As for the whole subject, I'm all for breastfeeding rights. On a plane, in a restaurant, in a furniture store (story from another forum), whatever, wherever, in any way the mother feels comfortable. There shouldn't be any laws barring public feeding.
On a personal level, however, I think there's a nice happy medium between draping a tent over yourself, in your car, any time your baby gets hungry and, say, lifting your shirt up to your chin and pulling your bra all the way down before the baby's even in your arms. Jus sayin.
As for the, "Breasts aren't sexual!" argument. Uh. Yeah they are. Among the Bush People, no. Here yes. If they're not sexual, why not run around shirtless all the time? Why wait until you have a baby? In our society breasts are sexual. It's not "wrong," it's just one part of our culture. In some countries hair is sexual, in others only the genitals are sexual. Every society is different, and you have to expect some level of intolerance for exposing a part of yourself that is widely considered sexual.
Now, if you're actually just lifting/removing enough of the clothing to give access to the baby, possibly flashing a nipple for a moment, and then only exposing a bit of skin on the breast mound, I don't really see any reason for anyone to complain. It's pretty easy to look away. It's a difficult subject for me to really explain my feelings on. I guess I just think consideration should go both ways. People around you should be considerate of your need to feed your child, and you should be considerate, or at least mindful, or the possible sensibilities of the people around you.
moll
On a personal level, however, I think there's a nice happy medium between draping a tent over yourself, in your car, any time your baby gets hungry and, say, lifting your shirt up to your chin and pulling your bra all the way down before the baby's even in your arms. Jus sayin.
As for the, "Breasts aren't sexual!" argument. Uh. Yeah they are. Among the Bush People, no. Here yes. If they're not sexual, why not run around shirtless all the time? Why wait until you have a baby? In our society breasts are sexual. It's not "wrong," it's just one part of our culture. In some countries hair is sexual, in others only the genitals are sexual. Every society is different, and you have to expect some level of intolerance for exposing a part of yourself that is widely considered sexual.
Now, if you're actually just lifting/removing enough of the clothing to give access to the baby, possibly flashing a nipple for a moment, and then only exposing a bit of skin on the breast mound, I don't really see any reason for anyone to complain. It's pretty easy to look away. It's a difficult subject for me to really explain my feelings on. I guess I just think consideration should go both ways. People around you should be considerate of your need to feed your child, and you should be considerate, or at least mindful, or the possible sensibilities of the people around you.