Breast feeding, an exhibitionists' charter?

[Nearly Sane]

The whole weird horror some people appear to have about breast feeding is beyond me. 

http://www.irishnews.com/news/healthcarenews/2016/07/22/news/breastfeeding-in-house-of-commons-is-exhibitionism-says-dup-mp-sammy-wilson-618264/

[jeremyp]

I don't care about breast feeding but I wouldn't allow babies in the House of Commons full stop.

[floo]

As long as it is done discreetly in public, which is quite possible, there shouldn't be a problem. It is women who like to flaunt their boobs for all to see who can cause offence.

[jeremyp]

As long as it is done discreetly in public, which is quite possible, there shouldn't be a problem. It is women who like to flaunt their boobs for all to see who can cause offence.

Why do they cause you offence?

[floo]

Why do they cause you offence?

I dislike seeing anyone's private bits in public and so do many others.

[Harrowby Hall]

I don't care about breast feeding but I wouldn't allow babies in the House of Commons full stop.

Is that because they would make some MPs look very immature?

[jeremyp]

I dislike seeing anyone's private bits in public and so do many others.

That's just restating your initial assertion. Why do you dislike seeing other people's private bits in public?

What is it about the human mammary gland that makes you upset to see it in public.

[Nearly Sane]

I don't care about breast feeding but I wouldn't allow babies in the House of Commons full stop.

Do you mean the chamber or the building?

[floo]

That's just restating your initial assertion. Why do you dislike seeing other people's private bits in public?

What is it about the human mammary gland that makes you upset to see it in public.

Whilst necessary, it isn't pretty, like men's dangly bits for that matter, far better covered up, imo.

[Nearly Sane]

As long as it is done discreetly in public, which is quite possible, there shouldn't be a problem. It is women who like to flaunt their boobs for all to see who can cause offence.

which women are these?

[Harrowby Hall]

I dislike seeing anyone's private bits in public and so do many others.

Why are breasts "private " Floo?

They are possessed by 50% of the human race and the other 50% have a vestigial version. It is, surely, an accident of social history that people in "advanced" countries have devised a fashion appearance that simultaneously manages to hide breasts away and at the same time emphasise their existence. As a consequence breasts are perceived to be more important as a secondary sexual characteristic than as an infant life support system.

I suspect that the MP in question has his sensibilities distorted by the religiosity of Northern Ireland and the general demonization of sex and sexuality within the Abrahamic religions over the millennia.

[Nearly Sane]

Whilst necessary, it isn't pretty, like men's dangly bits for that matter, far better covered up, imo.

Is that a position that supports burqas or balaclavas for people you don't think are pretty?

[floo]

Is that a position that supports burqas or balaclavas for people you don't think are pretty?

Not quite!

[jeremyp]

Do you mean the chamber or the building?

The chamber. The building needs to have a creche if it doesn't already.

[jeremyp]

Whilst necessary, it isn't pretty, like men's dangly bits for that matter, far better covered up, imo.

It's been said that my face is not a paragon of beauty, should I be forced to cover it up? I don't think aesthetic imperfection is really a good reason in this case.

[Brownie]

Floo:
Quote from: Nearly Sane on Today at 02:19:30 PM
Is that a position that supports burqas or balaclavas for people you don't think are pretty?

Not quite!

No speedos please  .

I have no problem with women breastfeeding in public and most do it discreetly.  I wouldn't care if someone got them out in front of me but in a shopping mall is a different matter.  Lots of people, men and women, young and old, would find that embarrassing  (I've heard young women say they don't feel comfortable feeding in public).  What's the point of causing someone embarrassment?  It's just as easy to breastfeed lifting your shirt.

However there will be a time in the future when no-one will care or give a second glance!   Forty years ago it wouldn't have been considered respectable to do it discreetly so we've come a long way which must surely be a good thing.

[Nearly Sane]

The chamber. The building needs to have a creche if it doesn't already.

yep, I agree with that in principle though arguably it shouldn't matter where it happens.

[jeremyp]

yep, I agree with that in principle though arguably it shouldn't matter where it happens.

It's not about the breast feeding, it's about having small children (or any children) in the debating chamber of parliament. I simply don't think they would be conducive to business.

[Nearly Sane]

It's not about the breast feeding, it's about having small children (or any children) in the debating chamber of parliament. I simply don't think they would be conducive to business.

again I don't disagree, though the concept of older children being in the chamber doesn't seem relevant. I doubt that this is ever going other than very rare but should it happen, then it happens.

[Hope]

which women are these?

Are you expecting Floo to name them, NS?   

[Hope]

It is, surely, an accident of social history that people in "advanced" countries have devised a fashion appearance that simultaneously manages to hide breasts away and at the same time emphasise their existence. As a consequence breasts are perceived to be more important as a secondary sexual characteristic than as an infant life support system.

I supose it depends on how you define 'advanced country', HH.  Even the women working in the fields in India 'hide' their breasts away.  Their midriffs are open for all to see, as is their cleavage, but the actual breasts are tightly controlled in their sari blouses or other top-half attire.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Jeremyp,

It's not about the breast feeding, it's about having small children (or any children) in the debating chamber of parliament. I simply don't think they would be conducive to business.

I agree, ban all Tories from the House, Order! order! I said ORDER!! shouted the playground monitor.

Gonnagle.

[Nearly Sane]

Are you expecting Floo to name them, NS?   

I am expecting the idea that there is some set of people conforming to this idea in relation to breast feeding exists to be justified. And apologies if that reads a bit po faced but it's easy to wander into Finbar Saunders territory here and the inability to talk about breast feeding without that or horror is part of the issue.


I don't really know what equates to flaunting breast feeding.

[Harrowby Hall]

I supose it depends on how you define 'advanced country', HH.  Even the women working in the fields in India 'hide' their breasts away.  Their midriffs are open for all to see, as is their cleavage, but the actual breasts are tightly controlled in their sari blouses or other top-half attire.

I was just thinking of the way popular culture in the west portrays breasts. I suppose (not being a woman) I am not able to fully appreciate the problems associated with carrying a couple of lumps of semi-mobile fat around all the time, the need to keep them under control and the need to ensure that they don't get in the way when I am doing something. Hence the enclosure.

What appears to be the important constraint in the west is that the nipple and areola cannot be seen. This secrecy - to me - seems close to fetishism. Yet these also are parts of the breast of most interest to babies. Perhaps it from this paradox that people' unease about seeing breastfeeding arises.

Does any else recall an incident a few years ago, where a guard threw a woman off a Virgin train for breatfeeding? I recall that Richard Branson made a full apology. And (though I may have got this wrong) the guard suggested she feed the baby in the toilet. I wonder if he eats his food in the lavatory?

[Brownie]

It would be quite easy to breastfeed whilst wearing this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3701565/Would-wear-beach-String-bondage-style-bikini-barely-covers-intimate-areas-latest-summer-sweeping-Japan.html

Hope no-one is offended, by the Mail I mean, not the article.
I have to say the outfit looks quite uncomfortable and the model very young,