The BoobSite Bill Maher and Facebook Inspired

Behold, The League of Maternal Justice! Their manifesto reads:

It's perfectly legal for women to breastfeed publicly in most of the United States, and throughout Canada. We HAVE the right to breastfeed publicly. So why are we insisting upon Festing the Breast?

Because people like Bill Maher would have us hide...
Because Facebook thinks that pictures of nursing boobs are dirty...
Because waitstaff at Applebees and YMCA attendants still tell nursing mothers to cover up or nurse in the toilet...
Because it's illegal to ask a nursing mother to stop nursing or conceal her nursing, and yet people still do it...
Because we live in a society where nobody bats an eye at see-through tops and pasties on pop stars, but in which nursing breasts are considered by some to be indecent...
Because some people still say things like "breastfeeding is like masturbating - it shouldn't be done in public"...
Because if even one woman - EVEN ONE - is shamed into not nursing because someone said it's indecent, that's one too many.
Because this most important of mothering activities should be celebrated and lauded and praised from the rooftops.
Because it's a superpower, and we need to be proud of it.

and I'd like to add my own here-

Because Bill Maher knows as much about parenting as George Bush did on Iraq before we invaded
Because facebook bans breastfeeding moms but NOT pedophiles
Because US rates for breastfeeding are embarrassing
Because history reminds us of the days women were kept locked away and out of the public eye while pregnant-this is just another form of oppression
Because I'm tired of lobby groups in Washington determining health policy in the US
Because as a mother and woman I refuse to shut up and stay in the kitchen
Because I will breastfeed at an Applebees, breastfeed on a plane, breastfeed at a mall, breastfeed at a park, breastfeed at a Boy Scout meeting, breastfeed at church, pump breastmilk at work, pump breastmilk during an exam, and feed my baby as I see fit because I AM THE MOM
Because I am beautiful and I will not feel shame over breastfeeding

Comments

[Phoronus]

Breastfeeding is a great thing. So is sex. Neither should be done in public. And that woman in the exam just seems to be trying to get more time, using whatever she can to twist the rules.

And, is it really _illegal_ to ask a woman to cover up her breasts in public?

[KenTao]

Well, maybe where you live but here in Hollywood, CA sex in public is pretty much mandatory.

Earthlings Unite!

[Motherfunner]

Amen to that! I was denied access to the ladies room to pump breast milk during my own lunch time because the ceo of my company thought it was 'gross'. He told me to go do it in the parking lot! Mothers and babies should not be shamed into hiding or forced into buying product from Formula Inc. when they have free breast milk that is healthier for both baby and mother. It's feeding another human being, it's not masturbation, it's not sexual, it's not indecent. No one is forced to watch someone breastfeed. If it makes you uncomfortable it's because of your own unhealthy issues, not because breastfeeding is wrong.

[AgathaPaige]

My question is, why would you want to pump breast milk in the most unsanitary place you can find, like a restroom? Personally, I think I'd rather do it in my car, if that was my only other choice. Sorry you were put in that position, though. Obviously the CEO is a moron!

[amanofmeans]

Brava!!!!

Because fear drives us;the fear of death and the fear of life and the fear of love, this nonsense will continue.

[mediamarv]

Good for you.
Why do men fear women so???

[AgathaPaige]

Sorry, but the issue doesn't just reside with men. Being a woman, very much IN FAVOR of breastfeeding [anytime, anywhere], I find the lack of class and decency displayed simply in the name of breastfeeding to be most peculiar. Aside from all the medical literature, research, and simple facts surrounding the healthy nature of breastfeeding, I still find the sight of a toddler [with teeth] suckling on momma's boob just a little offensive. That's just me!

[punditmom]

I am so inspired that we are able to use this medium for advocacy of our issues. I look forward to seeing Bill Maher and others try to eat with a blanket over their head, as they've suggested breastfeeding moms should do with their babies in public.

http://punditmom1.blogspot.com

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

I wouldn't think there would be a problem eating in that fashion under a blanket. Seems a pretty simple process. No chopsticks are involved.

[rma2108]

Every woman should breastfeed her child as often as possible. It's certainly not necessary, however, to make others uncomfortable by exposing private body parts to them. If you think public breastfeeding is OK, that's fine -- just don't complain when a man exposes his penis to you in public. If anything, we should make women's bathrooms twice as big, with nice seats for breastfeeding.

[snaggster]

So, does this rule apply every time somebody feels "uncomfortable" about anything? Who gets to make the rules about what we can or can't do that makes people "uncomfortable"? Not you, I hope. I'm already feeling "uncomfortable".

[Alice A.N.]

I think your analogy is preposterous. Exposing a breast in public with the intention of feeding a baby is no where comparable to exposing a penis. If you want to compare apples to apples - then compare exposing a penis to exposing a vagina! It's amazing that the extra mound of flesh can have people reacting so infantile. Afterall men take of their shirts all the time and no woman gets all up in knots because of the "nipple exposure".

In this case the side note is that it's not about pointlessly flashing people. It's about feeding a baby. I personally would be shy about breastfeeding in public - but I think the fact that the American public is against it, says more about this country and the value we place on our kids, family and the maintenance thereof - which is zilch.

I wish any woman goodluck trying to raise a family, because the system is rigged to force you back into the kitchen, bare and pregnant if you really want a good family. Yup, stay-at-moms are the in thing - and the workplace is just itching to be able to put you back in your place. If you don't believe that, you aren't being cynical enough.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

"Afterall men take of their shirts all the time and no woman gets all up in knots because of the 'nipple exposure.'"

Well, we try not to do it in Applebee's.