Why are some people uncomfortable when a mom breast feeds in public?

Question

This question is not asking whether you agree with public breast feeding or not. So, please refrain from venting. What I'm interested in knowing is what you believe are the reasons many people (of both sexes) are uncomfortable with the idea of public breast feeding. *A note to mothers and wives. If possible try to get your man to respond too. I'd like to hear from the men as well but I don't know how many men would go to this page.

Answer 1

I think because they feel like they shouldn't look, like it's forbidden & it makes them uncomfortable to be there.

b*****s are sexual objects for most people. But they're there to feed your baby.

Good Q! & God Bless

ADD~ When i was still pregnant & went to a dr's appt there was a woman there nursing her baby, hubby was there & i have to say he behaved wonderfully, looked at me excited about the baby & like saying 'look'. He knew i wanted to breastfeed and, to be honest,  i've never see him get uncomfortable around nursing mothers.

ADD2~ LOL, he does get very uncomfortable when *I* nurse in public, he's checking all the time that i'm well covered, like the answerer below me said, he doesn't want any pervs looking at me. Cute!

Answer 2

Society conditioned humans, at least western society that it, to be uncomfortable with nudity. No real logical reason behind it.

Answer 3

Because we don't see it often, and we over-sexualize b*****s.  

My husband doesn't understand at all why someone would be uncomfortable with breastfeeding.  I've actually asked him to take it easy on his grandparents--they raised their children in a time when breastfeeding was looked down upon and they don't get it.

That's why I'm so supportive of nursing in public.  Once more people see it as normal, it won't be such a big deal.

Answer 4

I've got no clue as to why people are uncomfortable around breastfeeding mothers. I'm a breastfeeding mother, and to be honest, I don't care what anyone else feels. Women have been breastfeeding their babies for centuries. At the end of the day, I feel am doing the best thing for my baby by breastfeeding him. And no matter where I am, if he's hungry, I feed him. I don't care who's looking. I just whip it out. I feel that if someone doesnt want to see, then they don't look. It's that simple.

Good question.  

Answer 5

My husband was very uncomfortable with my breastfeeding -not other moms-just me- because he was worried that some creepy man would try to oogle me...*haha* but now he's fine as long as I use a blanket to cover up....before I breast fed it always made me uncomfortable to see other moms breast feed in public because I always took a double glance and then felt terrible for taking the double glance...but hey...to each their own...now I say more power to breast feeding moms who are comfortable in public!

Answer 6

There are some b***s that some people just don't want to see.

Answer 7

They are uncomfortable because they are alienated from nature, and don't even realise it. Also because naked b*****s are a sexual taboo in this society, and they get mixed up

-they are mostly not very thoughtful, those people who get uncomfortable.

I am a man, and on this page as I just pressed general answers, and this was the first one.

Answer 8

Point in case:  I was at a retail store shopping.  A woman, not of my country's decent, was walking around going through the racks with a baby sucking on her.  

It's unsanitary in public, and I remember when I breastfed my daughter - it leaks, it squirts, and if it's not YOUR milk the smell is distinct and ucky.

I'm uncomfortable with it because I personally (and your can't dispute my opinion) believe that it's an attention-getting ploy.  There are too many places to go to feed your child - a dressing room, a restroom lounge, your air conditioned car, your home, and most places will direct you to a quiet, private place in which most women can go to feed.  It's not a public act, it's a precious act which deserves discretion for ones self as well as consideration for others.  Everybody knows it makes others uncomfortable - so it also seems like they're in it for the shock factor...possibly.

Also, no one at all enjoys seeing the act of a woman in a public place pulling out her milk engorged b*****s.  Mothering can be planned, even on an outing.  Get a plan before you leave the house as to when and how you will feed your baby. That's my $.02.  Thanks for asking.

Answer 9

I think the answer is very simple.

Some people who believe that b*****s are sexual objects instead of the feed bags they are meant to be find it uncomfortable to see a woman using a "sexual object" as a means to feed a baby.

I think that's kind of odd but whatever.

I know some women get angry because they don't want their husband getting a look at another woman's boob.  Doesn't bother me, though.

Answer 10

It may make me feel uncomfortable but I still say go for it if thats the way you want to feed your baby.

Answer 11

I dont feel right breastfeeding in public. I am dont want to see other peoples b*****s and I dont want them to see mine. I was at my aunts the other day and my grandma wouldnt give up my baby so before everyone got to hold him he needed to be fed I went in the other room to feed him but I still feel akward in public. Hopefully I will get over it soon or me and the little guy will not be going out much.

Answer 12

My husband said that he was the only one that should get to see my boobies so he didn't want me breastfeeding in public.  

Answer 13

my hubbie was totally nerve-haggled the first few times i breastfed in public.  he'd flutter around arranging blankets and objects and glaring at anyone who looked until i finally pointed out that if i'm breastfeeding my daughter, anyone looking sees me holding a sleeping baby and their gazes are skimming over the top of my head - boring.  unless they like kids and then they're looking at the baby with that "awwwww!" expression going on.  

put a bright white blanket over my shoulder however, and now EVERYBODY is staring:  "she's got a **naked boobie** under there!!!" and they're watching to see if the blanket will slip or the wind will blow it up or whatever.

i still keep a blanket handy - if anyone breaks the law and tries to tell me my breastfeeding is disturbing them, i hand them the blanket and tell them to put it over their head so they won't have to see us.

the main problem is the sexualization of b*****s.  ppl talk about breastfeeding as "intimate", which i find highly offensive and very disgusting - like they're accusing me of having s*x with my baby.  it's no more intimate than opening up a styrofoam box from macdonald's.  in fact, ever see the look on someone's face when eating new york cheesecake or godiva chocolates?  NOW who's being intimate in public!?

my hubby is a total "boob man" - but he has absolutely no reaction to my b*****s at all, even though they are rather superior at the moment.  he says he can't even think of them in terms of s*x - prefers i keep a shirt on "during", in fact - because it disturbs him to think of them in that respect - "those aren't mine, those are baby's".

that is how it should be at all times - when they're encased in something low-cut and plunging, they're sexual.  when they're stopping up a baby's mouth, they're not sexual.

i'm just wondering when the secondary function of b*****s became the primary and why do so few ppl have a problem with the idea that having s*x has become a higher priority than feeding a baby?

i'll be honest, though, either i'm incredibly oblivious or i'm very fortunate because, except for one time,  i've never been given grief over breastfeeding in public - not even when i was sitting in the produce section at Food Basics.  the manager came up and said "you don't have to do that here" - i was all geared up for war (hormones, y'know) and said "excuse me!?" in arctic tones and he said "no - the floor is dirty and it's cold here.  i have a leather recliner back in my office if you wanted to use that instead".

rather disappointing, that.