Odd encounter today..

G'day,

I had this really odd encounter with my wife and kids here in Oz today, and I need to ask you guys a question.

Today I took the family to the zoo here in West Aus, since it was such a wonderful day and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have two sons one 4 and one 11 months.

It certainly does take a bit of time to get round the zoo so it was packed lunch and plenty of water. Of course our baby does need a top up now and then with the breast so its not usually a problem.

In Australia, public breastfeeding is never really an issue. About 10 years ago there was a little brouhaha, but both Federal, State and Local govt weren't about to intervene, every woman has a right to breastfeed in public without interference...with the exception of restraunts...and only occassionally.

It was about 3pm and we were sitting on a chair in the Australian animal enclosure and my wife was giving bub a feed. I was watching oblivious when someone called out.

It was an African American guy around about 60 -65 with his wife in tow and another US couple in the background. He was asking where the Koalas were. I couldn't pick the dialect apart from American but he said "Koala" as 'ko-way-lah', really pushing the 'way' aspect I almost giggled.

I turned my head to look at him to give him directions, and his eyes almost popped out of his head as he glanced at my wife feeding the baby. I didnt see his wife's face, but felt her stiffen as well. Both looked slightly away as if embarrassed.

I cheerfully gave directions never really giving much thought, and they scuttled off with the other American couple scuttled after (well I should say waddled.)

During dinner we were having a snicker about Americans trying to say Australian names and both of us brought up how embarrassed and shocked they were seeing breast feeding in public.


So I ask, is there an issue in the US about this?

Seems perfectly normal to me, but are there areas where this is (still) taboo or are there even laws governing this practice?

I'm sure that these guys will return to the states and report of the horrendous and primitive conditions we Aussie subject ourselves to.

:)

that the simple act of a mother nurturing new life with love and tenderness? It is the antithesis of the Domination and Kontrol Mindset of Fear (invariably cloaked in SANCTIMONY).

But...

In Beauty is it done.
In Beauty it will remain.
In Beauty at the beginnning of time.
In Beauty at Mother's breast.
In Beauty is it done.
In Beauty Seven Generations hence.
For the children,
In Beauty it is done.

They (not everyone, but I'd say the mainstream public) think that those who breastfeed should stay home all the time until the baby is off the breast, and in an emergency where a mother absolutely cannot stay home, she should find the nearest public restroom, sit on a dirty toilet in the smelly stall and feed the baby there. I'm not clear on whether or not they think she should lower her pants to sit on the toilet, even though she doesn't need her pants off to breastfeed, or whether they expect her to sit directly on the public toilet seat with her pants on.

I didn't encounter that attitude at all when I lived overseas - except by visiting Americans.

and although feeding babies is OK, using those notorious sex object to do it is a bit over the proper way to use them in public. Maybe in a topless bar would be OK for most people. Personally I don't care. Babies need food when they need it and the healthiest food they can get comes from mommy.

kids were infants and then everyone got uptight again. Also, in this country, it was never okay for an African-American male to look at a white woman's body....less than that could get you lynched. There was still segregation in this country when that man was young. That may be what startled them. Sounds like you have a lovely young family....

I worked as an intern and researcher for an organziation that produced biblical products. I was the only non-Christian in the organizatin that I know of. In my office was a microcosm of religions...episcopalians, evangelicans, catholics. It is also one of America's most conservative regions.

Well we went on a picnic each year, spouses and employees. The last one I went on we went on the boss's sailboat. Well, one of the evangelical employee and his wife had just had a baby. And the wife breastfed the kid right there on the sailboat, in front of God and everyone. No one even flinched. I think that breast feeding in public in th US is more accepted than you might think.

A lot of moms breastfeed in public here, but you wouldn't even notice because they usually pick the quietest most discreet place within their means, and they put a small blanket or something around the baby-boob area as not to appear totally obvious about what they are doing. This is mostly for the sake of their comfort (the mom and the babe)and not so much out of concern for the "shocked" eyes of the passers by. Of course there are those who want to make a point or take a stand or whatever, and will gladly flop it out in grand fashion in the middle of main street and then give the audience a "What are you looking at?" stare. Most of the much ado about nothing has to do with the personalities at the scene.

only if its done "grand fashion in the middle of main street".
Oddly enough, the only people I've heard object have been other women (go figure).

It has to do more with social mores of the unclothed breast in general, unrelated to nursing.
I think most everyone recognizes the need for breast feeding, but those that object are more mortified that the breast is visible than that nursing is going on.

I am not sure what you mean when you say covering up "is mostly for the sake of their comfort (the mom and the babe) and not so much out of concern for the "shocked" eyes of the passers by."

Based on my experience, it is certainly less comfortable from a physical standpoint to cover up (although I did so in public). Based on many babies' reactions (trying to pull off whatever is sitting on their face (shirt, blanket, etc.) I would suspect it is also less comfortable for many babies (although it did not seem to bother mine).

Are you suggesting emotional comfort? Any emotional comfort I received from covering up was the result being less likely to be confronted with someone else's "shocked eyes (rude stares, denigrating comments, etc. - which, by the way came even when I was totally covered up) - so I don't think I would call that covering up for my comfort.

made me feel more comfortable and relaxed. But of course, I was speaking for myself.

because the cover in and of itself made you more comfortable - or was it a protective reaction to discomfort felt by others?

Since I didn't cover up at home, and did cover up in public, it is clear to me that any emotional comfort I received from covering up in public was a protective reaction to others' discomfort/displeasure.

I see mothers feeding there kids once in awhile and pay it no mind. I have never noticed anyone bothered by it either.
Judging by some of your comments I would guess you don't much like Americans.

I suspect you would have a very different perspective. It's quite different to witness isolated nursing incidents in which it is not noticeable to an observer is being bothered than to be the focus of whatever bother is experienced a couple of thousand times.

I nursed discretely for 18 months. I seriously doubt that anyone (outside of my family) ever saw my bare breast. There certainly were lots of people bothered by it - some of which would have been obvious to an observer, and some of which was less subtle and probably would have gone unnoticed by an observer.

That religion-sex thing is really strong in a lot of the U.S., and a breast is always viewed by those people as being sexual. You'd get less reaction from them if you were taking a dump in public. It's a strange sex mindset.

I think the silent majority would just be mildly amused at the sight.

...someone's brains blown out than the slightest hint of a bare female nipple. After all, the damage that can be done by seeing a breast is irreparable.
:eyes:

Tinfoil got it right. I breastfed son 1st 4 months, but always in quiet semi-public place, away from the crowds. And that is typical here in US. I'd find ladies room lounge, dressing room in mall, or empty room in someone else's house. I've seen women breastfeed in airplanes on US domestic flights. They're always discreet and cover up selves and babies. So bottom line, breastfeeding is not discouraged in US, but DISCRETION is STRONGLY, SUBTLY encouraged.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

who feel that breast feeding is "animal." They are totally disgusted by it. I have no idea where this idea comes from, except that it must remind people, who would like to think otherwise, that humans really ARE mammals/animals. Chalk it all up to creationistic thinking that people and animals have no connection and that anything people do that animals also do is "disgusting," i.e., having sex, exposing one's body, and relieving oneself.

Men, on the other hand, seem to be stimulated by all those things, especially when done by an object of their desire. Okay, well maybe women too.

:-)

Theocracies will do that to a country

A lot to read and think about. I believe Americans are as open-minded as anyone else in the world about some things.

I was just taken aback about the reaction I thought it was "one of those things"

Mind you as someone pointed out....the Janet Jackson incident and the response of the country should have reminded me a bit.