Ekaterina Gay / Laura Waiss
ENG 109 MVA
June 27, 2017
WA3: Breastfeeding Should Be Accepted in Public Spaces by Everybody
Exposed breasts are present in all kind of media such as movies, magazines, and television. However, when a nursing baby is near those breasts some people become offended. Several studies prove that breastfeeding is an extremely healthy act for the mother and the baby. Despite of this, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “in the United States, although most mothers hope to breastfeed, and 81% of babies start out being breastfed, only 22% are exclusively breastfed 6 months later”. The Breastmilk contains antibodies that protect the child, which will have fewer …show more content…
In addition, breastfeeding helps mothers to return more quickly to their normal weight. “Public breastfeeding is an act of breastfeeding a baby in public places like restaurants, bus stops, malls etc., where it may me noted and observed by the other people” (Breastfeeding in Public, par. 1). The society’s view about breastfeeding has been transforming over time. Whereas, in the nineteenth century babies were fed by their wet nurse, in the twentieth century the maternal figure was once more suitable for the function. This situation changed again in the 60s, when women joined in the job market. According to Moraes, at that time, people, including physicians, believed that industrialized milk served on bottles were more beneficial to the baby than the mother’s milk. However, this concept has changed over time. "The act of breastfeeding is always linked to something sacred, therefore must be reserved and preserved. That is why so many people are uncomfortable seeing a breastfeeding mother in public" (Moraes, 35). While criticism related to public breastfeeding persists among some people, others are encouraging women to feed their babies in the most natural way possible. Many states in the United States have specific laws stating women's right to