Quote:
Originally Posted by dewi
Jen is a great writer but it is NOT a great article because of her inaccurate portrayal of public breastfeeding being ‘Normal” mid 20th century. They are lovely photos but they have nothing to do with breastfeeding being “normal” in public.
A few photos taken out of context does not mean that public nursing was "Normal" when in reality mid 20th century and most of women’s history it was socially taboo for women in the USA to breastfeed in a public setting and there were still indecency laws on the law books (these laws have only changed in the past ten years!). Indecency laws were rarely enforced; however women did risk getting ticketed for breastfeeding in public, so it was not “normal” and was not the good old days as she claims.
Today we are living the good days for public breastfeeding, and it is getting better each time we stand up and demand that we have the Right to have a public life with our nursing children!
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Dewi -- I would appreciate if you would not speak about me, but to me. I am affording you that courtesy.
You continue to refute what I am saying without even giving these pictures their due. I've been in the library for a few hours reading and although I am skimming I cannot find anything to support your theory.
Milk, Money, and Madness says: "During the period immediately following WW II, bottle-feeding became the "normal" method of baby feeding in the United States and to a lesser extent in Europe." (pg 108) This picture was taken in 1943. WWII ended in '45. So, by default, don't you think breastfeeding, and therefore, breastfeeding in public were the "norm" during the 40s, especially among (probably limited to) the rural class?
Most breastfeeding history books talk about the increase of bottle-feeding in the early twentieth century. We all know this. But what about the rural, farming mothers in the south who had yet to be tainted by the milk industry?
You would have a solid case if you pushed the issue of class differences. From these pictures I have noticed in the rural areas breastfeeding was more "normal" than in the cities.
In all the books I have been reading today (well, skimming) and of the ones I have read in the past, I have NEVER seen this picture before. It is extremely significant and shows a relevant part of our history as breastfeeding mothers, one I believe has been lost. What about the woman in the picture? Does she not matter because history tells us she's not suppose to exist?
Dewi -- This is an interesting topic to me, one that I have been spending a great deal of time exploring. I am not dismissing your opinion. In fact, that is why I am in the library reading right now. Nevertheless, I know I am onto something here.
You speak of indecency laws, but this woman is not concerned about laws, she's feeding her baby. What you are saying and the behavior in the picture do not match.
Thorn: I will put together a photo gallery (probably on Sunday or Monday) so you will understand why I have made the claims I have concerning men and breastfeeding.