What Do You Think of TIME‘s Breastfeeding Cover?

[always2late]

ex·ploi·ta·tion (ksploi-tshn) n.
1. The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage
2. Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes
3. An advertising or a publicity program.

Does the mother in the cover photo actually nurse her child in the manner depicted in the photo? Or was it staged to provoke a reaction? I have no idea. However, if it WAS staged, then it is an example of exploitation. Do I have a problem with a woman nursing in any way or manner she sees fit? No. Do I have a problem with a woman nursing her child beyond the "accepted" age as prescribed by society? No. Would I have a problem with a magazine depicting a cover photo of a woman publically nursing her child in whatever manner SHE chooses? No. Do I have a problem with a magazine staging a photograph of a woman nursing in order to provoke a reaction or sell their issue? Yes.

[Kobi]

The cover got our attention.

The story, however, is about Motherhood not breastfeeding. I want to read it cuz it is supposedly about mothers who go to the "extreme". I want to know what is is considered "extreme" and who is doing the determination.

In the current War on Women, this kind of stuff makes me real edgy.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by always2late

ex·ploi·ta·tion (ksploi-tshn) n.
1. The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage
2. Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes
3. An advertising or a publicity program.

Does the mother in the cover photo actually nurse her child in the manner depicted in the photo? Or was it staged to provoke a reaction? I have no idea. However, if it WAS staged, then it is an example of exploitation. Do I have a problem with a woman nursing in any way or manner she sees fit? No. Do I have a problem with a woman nursing her child beyond the "accepted" age as prescribed by society? No. Would I have a problem with a magazine depicting a cover photo of a woman publically nursing her child in whatever manner SHE chooses? No. Do I have a problem with a magazine staging a photograph of a woman nursing in order to provoke a reaction or sell their issue? Yes.

Regarding your last statement (((( FC ))))) i would venture to say the magazine would deny using it to sell issues but rather to bring attention to the subject at hand, motherhood. We all know anything regarding a breast will sell anything.


THIS is what kills me;

(Rant)

Way back when women stayed home, cooked cleaned and had the house to manage ( i am not talking about abusive, repressed women, but about women who felt happy and content doing so, not those who wanted to work outside the home and were not allowed to) hubby/kids/dog to feed, get kids to appointments/lessons, after school snacks, PTA, volunteer at school, homework etc.. all this was fulfilling to her, this was her part, this was her pride, this was what she did. THEN they said no, to be a *real woman* you have to go get a job, only they didn't tell her she STILL had to do the house, manage the kids, feed the masses, be a soccer mom/ideal wife ALL after working 8 hours a day. So the kids went off to day care, mamere's, crazy aunt loo-loos while mom went off to work. Baby is 6 weeks old? That's old enough for day care! The kid is 12, and a latch key kid now, all so mom can be a (what society deemed) *real woman*. Now this can work out of course, but the notion that we have to do it ALL to be a *real woman* KILLS me. SOOOOOOO then they say nope too many kids in day care, too many kids home alone after school, too many husbands complaining that they have to share housework now, too many kids home playing on the internet while mom is at work, kids eating breakfast and lunch at school, fast food for dinner, SO now, mom you need to stay home and nurture and coddle your babies, how can you even THINK of bringing a 6 week old to a day care center? So if you don't go to work and stay home with your babies you are a now *real woman*.

HOW about society keep their mouths shut and let women/parents decide WHO WHEN HOW WHAT WHERE they want to bring up their younguns... and stop putting demands on us in order that we may be *real women*?

(/rant)

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Cajun_dee

Regarding your last statement (((( FC ))))) i would venture to say the magazine would deny using it to sell issues but rather to bring attention to the subject at hand, motherhood. We all know anything regarding a breast will sell anything.


THIS is what kills me;

(Rant)

Way back when women stayed home, cooked cleaned and had the house to manage ( i am not talking about abusive, repressed women, but about women who felt happy and content doing so, not those who wanted to work outside the home and were not allowed to) hubby/kids/dog to feed, get kids to appointments/lessons, after school snacks, PTA, volunteer at school, homework etc.. all this was fulfilling to her, this was her part, this was her pride, this was what she did. THEN they said no, to be a *real woman* you have to go get a job, only they didn't tell her she STILL had to do the house, manage the kids, feed the masses, be a soccer mom/ideal wife ALL after working 8 hours a day. So the kids went off to day care, mamere's, crazy aunt loo-loos while mom went off to work. Baby is 6 weeks old? That's old enough for day care! The kid is 12, and a latch key kid now, all so mom can be a (what society deemed) *real woman*. Now this can work out of course, but the notion that we have to do it ALL to be a *real woman* KILLS me. SOOOOOOO then they say nope too many kids in day care, too many kids home alone after school, too many husbands complaining that they have to share housework now, too many kids home playing on the internet while mom is at work, kids eating breakfast and lunch at school, fast food for dinner, SO now, mom you need to stay home and nurture and coddle your babies, how can you even THINK of bringing a 6 week old to a day care center? So if you don't go to work and stay home with your babies you are a now *real woman*.

HOW about society keep their mouths shut and let women/parents decide WHO WHEN HOW WHAT WHERE they want to bring up their younguns... and stop putting demands on us in order that we may be *real women*?

(/rant)

Um, at the risk of elevating your blood pressure even further.....dont forget mothers are now being blamed for the obesity rates.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Kobi

Um, at the risk of elevating your blood pressure even further.....dont forget mothers are now being blamed for the obesity rates.

yaknow what they say...

If it's not one thing it's your mother

[girl_dee]

i once saw a show where a woman was still breastfeeding her 5 year old. The child was assessed as having delayed behaviors because she had no independence developed.

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by June

Breastfeeding is natural. All mammals breast feed their young...until they're old enough for solid foods.

When I had my son, one of the things they told me was that not only was it good for the baby, especially early on, but that it also was helpful because it made your uterus contract in order to expel all the afterbirth.

I don't agree that it's emotionally healthy to continue feeding your child after they reach an age where they have teeth and can eat solid foods. I don't believe we were built for that. When people used to have more children, they did not keep breast feeding all of them, they were weaned when the next one came along. This feels privileged, and something that has been created for parents with too much time (and money) to navel gaze.

YES. Privileged. That is what I was trying to say! Thank you!

[Apocalipstic]

I bet a lot of people are buying Time Magazine and talking about Time Magazine about the controversioal cover. There is no bad publicity.

About mothering and breast feeding? Its nobody's damn business. People need to stop being offended over every damn thing.

[dark_crystal]

I think breastfeeding is appropirate anytime and anywhere and i think employers should do everything possible to accommodate breastfeeding mothers

However, i am a little disturbed over the debate because there is starting to be some shaming behavior directed at mothers who are not able to breastfeed.

A climate is emerging where formula in a bottle seems to be looked at as the equivalent of antifreeze

There are very valid reasons why some mothers feed formula

[Rockinonahigh]

Originally Posted by Cajun_dee

Regarding your last statement (((( FC ))))) i would venture to say the magazine would deny using it to sell issues but rather to bring attention to the subject at hand, motherhood. We all know anything regarding a breast will sell anything.


THIS is what kills me;

(Rant)

Way back when women stayed home, cooked cleaned and had the house to manage ( i am not talking about abusive, repressed women, but about women who felt happy and content doing so, not those who wanted to work outside the home and were not allowed to) hubby/kids/dog to feed, get kids to appointments/lessons, after school snacks, PTA, volunteer at school, homework etc.. all this was fulfilling to her, this was her part, this was her pride, this was what she did. THEN they said no, to be a *real woman* you have to go get a job, only they didn't tell her she STILL had to do the house, manage the kids, feed the masses, be a soccer mom/ideal wife ALL after working 8 hours a day. So the kids went off to day care, mamere's, crazy aunt loo-loos while mom went off to work. Baby is 6 weeks old? That's old enough for day care! The kid is 12, and a latch key kid now, all so mom can be a (what society deemed) *real woman*. Now this can work out of course, but the notion that we have to do it ALL to be a *real woman* KILLS me. SOOOOOOO then they say nope too many kids in day care, too many kids home alone after school, too many husbands complaining that they have to share housework now, too many kids home playing on the internet while mom is at work, kids eating breakfast and lunch at school, fast food for dinner, SO now, mom you need to stay home and nurture and coddle your babies, how can you even THINK of bringing a 6 week old to a day care center? So if you don't go to work and stay home with your babies you are a now *real woman*.

HOW about society keep their mouths shut and let women/parents decide WHO WHEN HOW WHAT WHERE they want to bring up their younguns... and stop putting demands on us in order that we may be *real women*?

(/rant)

I couldnt agree more about all you have said.

[Sachita]

As Dee pointed out the pic gets your attention. beyond the content of the article I'm sure it was meant to strike a chord and sell issues. Kudos to Time for taking risk even if it is the most natural thing in the world.

I breast fed my son the first 6 months. I may have gone to a year or teeth but it just wasn't an option. I had to resume work after 8 weeks and back then the pumps were not nearly as fancy as they are today. I use some daycare but could depend on my family too. I hated using daycare and I think its sucks that a woman can't have that choice if she wants it. I think its France where the government supplements a mother for up to a year for maternity leave. But our system is so screwed up, we are raped in health care and a tax system that supports corruption rather then support american families.

[Cin]

Originally Posted by Sachita

As Dee pointed out the pic gets your attention. beyond the content of the article I'm sure it was meant to strike a chord and sell issues. Kudos to Time for taking risk even if it is the most natural thing in the world.

I breast fed my son the first 6 months. I may have gone to a year or teeth but it just wasn't an option. I had to resume work after 8 weeks and back then the pumps were not nearly as fancy as they are today. I use some daycare but could depend on my family too. I hated using daycare and I think its sucks that a woman can't have that choice if she wants it. I think its France where the government supplements a mother for up to a year for maternity leave. But our system is so screwed up, we are raped in health care and a tax system that supports corruption rather then support american families.

In Quebec mother, father and/or adopting parent can without fear of losing their job have a year unpaid leave and receive from the provincial government 55% of their pay weekly. Mother gets an additional 18 weeks before the birth, the father 5 weeks. Adoptive parents can have a total of 70 weeks. If you are pregnant and can’t work because your job is deemed dangerous to your pregnancy for any reason you can leave as soon as you are pregnant and receive CSST (workman’s comp –90% of your salary) for the duration as well as 52 weeks after the birth of the child. Gotta love the French mind set.

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Scuba

Funny how SOCIETY sexualizes/objectifies and shames women all in the same sentence.

I am SO over the patriarch and it's ignorant agenda that I just cringe anymore when articles like this are published. It's high time some people just get over themselves and grow up.

Originally Posted by The_Lady_Snow

What I will NEVER understand is why people have to sexualize, pervert, be so crude regarding a mother and her child and their choice.

I haven't read the article (I don't read Time magazine, but I'll see if it's on their website), but I agree very much with these two statements. When it comes to breastfeeding North American society seems to have this uncanny desire to try to sexually objectify and shame women, and portray breastfeeding as some kind of kinky activity between mother and child with an invisible hetero cismale spectator.

At the same time, the cover makes me wonder about the intentions behind designing the cover. I don't know, but something about the way the bodies are posed seems like the cover is purposefully trying to sexually objectify/shame/pervert breastfeeding. Maybe if I read the article more would be clarified, but it makes me wonder if that is typically how the mother in the article breastfeeds her child, if this is a natural pose, or if it was staged that way for a purpose. And if their bodies were posed/staged, then that does disturb me. Not because of the act of breastfeeding itself, but because it then becomes another example of sexualising women's bodies in the media for the purpose of attracting the hetero cismale gaze. So instead of talking women's relationships with their children and the social stigmas against breastfeeding, we're back to a conversation with the hetero male spectre in the background...

[Apocalipstic]

Selling magazines...plain and simple.

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

At the same time, the cover makes me wonder about the intentions behind designing the cover. I don't know, but something about the way the bodies are posed seems like the cover is purposefully trying to sexually objectify/shame/pervert breastfeeding. Maybe if I read the article more would be clarified, but it makes me wonder if that is typically how the mother in the article breastfeeds her child, if this is a natural pose, or if it was staged that way for a purpose. And if their bodies were posed/staged, then that does disturb me. Not because of the act of breastfeeding itself, but because it then becomes another example of sexualising women's bodies in the media for the purpose of attracting the hetero cismale gaze. So instead of talking women's relationships with their children and the social stigmas against breastfeeding, we're back to a conversation with the hetero male spectre in the background...

The cover was staged for effect. The photographer, Martin Schoeller, explains his vision as:

When you think of breast-feeding, you think of mothers holding their children, which was impossible with some of these older kids,” Schoeller says. “I liked the idea of having the kids standing up to underline the point that this was an uncommon situation.”

Capturing various attached parents — and their reasons for attachment parenting — was Schoeller’s biggest goal for the sitting. “It was important to show that there’s no stereotypical look for a mom who practices this kind of parenting,” Schoeller says.

http://lightbox.time.com/2012/05/10/parenting/#1

Originally Posted by Glenn

As a regular member of a few hetero-male sites, where feminism is usually frowned upon, and because the child is a boy, I think many hetero-men may view this cover picture as symbolic of the sissification of American men by modern women(for which there seems to be a growing belief and angst).

Cant say that I follow this line of reasoning r.e. the "sissification of American men" in regards to the photo. I'm thinking men who have a "sissified" problem are more likely to be those who were taught to believe women are meant to be barefoot, pregnant, silent, pieces of property and indentured servants who are supposed to worship the ground they walk on. Thats a patriarchy and privilege issue for another thread.

I went looking for the magazine which was supposed to hit the newsstands today. It isnt here yet.