There are 7 choices, 17 votes for Oral Fixation's debate

Breast feeding: Right or Wrong in Public?

Apon sitting in the doctor's office, waiting for a friend of mine, I stumbled across Babytalk magazine. I fell in love with the cover: a baby looking up wonderously at his mother as he nursed off of her breast. Inside, there was an article stating that a woman has a right to nurse her baby in public (mall, on an airplane, in the grocery store).

The question of debate: If you saw a mother breast feeding her child on an airplane, what is your opinion of it?


  • Perfectly normal and right.

    There are laws in some states that say if a mother wants to breastfeed her child, she must go to a bathroom. I totally disagree with that because, not only does it upset the mother (offend her), it upsets the baby, making her/him cranky and an angry child to feed later (OWCH!).

    If I saw a mother on an airplane breast feeding her child, I would see it as a beautiful and natural thing, and I think it is completely appropriate. Imagine a teenage boy knowing a little more respect towards the breasts of a girl and what they're really used for, and he understands it.

    UPDATE [11/20/06]: A feed-in has taken place at an airport which removed a woman from a flight for breastfeeding her child in her seat! Several women took a seat in the airport with thier infants and had a 'feed-in', feeding thier children in public from thier breasts.

    Power to'em! Woot!

    And yes, I'm sure that most of them (probably all) covered themselves with thier shirts. Although I don't see why, myself. I mean, sure, if you want. But it shouldn't be an issue. But it still is.

    23%  Voted for by petethemeat, Oral Fixation, Stella Cadente, Weydon.
    View 16 comments
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  • It's ok

    But some effort should be taken to cover the breasts. Nudity in public has its limits, but I think this is one of the situations in which it is to be permitted.

    23%  Voted for by Makessenseright, TeChNoWC, trolly, likewhatitis100.
    View 5 comments
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  • Come on

    I'm sorry, but I think its a bit rude to just whip out a breast in public and latch your child onto it. People may say "Oh it natural and perfectly normal." Well, so is peeing but you don't see people doing that in public. (Except for some men, who are extremely rude and disguisting.) Why is going to the ladies' room to breastfeed such a big deal? I would be fine doing so. Now, if the woman can't get up and go somewhere and the child needs to be feed then that's fine. But when there's a place avaliable for the woman to be discreet and she doesn't take advantage of that fact, then I get annoyed. No, there isn't anything wrong or offesive about a woman's body, but there really is no reason to expose yourself in public if there is a private area avaliable.

    17%  Voted for by Energizer Bunny, lott, Augusta Agrippina.
    View 11 comments
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  • depends

    on an airplane? sure, where else would thy do it, but in the mall while looking at clothes? no. why? because the world doesnt need to see that. really, you go near them, and they think you are trying to take a peek.

    11%  Voted for by Kazrith, Energizer Bunny.
    View 11 comments
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  • ...
    Alot of people get uncomfortable about alot of things that are basically harmless. I get uncomfortable seeing someones thong sticking halfway up their backs. I get uncomfortable seeing plumbers butt cracks. Doesnt mean we should make it illegal or be rude about it. By some of these comments Ive been reading it seems like youve never known anyone whose breastfed and seen only strangers doing it. I personally think its one of those amazing things in life. A mom shouldnt have to go anywhere to feed her baby especially to the bathroom. Its unsanitary and totally uncomfortable besides I dont know what bathrooms you guys are going to be lounge area? No lounge area in any bathrooms Ive been in. They make things to cover a woman when shes breastfeeding and even if she doesnt have one you cant see anything. Her shirt is automatically gonna fall down to cover the top of her breast and the babys mouth is covering any other offending part. Ive seen women make sure they wore a large shirt just so they could slid the baby under and conceal him there. Its totally crazy that everyone is so uncomfortable about this but we can look at nudey magazines and everythings ok.
    11%  Voted for by Stepherz804, conniev1.
    View 1 comment
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  • respect
    people have different opinions. i honestly would be disgusted if i recognized someone doing that in public. if someone wont give me the respect that i dont agree with what they are doing and do it somewhere else then maybe they shouldnt be allowed to do it outside of a private room. why cover the baby's face? wouldnt ya suffocate 'em?
    just leave and go elsewhere, private.
    Voted for by lott.
    View 2 comments
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  • How would you like to eat your lunch in the toilet?

    This debate reminded me of that line, from the movie Mad Cows, and I think it's a good point, why should women have to go to a toilet (a little unhygenic don't you think?) just because someone else is offended by the sight of her breast, although really you don't see much of the breat anyway, what's the big deal? Would the same people who make such a big song and dance about it complain if they saw a man's naked chest in public? I don't think so, why is a breast so offensive anyway?

    To be honest, there whole breast-phobia thing is a bit Victorian, smacks of sexual suppression.

    Voted for by London Calling.
    View 4 comments
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