Breastfeeding In The Media

Decent Essays
Despite the fact that breastfeeding is known to be beneficial to the health of both mother and infant alike, in North American societies the media constantly sexualises the breast, and depicts breastfeeding as indecent and inappropriate. As a result, women are incessantly being shamed for making the choice to publically breastfeed their child. It seems as though the only remedy for this societal issue is to have more positive representations of breastfeeding in the media, specifically in television. However, from public figures bashing breastfeeding, to television shows negatively portraying it for laughs, there is a lot of work that must be done for its must needed normalization. As a result of these issues, breastfeeding rates are low and

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    During this time breastfeeding was just completely looked down upon by everybody, especially the male controlled health industry despite all of the health benefits that come with breastfeeding. It has been proven that children who are breastfed score higher on standardized intelligence tests, they have higher IQ scores as well as it builds up the child’s immune system (Stolzer 110). Breastfeeding has also been shown to have many positive effects on the mother such as the release of oxytocin, it lessens the chances of developing breast, ovarian and endometrial caner, it aids in weight loss and helps with child bonding (Stolzer 112). Yet, with all of these positive benefits when it comes to breast feeding it’s still something that is looked down upon and it is now become apart of the culture because women and their bodies are constantly being controlled and…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The act of breastfeeding is one reserved between a child and its mother. Many times breastfeeding is seen as sexual and society can frown upon this simple act. This is partly the reason for the controversy surrounding the ending of The Grapes of Wrath. “Society becomes sterialized, to the extent of deming certain human behaviors as uncivilized. ”(French)…

    • 1056 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Breast Feeding Essay

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Is Breast Best? “What are the Risks Associated with Formula Feeding? A Re-Analysis and Review” In this article, Melinda E. McNiel, Mirriam H. Labbok, and Sheryl W. Abrahams evaluate the ins and outs of formula feeding in contrast to breast feeding. One of the main subjects brought to the attention of the readers of this article is the fact that formula feeding is considered the “normal” or “standard” and breast feeding is considered “ideal”.…

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In a recent New York Times editorial entitled, “Overselling Breastfeeding” (October 18, 2015), author Courtney Jung offers her opinion on how advocacy campaigns for breastfeeding have become more pressurized than supportive. She provides anecdotes of overbearing…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Mothers should not be subjected to not being fully apart of society just because they have an infant. Not to mention the build up of breast can be terribly harmful to a mother that may not be in a position to find a hidden area to feed her infant, because if she did so in the open someone might be offended by her caring for her child in that manor. By oppressing and shaming mothers like this it is being said that they 're rights are not as important as someone else 's just because they brought a life into the world. Breastfeeding is not something to feel ashamed about it should be allowed in public the same as men and even other women are allowed to walk around half naked anytime they please just because it looks…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Breastfeeding in public is one of society’s biggest controversial issues. Breastfeeding is convenient because you (as the mother) already have the natural materials to feed. The baby will decide when it’s time to eat, so feeding in public isn’t really a choice the mother has but it’s a choice the baby makes. Breastfeeding is healthier because sometimes babies will have an allergic reaction to the cow’s protein in the formula, causing discomforting symptoms. Breastfeeding in public isn’t a choice it’s a responsibility that a mother has, and she shouldn’t be put down because of it.…

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Breastfeeding in America Breastfeeding in America is underutilized due to a couple complex issues, and is portrayed as having benefits over formula when every other scientific experiment compares the naturally occurring event to the manmade alteration. This being said the results should naturally state that by feeding your child formula you are putting them at a higher risk of a wide range of diseases; however the reverse is true research states that you reduce your child’s risk of developing a wide range of diseases by feeding them human milk. The first article I found is Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, and the Second article is Barriers to Breastfeeding in the United States both article are primary sources which lends credibility…

    • 474 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I think that this could be an individual development and community development. It is an individual development because the women are gaining the ability to feed their children publicly without judgment. This could also be a community development, because it is directly affect the mothers in their community. I asked some of the women what were the complaints they hear often while feeding that reflects some of the attitudes the community have. Some women stated that they received awkward stares, when speaking to people, such as cashiers and restaurant employees, that they would look away and not look at her while speaking if she was breastfeeding, and some of their community would suggest that they go sit in the bathroom or out in their car while feeding before coming into the public facility.…

    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Introduction “WHERE’S THE BOOBIES” This paper is about women breastfeeding in public places. Breastfeeding has become one of the most controversial issues in our society today.…

    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Breast-Feeding in general is a natural thing for women in our body. It is a way to give what a baby needs when they are newborns. Breast-Feeding goes back to when cavemen existed, and was normal to the cavepeople around them. Nowadays, people are making breast-feeding a debate in American culture whether or not it is socially appropriate to do it in public, which in a personally level I think is okay because of how important it is for the baby. \…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Breastfeeding In Public

    • 1718 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Breastfeeding is completely natural and should be allowed in public. A woman who is feeding her child, and should not be restricted to where and when they cannot feed. Every human has basic pillars of needs, such as, love and nurturing. Therefore, breastfeeding is a way to nurture your child, but the public…

    • 1718 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During my maternity clinical experience I was able to be a part of the discussion encouraging mothers to breast feed their infants almost weekly. Before attending nursing school I had a limited understanding concerning breast feeding, but I had heard and learned that the benefits of breast feeding far outweigh any other source of infant nutrition. During this course and several other courses in the nursing program, the professors and guest lectures have all emphasized the vast physiological and emotional benefits that stem from breast feeding. I have decided to discuss the benefits of breastfeeding for the critical analysis paper because during my clinical rotations on the floor I noticed that breast feeding is always one of the main focal…

    • 1983 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Breastfeeding is a basic necessity in the diet for newborn children to provide them with appropriate nutrients. However, breastfeeding in public is sometimes looked down upon or sexualized. To create awareness for breastfeeding shaming Johnathan Wenske and Kris Haro created an image, “When Nurture Calls”, that provides a view of what it 's like having to resort to breastfeeding in a public bathroom stall. In this image they capture three different young women sitting on a toilet in public bathrooms breastfeeding their babies.…

    • 926 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Breastfeeding

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Including Texas, breastfeeding is a legal right in 49 states. Yet breastfeeding is regularly shamed upon by those who believe it is an indecent act. Society has taught us to think that breast are not meant to be exposed and when exposed breast/woman are used as a means to advertise products to men. Despite the fact that breast are naturally meant for feeding and nourishment, women’s bodies are still constantly sexualized. Nicky Lisa Cole, an author on the website Sociologist Explains, “Framing women as sex objects is an act of power, and so too is shaming women who nurse in public”.…

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Breastfeeding is natural and should not be portrayed as disgusting or sexualized. Breastfeeding has been around for many years, so why make it a big deal now? A women breast feeding her baby should not be brought across as a sexual act in the public. I choose this issue because I have seen experiment videos…

    • 2340 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Improved Essays