo @ 9:06 pm
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