![\"babytalk](\"http:\/\/www.amptoons.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/08\/breastfeeding%20babytalk.jpg\")
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It seems that about 1\/4 of the readers of this magazine were offended<\/a> by this cover. I can’t even feign any sort of objectivity on this subject. I usually try to be the semi-neutral academic blogger, but I can’t figure out why people would view breastfeeding as gross, disgusting, or sexual. I just had a big debate between myself and all but 2 (out of 18) of my students on the subject of breastfeeding. The majority of students felt that is was “icky” and should be done in private. Of course these same students also didn’t know about the health benefits of breastfeeding, how often it needs to be done, and the numerous studies showing that breast milk is generally healthier than infant formula. They were clueless. Now I’m an educator, and I have come to expect this sort of reaction; however, it is usually a small but vocal minority of students, not the vast majority of the class. The funny thing is that these are the same people who are not the least bit offended at the latest Maxim cover or numerous pictures of Pam Anderson with her breasts equally exposed, but suddenly when breasts are used for what they are actually for people get loopy.<\/p>\n The magazine was reporting on a survey from the American Dietetic Association, and the findings of that study are even more depressing:<\/p>\n The picture in Babytalk was aimed at illustrating the controversy surrounding breastfeeding in the United States, where a national survey by the American Dietetic Association found that 57 percent of those polled are opposed to women breastfeeding in public and 72 percent think it is inappropriate to show a woman breastfeeding on television programs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n So most of the people in this random sample survey think that women should not <\/strong>breastfeed in public (I wonder if the survey asked how many opposed those Maxim covers???).<\/p>\n The good news is that in spite of the general opposition to breastfeeding in public, most states (32) have laws allowing women to breast feed anywhere. However, there are still states that do not have such laws, and more laws are need to protect breast feeding mothers and their children. Here is a brief summary of some of the breastfeeding laws from the National Council of State Legislatures:<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the controversy over the cover and the ADA survey indicate that the social support system for breastfeeding is lacking. In spite of the numerous medical and social benefits to breastfeeding, there still seems to be a notion that breastfeeding should be hidden from public view.<\/p>\n Here’s More Info. on Breastfeeding Rights:<\/p>\n A Summary of States’ Breastfeeding Laws<\/a> from the National Council of State Legislatures.<\/p>\n La Leche League Summary of Breastfeeding legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It seems that about 1\/4 of the readers of this magazine were offended by this cover. I can’t even feign any sort of objectivity on this subject. I usually try to be the semi-neutral academic blogger, but I can’t figure … Continue reading \n