I think breastfeeding is a beautiful and natural process that goes in and out of fashion our so-called civilized countries. Our bodies are naturally made to do so, and research has proven time and time again all of the wonderful benefits. So it is baffling that new mothers have to fight most employers for a place to pump their breast milk for their babies. I plan to advocate for any nursing mother’s right to publicly and have a clean safe place in the work area to breastfeed and/or pump.
In a blog titled Breastfeeding in Utah, a post spoke about the following:
"Some Texas mothers demonstrated resistance outside of a Texas mall where a security
guard told her to cover herself up when she was breastfeeding. These peaceful protests can also be referred to as “nurse-ins”. Another example is a woman who organized a “feed-in” at a local mall in which more than 160 woman participated in."
guard told her to cover herself up when she was breastfeeding. These peaceful protests can also be referred to as “nurse-ins”. Another example is a woman who organized a “feed-in” at a local mall in which more than 160 woman participated in."I found an awesome site dedicated to controversial topics about women’s breast called 007 Breasts. One topic found at http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-world.php allows women to post about breastfeeding in public in their part of the world. The following posts have been retrieved from the link above:
Kenya
In my country, breastfeeding is normal. In fact, a woman who doesn't breastfeed is frowned upon. The only women who don't breastfeed are usually under strict doctors orders.
Breastfeeding in public is normal. I have been raised around this and seen many women whip out a boob in public without a cover up and no one gives a second thought to it. Breasts, especially of a nursing mother, are not regarded as sexual. My entire family has been nursed. I was breastfed by mother till I was 2 years old and my aunt breastfed her baby till she was one year old.
Sharon
In my country, breastfeeding is normal. In fact, a woman who doesn't breastfeed is frowned upon. The only women who don't breastfeed are usually under strict doctors orders.
Breastfeeding in public is normal. I have been raised around this and seen many women whip out a boob in public without a cover up and no one gives a second thought to it. Breasts, especially of a nursing mother, are not regarded as sexual. My entire family has been nursed. I was breastfed by mother till I was 2 years old and my aunt breastfed her baby till she was one year old.
Sharon
Egypt
Egyptian women can't try beastfeeding in public because of our habits, and beside this, it's forbidden as our religion tells us.
Ahmed Moustafa
Egyptian women can't try beastfeeding in public because of our habits, and beside this, it's forbidden as our religion tells us.
Ahmed Moustafa
Ghana
Ghanaians see breastfeeding the surest and purest way to nurse a baby. Wherever you are, no matter what u are doing, you are expected to feed your baby if the need arises. If you dont and the baby keeps crying you end up with heaps of insults from onlookers and you are suspected of stealing the baby. The culture in Ghana frowns on exposing the body in public even the cleavage, but then exposing the breast for baby feeding purposes is highly encouraged.
adwoa
Ghanaians see breastfeeding the surest and purest way to nurse a baby. Wherever you are, no matter what u are doing, you are expected to feed your baby if the need arises. If you dont and the baby keeps crying you end up with heaps of insults from onlookers and you are suspected of stealing the baby. The culture in Ghana frowns on exposing the body in public even the cleavage, but then exposing the breast for baby feeding purposes is highly encouraged.
adwoa
Israel
Breastfeeding in Israel is accepted and is promoted (La Leche is very active) but unfortunately many women wean when they go back to work (which is often after three months) and switch to formula (sometimes with very sad consequences; a while ago there was a scandal with a formula called Remedia whose composition got changed by mistake and it lacked Vitamin B1. Some babies died and some infants sustained profound neurological damage. It was a very big scandal). Judging from the women I know and the WHO only few women nurse past 6 months and formula is big business there and very affordable.
Patricia
Breastfeeding in Israel is accepted and is promoted (La Leche is very active) but unfortunately many women wean when they go back to work (which is often after three months) and switch to formula (sometimes with very sad consequences; a while ago there was a scandal with a formula called Remedia whose composition got changed by mistake and it lacked Vitamin B1. Some babies died and some infants sustained profound neurological damage. It was a very big scandal). Judging from the women I know and the WHO only few women nurse past 6 months and formula is big business there and very affordable.
Patricia
Pakistan
Mothers prefer breast feeding in Pakistan. In rural areas mothers don't mind breast feeding at any place. In cities mothers take care for any indecency but they are not worried to feed at any public place. Particularly women avoid feeding in front of their relatives. Although many times it has seen women not minding open their breasts and nipple show.
Najma
Mothers prefer breast feeding in Pakistan. In rural areas mothers don't mind breast feeding at any place. In cities mothers take care for any indecency but they are not worried to feed at any public place. Particularly women avoid feeding in front of their relatives. Although many times it has seen women not minding open their breasts and nipple show.
Najma
Hong Kong
Breastfeeding in Hong Kong is regarded as very rude and is indecent exposure in public. I have never seen a Hong Kong woman breastfeed their child in public. If mothers want to breastfeed their child, they either do it at home (and bring out bottled milk) or in the washroom cubicles. Once in an immigration office, a mainland Chinese woman was breastfeeding. She wasn't stared at, but the people who accidentally glanced all walked away, and started badmouthing the mainland China woman.
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Australia
Australia now has 100% legal protection for mothers who breastfeed in public. Every State and Territory has now specifically protected the rights of women to breastfeed in public. The legislation in most states also includes breastfeeding as one of the grounds for unlawful discrimination in other areas such as employment.
On 24 May 2011, the Australia Federal Parliament also passed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to make breastfeeding a separate, stand-alone ground of discrimination, rather than a subset of sex discrimination.
It's a sad reflection on society that we need to do this, but good that we have.
Ros
Australia now has 100% legal protection for mothers who breastfeed in public. Every State and Territory has now specifically protected the rights of women to breastfeed in public. The legislation in most states also includes breastfeeding as one of the grounds for unlawful discrimination in other areas such as employment.
On 24 May 2011, the Australia Federal Parliament also passed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to make breastfeeding a separate, stand-alone ground of discrimination, rather than a subset of sex discrimination.
It's a sad reflection on society that we need to do this, but good that we have.
Ros
I also used breastfeeding as my topic and just like you I do believe that it is natural and best for baby. But I felt first hand how much it hurt as stated by the woman in Kenya when people frown at you when you don't breastfeed and places even more stress on first hand mothers. My husband did not wantme to display my breast in public so we always found a quiet stop where no one could see. Even in most malls in South Africa we have places where mothers can breatfeed. Although I agree with advocating for breastfeeding in my opinion the picture did not display the beauty of breastfeeding or nurture of it. Your post is very interesting and learning about all the different countries views on breastfeeding is fasinating. Thank you
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