Have I mentioned this before? You must read – and will love – The Politics of Breastfeeding by Gabrielle Palmer.
Basically, no one (yet) makes money out of breastfeeding- hence it is downgraded, dismissed and ridiculed.
Breasts become instead totemised as sexual objects.
Plus, people may feel deprived – at an unconscious level – of breast feeding as babies. Hence that might be further reasons for the complex feelings around breasts and breastfeeding.
My son was lucky to be born in Poland where breastfeeding is a social norm. I breastfed him for 12 months (very often publicly) and it was the most beautiful physical contact I’ve ever had with another human being. Thus, was shocked when moved to Ireland and realised it was kind of tabu here and almost nobody did it. So sad…
Have I mentioned this before? You must read – and will love – The Politics of Breastfeeding by Gabrielle Palmer.
Basically, no one (yet) makes money out of breastfeeding- hence it is downgraded, dismissed and ridiculed.
Breasts become instead totemised as sexual objects.
Plus, people may feel deprived – at an unconscious level – of breast feeding as babies. Hence that might be further reasons for the complex feelings around breasts and breastfeeding.
Thanks Elisabeth, I’ll look for that book. I think there are many complicated reasons for the antipathy towards breastfeeding….
My son was lucky to be born in Poland where breastfeeding is a social norm. I breastfed him for 12 months (very often publicly) and it was the most beautiful physical contact I’ve ever had with another human being. Thus, was shocked when moved to Ireland and realised it was kind of tabu here and almost nobody did it. So sad…
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