For years we've been happy to see photospreads of models flaunting their absolute gorgeous bodies across social media platforms, magazines and in public. However, brea$tfeeding in public is still viewed as taboo. And we are asking the question WHY? What makes brea$tfeeding in public any different to showing off your gorgeous bodies?
Many women are being discriminated against for brea$tfeeding their child in public. Reactions such as verbal, emotional abuse and in some rare cases even physical abuse have been recorded both on social media and in person. Many of these reactions have surprisingly come from both men and women. Brea$tfeeding is IMPORTANT and NECESSARY. It is the connection between mother and child, and a source of life and food for the baby.
Much like many forms of discrimination - the symptoms stem from a bigger problem. And in this case, we believe it to be the BIG P WORD - Patriarchy! According to ThoughtCo. in their article called (Explaining Cultural Taboos on Brea$tfeeding in Public) they state that one of Patriarchy's many rules in the code of conduct is that a women's body is purely sexualized and objectified for a man's pleasure and enjoyment. The women's sexuality is dangerous and bad because a women's sexuality is framed to be used as a tool to have power over men and ensures that they lose control and cannot help themselves from acts of $exual a$$ault when a women's body is exposed. We feel this is a dangerous and toxic belief because it perpetuates r@pe culture and victim-blaming.
Breasts are innately $exualized and so the moment they are used to give life or serve a purpose, it connects the audience to the enjoyment and $exualization of a women's brea$t$ and body, rather than the necessity of the women’s body. The belief that a women’s body only exists for the purpose of men perpetuates the discomfort of publicly seeing a women’s body resulting in the aggressive and regressive reactions.
Brea$tfeeding shame is not only body shaming but also $lut shaming.
Thoughts of Carméla d'Unienville. #embraceconversation
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