My Portland-dwelling cousin is pregnant, and has been contemplating breast feeding lately. And by contemplating, I mean posting pictures of women breastfeeding on Facebook with various slogans about how it's normal and natural. Also, there's some kind of campaign to get a specific Facebook user un-banned. I'm assuming this account had too many boob pics flagged as offensive or spam.
First things first, she's right (you might want to screenshot this. I doubt I'll ever say that about this particular cousin again). Breastfeeding is a normal, natural, healthy act between a mother and a child. It's not shameful, it's not wrong, and it doesn't need to be hidden in back alleys and darkened rooms.
Do you know what's also a normal, natural healthy act? Pooping. Also, peeing, orgasms, picking your nose and scratching your butt. Do you need to be ashamed of any of these acts? Absolutely not. Do I want to watch any of these normal, natural, non-shameful acts? Absolutely not. Well, with the possible exception of orgasms, but that's extremely person and circumstance specific.
Just because something is normal and natural doesn't mean it's something that should be shared with the rest of the world. While I'm supportive of breast feeding and unsupportive of starving your children, I'm also supportive of basic modesty. When you breast feed in public find a quiet corner and put a blanket over junior's head. You don't need to be ashamed or embarrassed, but you do need to be aware of your surroundings and respectful of the other people around you.
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