Dear Fellow Breastfeeding Mother Who Just Doesn’t Understand,
Let’s cut to the chase. Why does a fellow mother, who has breastfed in the past, feel compelled to shame others? Seriously, why is that necessary?
Here’s the reality: Strangers aren’t interested in your ill-informed opinions. (Yep, that’s the truth.) I’m baffled as to what part of this is considered offensive.
As someone who writes online, I get the allure of crafting a clickbait piece that stirs up the infamous mommy wars. You mentioned your experiences nursing in high-end restaurants, on the beach, in doctors’ offices, and even sitting on a small patch of grass while feeding your baby by the roadside. Yet, you still found it possible to cover your exposed nipple with a blanket or a part of your shirt. So, you ask, is it really such a big deal?
You claim to “totally appreciate the importance of normalizing breastfeeding and raising awareness about nourishing our children, which is undoubtedly the priority.” But apparently, that priority takes a backseat to your discomfort when stating, “I don’t want to see your naked breasts. I don’t want my husband to see them, and neither does my preschool son.”
Oh my goodness. You really went there.
Let’s stop pretending that your desire for modesty while nursing is something that every mother values. It’s not the 1950s anymore, where women felt repressed in voicing their rights or performing this natural act in public. Times have changed.
And honestly, women like you, who antagonize nursing mothers—knowing how challenging it is—are among the worst offenders.
I don’t wish to hear your unsolicited judgments. It doesn’t mean I think every woman shouldn’t voice her opinion. It means that for countless people in our society, public breastfeeding remains a right for which women must still advocate—free from judgment. Shaming those who choose not to cover up (which can be challenging for some) is pointless and harmful. Women deserve the right to breastfeed in public without facing harassment, and you’ve only fueled those who would do just that.
Yes, you have access to a computer and the internet, allowing you to share your views. But your words, “Yes, your breasts are beautiful. Yes, they are feeding children. Yes, they are natural. But your vagina helped make the kid, and I don’t see you flaunting that around,” imply a level of hypocrisy I can’t overlook.
So here’s my truth: If you’re not contributing something meaningful to the discussion on public breastfeeding, I would appreciate it if you refrained from sharing your passive-aggressive, judgmental comments.
Go ahead, congratulate yourself for crafting a viral piece, even if it sparked a conflict among women who ought to be supporting each other. Just don’t resent me for pointing it out.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Breastfeeding Mother Who Truly Supports Women
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In summary, mothers should uplift one another instead of shaming for personal choices regarding breastfeeding. Each woman’s experience is unique, and public breastfeeding should be embraced without judgment.