Normal or Nazi?

I wanted to talk for a moment about breastfeeding.  I am very pro-breastfeeding and I am all for the rights of  breastfeeding women and the normalization of breastfeeding.  Do I think its okay for a woman to breastfeed in public?  Yes.  Do I think that photos of breastfeeding mothers/children help to promote breastfeeding and make it more acceptable in today's society?  Of course I do.  Do I think EVERY breastfeeding photo needs to be displayed publicly?  Not really.

I am part of several groups that promote breastfeeding and the normalization of breastfeeding.  While I agree with them on most counts, I disagree with their fights to have any and all breastfeeding photos posted on social media sites such as facebook.  I am aware that facebook has a policy that allows for photos of breastfeeding to be posted, as long as excessive nipple isn't showing.  They claim to take the stand that breastfeeding is normal and natural, but that excessive breast is lewd.  I have to agree, for more reasons than one.

First of all, if the photo is on your page, and only your friends can see it, then you are at least being somewhat modest.  I know that nothing posted online is completely private, but unless someone goes looking for it they shouldn't easily come across it.  Again, the photos I am referring to are the ones where a baby may be latched onto one breast, but the other is showing as well.  Let's face it, breastfeeding is natural, breasts are natural and are made for feeding babies.  But a penis is also natural, and is made for urination and making babies, but my teenage daughter doesn't need to come across one randomly in a social media site such as facebook.

Also, if the point of many of these lactivist sites is to normalize breastfeeding, then how is showing a bare breast supposed to do that?  If we want people to accept breastfeeding in public, showing off breast is probably not the best way.  This is exactly what people are afraid of, that we will be exposing ourselves in front of their families.  In truth, most people breastfeeding in public are very discreet.  So how is showing excessive breast helping to normalize breastfeeding?  There is also a picture that pops up quite often among these social media groups that shows a naked woman doing a yoga handstand and breastfeeding a baby.  While I am aware that one aspect of the image is about the strength an beauty of a breastfeeding woman, it is in no way a normal way to breastfeed.  So again, how are photos like this, posted on open groups, helping to promote breastfeeding?

I think the best way to promote breastfeeding and make it more normal and socially acceptable in our society is to lead by example.  Those who can breastfeed, should.  We should offer assistance to those who want to but need help.  We should provide photos as educational materials to help those who are struggling to get breastfeeding established.  Lastly, we should congratulate and support those we see breastfeeding in public and in private.