Breastfeeding in Public
An argument on breastfeeding in public
The issue of whether women should breastfeed in public is very controversial, which makes it an extensively debated question. There are significantly different ideas that may present significant arguments as to what is right and wrong about the issue at hand. Each individual may take up significantly different ideologies, trying the best to argue a point through and establish a significant understanding as to why they may lie within a separate line or side of the argument. With these two distinct arguments, most of the people may raise aa debate that is not in line with the significant issue of breastfeeding but rather an aspect that they deem not right about the action altogether. In numerous arguments, the main problem does not revolve around women breastfeeding in public, but how they undertake the breastfeeding process. The discussion focuses on the way the action is initiated and not sign the work itself.
According to research, when women breastfeed in public, it makes individuals uncomfortable and even offends them (Raju, 2016). It’s is mainly common to the opposite gender where they may feel significantly hurt due to the action and or the feeling of exposing significant parts of the body. However, we may not condemn the activities undertaken by such individuals. Still, it’s essential to look at the critical cause of force that acts towards the act of public breastfeeding to get a vital understanding of their current situation. Due to the current strenuous economic conditions, new mothers no longer remain at home for a long time to take care of their children. The new parents need to earn a living to establish a stronger foundation for their children and hence end up-bringing their kids to the workplace or similar to areas they frequent.
Women no longer put their social life, careers, and activities on hold after giving birth, indicating that they must breastfeed in public. The actions are not significantly independent on the will of an individual but similarly, the issues at hand that they may lead them to involve in public breastfeeding. The circumstances may influence the person’s interaction or continued action as the individual depends on a significantly important factor to establish a balance in life. Additionally, the current living standards are so much discouraging as the present world lives on hand to mouth and may have a significant influence on people’s actions. An immediate judgment would create a negative impact as compared to a natural reaction that one would understand the importance of the work and not make a big fuss about the issue.
However, in getting a better understanding, all parties must be involved, and the different shortcomings brought to a better view to ensure that one is in a position to drive change in terms of thoughts. Significant impact of the action rather than the outward meaning of the work. We may not be against for the move, but there is a need to strike a balance and establish a significant impact and understating of the issues for the better tomorrow. Hence, a balance must become struck between how women can breastfeed in public without offending individuals and also while mitigating public indecency.
Argument against breastfeeding
Public indecency
People are usually against public breastfeeding, as they have the preconceived notion that it is a form of indecency. It exposes parts of the body that may become deemed as private, and that would require secrecy while exposing. Moreover, individuals argue that breastfeeding should get done at nearby bathrooms or their private homes, but not in public. Additionally, it should become undertaken in significantly provided areas that are more private to individuals.
According to research conducted by Miller (2016), she clearly articulates why some individuals are against breastfeeding in public, citing five reasons. She views these actions as socially awkward, it is an indecent and gross act, and it is too personal to the public. These reasons present significant thoughts and arguments that may act against the action and which the public may find slightly uncomfortable to understand engaging. Additionally, her points are rather clear in that they provide a significant understanding and interaction between the people and the individual undertaking the breastfeeding action.
People believe that breastfeeding in public is disrespectful to the public.
People hold the feeling that women’s breasts should be hidden under the clothes since they are private body parts. As part of other individual body parts, they should not get exposed openly. Therefore, when women flaunt their breasts in public when breastfeeding, it is disrespectful and presents a significantly poor image of their gender and how others within the public environment may view them and the action they perform. According to Miller-Wilson (2016), just because breastfeeding is healthy, it does not mean that it should be undertaken anywhere, moreover not in public, while exposing women’s breasts.
It’s also disrespectful to the gender, and tied to all people despite the smaller group of individuals within the public environment. The act of flaunting women’s breast when in public is depicted to be a form of nudity, despite being an act of breastfeeding. The different ways through which they expose their breast help in classifying them in terms of appearance and not tied to the action undertaken. The public may not view this as usual hence creating a more significant deal of the situation significantly. The feeling is not mutual, and the differences create a more substantial blow to the individual rather than the rest of the public. The act of misjudging the people for the action would also create a significant impact on their social life since this creates fear and unworthy within the society. It’s a form of degradation, and women may feel unworthy within the organization. The consequences may lead to shunning away from public gathering and oppression of their rights as individuals.
Breasts get sexually idolized by men and viewed to be essential body organs when making love.
Men do not view breast as a natural source of children’s food but as sexual organs. It’s the most significant reason as to why they have a more excellent deal against the act of public breastfeeding and create significant reaction towards the people in public doing substantial acts of the same. Men believe that breasts belong to them for their amusement when being intimate with their lovers (Raju, 2016). Therefore, women need to establish significant understanding and ensure that they understand the importance of making their breastfeeding act private and to themselves. Hence, when breasts get flaunted in public, it makes men uncomfortable, and they can sexually disorientate men. It forms the most significant reason as to why men are the largest most affected group by the public breastfeeding act and get offended easily as compared to other individuals in society. Idolizing the breasts makes it quite judgmental as these organs are not decorated for the action in their minds but may have a different significant functioning. The misunderstanding of which is the most appropriate use creates a dilemma between the two genders and the situation at hand within a public setting.
Breastfeeding should be allowed in public
A regular part of the human lifecycle
Breastfeeding is normal, and every human being has breastfed in their lifetime despite in some rare cases. Limiting the women from breastfeeding their kids is against humanity as we all have had a part within the different areas and times that we have undertaken the act significantly. Therefore, pubic breastfeeding should not become castigated, because breastfeeding is a symbolic act of feeding children, in the event, they are hungry, despite the location (Heymann & Kramer 2009). Similarly, the act of shunning off breastfeeding mothers creates a significant misunderstanding between the different individuals and hence limits the interactions which might have been fruitful in the future. Breastfeeding is the most viable way of intensifying the attachment between babies and their mothers. Therefore, it’s not fair in terms of child care and provision to deny their right and continued feeding. It’s a crucial bonding interaction and forms a significant part of child growth gradually.
Health benefits of breastfeeding
There are numerous health benefits attributed to breastfeeding. These are significantly attached to the different ideas and physical appearances and interests primarily connected to the children. These benefits are significantly not limited as they benefit both the child and the mother. It leads to decreased rates of obesity, allergies, diarrheal illness, viral and bacterial infections, respiratory illness, diabetes, and cancers, among other diseases. Hence, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding should be undertaken continuously for at least twelve months. It’s in line with the child’s need and thus helps the child grow better and healthier. However, to the parent undertaking the action, there are underlying benefits as it leads to lower risk levels of breast cancer, and other forms of cancers and osteoporosis. Mothers who breastfeed in pubic do so for the well-being of their children and out of motherly instincts.
The purpose of breasts is breastfeeding.
Women’s breasts become intended to feed babies in the event they get hungry, even in public. Breasts were not created for sexual reasons, but feeding babies. Therefore, it would be wrong to condemn the act of breastfeeding in any location as this forms a lawful act and provides significant importance both to the child and the mother. Despite the Western culture, where breasts have become used for sexual purposes, that is not their intended purpose (Bonuck et al. 2012). It’s essential to understand the sole purpose of breasts and why they form a significant part of human life. However, in other parts of the world, breasts have been over-sexualized, and flaunting them in public is deemed to be pornographic by some cultures. Furthermore, the different views do not change the meaning or rather its functional aspect within the context of breastfeeding and creating significant importance to both the mother and the child. Nevertheless, the functions and purpose of breasts have been for breastfeeding, regardless of the place.
Common ground
Everyone believes that breastfeeding should become undertaken for the benefit of the child and the mother. There should not be a significant reason to criticize the action as its conducted rightfully by the parent. Additionally, as a way of creating a meaningful impact to the different situations, the response should be discretely undertaken to establish a successful obligation that gets tied to both the child and the parent. Furthermore, the various parties taking sides should understand the significant importance of the action and not view the different activities as a wrong or right to the child and the mother. The public view may also distort the most essential and fundamental aspect of breastfeeding. It’s by looking significantly at how of the action and not why individuals engage in the act. Furthermore, babies should get breastfed whenever they are hungry (Miller-Wilson, 2016). Significantly, the primary source of a child’s food is from breast milk based on the nutritional value of the liquid.
Potential compromise
Women can breastfeed in public, but they should ensure that they cover themselves well so that they do not expose their breasts to the public. It may be a form of indecency and hence create a significant impact and influence on how the public may view the action. It’s essential to understand the current environment and ensure they do not expose their breasts. Women should not breastfeed their children in public eating places due to the discomfort of other customers (Miller-Wilson, 2016). The environment that the action takes place contributes significantly to how the public within that environment reacts. The consequences may harm the recipient hence the need to establish significant understanding and care while breastfeeding. In workplaces, the management should ensure that they make breastfeeding rooms to provide the convenience of their employees and hence create better time to work rather than denying the kids their right to breastfeed. People must stop sexualizing breasts, and they should regard them as feeding sources for children. By understanding the ultimate purpose of breasts would have a better approach from the public as awareness gets created and better understanding among the two parties established. Civilization acts on a neutral ground as individuals not criticized for the action they do, the agreement becomes established, and continued influence contributes significantly to understanding the importance of breastfeeding for the child and the mother in general.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is a natural act, and mothers should not become reprimanded for doing it or even stopped from doing it because people are uncomfortable. It’s the way of life, and there is a need to understand how well it plays a crucial role in establishing the presence and strengthening the experience of others. Additionally, the bias acts that would become projected to the mothers and their kids play a significant role in driving issues that would not create a better environment to exercise their rights. The rights of women should be enhanced and protected as breastfeeding mothers undertake a natural act that cannot get postponed. Criticizing them for the action is way too insignificant and inhuman hence the need to have a neutral understanding and creating value of the work. Nevertheless, breastfeeding mothers should seclude themselves whenever possible or even cover themselves when breastfeeding in public. In a way, there is a better chance of limited criticism from the audience during breastfeeding, and they will feel more comfortable within those provided areas.
References
Bonuck, K et al. (2012). “Breastfeeding Promotion Interventions: Good Public Health, And Economic Sense.” Journal Of Perinatology: Official Journal Of The California Perinatal Association 22(1): 78-81
Heymann, J, & Kramer M. S. (2009). “Public Policy and Breastfeeding: A Straightforward and Significant Solution.” Canadian Journal of Public Health 100(5): 381-3.
Miller-Wilson, K. (2016) “Why Are Some People Against Breastfeeding in Public.” Lovetoknow. N.p., 10
Raju, N.K. (2016). “Continued Barriers for Breast-Feeding in Public and the Workplace.” The Journal of Pediatrics 148(5): 677–679