Completely OT...

[bouncybouncy]

but it is a woman's issue:

I am not one to bring up controversial issues but this one just eats at me...I have discussed this with friends but wanted to see what opinions were outside of my bubble...

Since when is an image of a baby doing something completely natural offensive? It is not sexual! It is not tasteless! It is natural! and appropiately displayed on a related magazine!

...but this image of Spears is OK???




Is it me or are we a little mixed up with what is truely important and meaniful?

[mimitabby]

Spears is disgusting!:eek:

but i like the baby picture.:rolleyes:

[Deanna]

Spears is disgusting!:eek:

but i like the baby picture.:rolleyes:


Ditto. Spears isn't even being original.

[chickwhorips]

not a fan of the spears picture, or her in general. (don't get me started)

i must say i'm supprised that its that magazine. i figured she would go for playboy if she was going to be in public.

cute baby though and i think nothing wrong of that picture specially because its for that type of magazine.

[Veronica]

I just don't like babies. :D Or that chick.

But puppies and kittens are cool.

V.

[ACG]

not a fan of the spears picture, or her in general. (don't get me started)

i must say i'm supprised that its that magazine. i figured she would go for playboy if she was going to be in public.

cute baby though and i think nothing wrong of that picture specially because its for that type of magazine.


I completly agree!!!!!!!!!

[Lise]

We've got that parenting magazine all over the clinic. I was really surprised when there was controversy about the picture. Sheesh, people. It's called human survival. I find it pitiful that we've gotten so artificial in our everyday life that breastfeeding is "offensive".

Britney, IMO, is exploiting her pregnancy to wear pretty jewelry and pose nekkid on a big magazine cover. That is gross.

[DebW]

Took me 4 posts to figure out what you meant by Spears (I expected a long sharp pointy thing). I'm clueless when it comes to popular culture. Well, I've heard the name but have no idea what she looks like. Love the baby pic though.

[maillotpois]

From someone who nursed WAY too long (2 1/2 years!!), that picture is SO cute!!!

And I don't really like babies that much either (much prefer puppies) - but I really did like mine. I really didn't think I'd love anyone more than my Rottie til she came out....

[bouncybouncy]

Good!!! I am glad to see I am not the only "Spears hatin' whats wrong with a baby eating" gal!
Now who are all those so called Moms having a fit over the BabyTalk magazine????

Yes, V, puppies & kittens are cute too but I haven't heard of any major controversy over pics like this...

****I think I see nipple?:p

[mary9761]

<Steps up on soapbox>
what is confusing people unfortunately is that they have associated breasts with sex so much that they forgot the REAL reason humans and all mammals have MAMMARY glands!! I agree on both points that Brit is skeezy in general AND unoriginal in the pose, but I see nothing wrong with the baby nursing on a PARENTING magazine. Now if it was a big hairy (fill in the blank with your preferred term) suckling on the breast, then it WOULD be sexual and inappropriate.
I attempted to breast feed my son 25 years ago. I say attempted because he was born c-section, we both had infections and he was started on a bottle before my milk came in and I wasn't offered a breast pump to start my milk right away. By the time I got to start trying, he was hooked on the bottle, there were no lactation coaches like today and I didn't produce enough milk to keep him happy and well fed.
I think the baby in that photo looks happy and healthy, and there is nothing wrong with the photo. I have no problem with women who breast feed in public either regardless if they cover themselves and babies or not. I think it's offensive that people think women and babies should have to go to the filthy ladies room to feed. They wouldn't eat in the bathroom so why should an infant?
<Steps down from soapbox>

[Tater]

I'd also prefer a puppy, but the baby shot is a cutie. Spears is just a skeeze.

[chickwhorips]

****I think I see nipple?:p

no i think those are just cute little noses and feet that you just want to kiss and tickle!

[bouncybouncy]

They wouldn't eat in the bathroom so why should an infant?




TOUCHE!!!!

[Trekhawk]

The baby pic is cute when will people stop being horrified by what is a natural part of life.

[Lise]

I'm just a complete and total sucker for babies of all species. Every time I help a human baby into the world, I fall in love again for that little bit of time. I wish everybody could have that moment of awe and joy. When the baby looks up at mom for the first time, and puts his hand on her breast, safe, and home. I got to be part of that at 3 AM today. I'll never see it as anything but a miracle. A common, every day, around the world miracle. Let's celebrate that, and get on with bringing the peace these babies all deserve.

[Lenusik]

The picture in the baby magazine is wonderful. I loved it.
But please, do not jump on poor Britney. She has no other way to promote herself. She is an aweful singer, her music is stupid, she is not all that bright, and her husband is disgusting. Posing naked while pregnant was her only choice. Poor thing (just kidding)

[pooks]

I think both pics are beautiful.

(And I'm not a Britney fan.)

ETA: I don't find Britney's pic at all offensive. She's got a girl-next-door smile on her face. It's not a sexual picture. And I think pregnancy is just as beautiful and natural as breast feeding. We all know both pics have been airbrushed and photoshopped to perfection, but that's okay. I think they're both beautiful pics.

[mary9761]

In general, I've seen some beautiful photos done similarly of pregnant mothers. I just don't see Britney having done it necessarily in celebration of motherhood alone.

[doc]

I just don't like babies. :D Or that chick.


V.

But that's the point. No one has to love babies. You can feel free to hate babies.
BUT the picture is still just a baby breastfeeding for god sakes. Those people who made it an issue are out of touch with reality and way too prurient. It's not sexual.

[chickwhorips]

I just don't see Britney having done it necessarily in celebration of motherhood alone.

yup.

[FreshNewbie]

"But that's the point. No one has to love babies. You can feel free to hate babies.
BUT the picture is still just a baby breastfeeding for god sakes"

-- Ok I am far from liking Britney, but I can also say that you dont have to like Britney and you are free to hate her, but the picture is still pretty very natural because she is pregnant and pregnancy is beautiful.
Whether she did it for any other reasons than just celebrating her pregnancy we don't know....

[Bikingmomof3]

I do not see anything wrong with the baby pic at all, it is perfectly natural and it is on a magazine for new parents. I used to pick that up everytime I went to the pediatrician. I do not care for the Brit photo, it has been done before. Was not crazy about it the first time around. I believe pregnancy is beautiful and should be celebrated, but on the cover of a fashion magazine?

[cosc]

I liked the nursing baby pic. It brought back memories of the special bond between babies and Moms. I was blessed to have breastfeed 4 of my children and our adopted child. I think a pregnant women is beautiful too, but should keep the naked shots for her own personal picture album.

[margo49]

. It brought back memories of the special bond between babies and Moms. ...... I think a pregnant women is beautiful too, but should keep the naked shots for her own personal picture album.

I agree.
That said I think breastfeeding is a function.
Not a spectator sport and like most "special bonds" it does not necessarily translate to the public sphere. In-your-face, breast-apo tactics are not acceptable.Same goes for the nekkid photgraphs.I remember being *soooo* beautiful when I was pregnant - if I had actual photo's to look at *now* I might not "see it". Some things don't come out in the photograph. Yeah,yeah she is pretty... but *I* was beautiful.
Btw, that "special bond" is created by feeding your baby attentively and lovingly. How you feed them and what you feed them is secondary. Better a bottle-fed baby than a dead one .

[littlegrasshopp]

Both pictures are beautiful. I am not a britney fan but I have no issues with the picture itself. I hope that she WAS celebrating and not posing to just get attention or promote her career. That would sadden the picture a bit. Nothing wrong or immorral about either picture though.

[DrBee]

Ditto. Spears isn't even being original.

At least Demi had herself painted!

I think the baby pic is fine - it's appropriate for that magazine. There are tons of pics like that in the magazines. They've just moved one to the cover. oohhhh controversy!

[Brina]

This has been hashed out on the parenting board I frequent. There are people saying, "I wouldn't want my son to see that picture". I showed it to my two 6-year-old boys and their comment was, "cute baby". I asked what the baby was doing and they said, "drinking milk". Then they went on to talk about the river otter we saw at the Seattle Aquarium that was nursing her baby and cleaning its toes (talk about a seriously cute moment). No trauma, no scarring, no big deal.

[Lise]

This has been hashed out on the parenting board I frequent. There are people saying, "I wouldn't want my son to see that picture". I showed it to my two 6-year-old boys and their comment was, "cute baby". I asked what the baby was doing and they said, "drinking milk". Then they went on to talk about the river otter we saw at the Seattle Aquarium that was nursing her baby and cleaning its toes (talk about a seriously cute moment). No trauma, no scarring, no big deal.
Awwww! Otter! Nursing baby otter! Cleaning toes! A trifecta of cuteness! :D

When kids see breastfeeding as "mommy taking care of baby", they understand that it is normal and good. My little nephew would "nurse" his stuffed animals sometimes. He just knew it was a way to take care of something you love.

[Bikingmomof3]

This has been hashed out on the parenting board I frequent. There are people saying, "I wouldn't want my son to see that picture". I showed it to my two 6-year-old boys and their comment was, "cute baby". I asked what the baby was doing and they said, "drinking milk". Then they went on to talk about the river otter we saw at the Seattle Aquarium that was nursing her baby and cleaning its toes (talk about a seriously cute moment). No trauma, no scarring, no big deal.


I did my own unscientific experiment with my family. My oldest teen said and I quote: "eeewwww". SIGH-I do not know what I thought I would get from a teen boy. He did not like the Brit photo any better.

Next my twins. Also teens-neither noticed the baby was bestfeeding. They just said "so, it is a baby, ick". I asked them what was "ick" about the picture. Their response-"the baby. We do not like babies"

Finally DH. First picture-"what is the big deal? It is a baby". Second picture, "that was done before by Demi".

None of them were scarred and have all gone on to finish their morning.

Sidenote-not certain if it matters, they were bottle fed. Long story short (and it is a long story), I could not breastfeed due to meds passing into the breast milk-the meds caused apnea, anmong other horrific things- so all were bottle fed. However, they saw my best friend breastfeed for several years. When the twins first saw this (they were 2 or 3) they actually climbed on her lap to see what the baby was doing. I was horrified by their actions. My friend who had breastfed her two older children was not phased at all. After that first day, they never noticed her feeding the baby.

[MomOnBike]

Hm, a baby nursing on a cover of a parenting magazine. Why is it that I'm supposed to be shocked?

I'm less thrilled with the Spears photo, but, really, it's no more revealing than some Cosmo covers I've seen in checkout lines. Big woop. Oh yeah, she's (blush) "with child." Um, so?

I just wish we'd all grow up about skin and sexuality and natural functions. Sometime I feel that this country (USA) has the mental attitude of a junior-high boy. In a locker room. It's not attractive. Grow up, I say.

(Perspective: I'm the eldest of 5 children, Mother breast fed us all. I breast fed my two. I've taken art classes with nude models. My psyche is intact.)

[bikerchick68]

ah... interesting topic... I personally think America is way too hung up on sex and nudity. Why is nudity a BAD thing? And that is how society views it... it's so taboo that people are hung up on it. I think MomonBike nailed it. Our society acts like junior high school kids. Sheesh.

I think both pictures are fine. Neither is offensive to me. Two adults engaged in sex is not offensive to me. Seeing a nipple or a bare butt is not offensive to me.

Child pornography and rape... Now THOSE are offensive.

I think it's ridiculous that we're so uptight as a society that telling a coworker "You look nice today" could lead to problems. And yes, in those words... and that is directly from a labor law atty. :rolleyes:

[RoadRaven]

I find this whole thread fascinating
I see nothing wrong with either photo
Why should women feel ashamed of their breasts or their pregnant belly?
Why should other women feel ashamed or embarrased - or even irrate about it?


I'm with bikerchick -and a few others here. Western society is a prude and has become way too hung up on natural sexuality.

Tell me why it is ok for hundreds of thousands of young kids around the world to watch rated violent movies or play rated violent video/computer games ... but as soon as a movie or photos show flesh, or a natural sensual relationship, we try to censor it?

I strongly believe this back-to-front censoring by parents and society is contributing to the society we have evolving.

Don't we want children to grow up comfortable with their bodies, and guilt-free about intimate relationships? (I don't mean let them watch porn - I mean the movies that are great movies that happen to show or hint two consenting adults in a warm relationship show a bit of skin as they undress or as they share a bed - we know the details of what is going on (or is about to) - the young ones dont, but they can learn it is ok to feel good about yourself/the way you look and that one can be intimate in a good and gentle way.

Instead, we let the kids watch violent movies (I know a 4 year old who was given Dodge Ball as a birthday present, a 9 year old who has the Alien movies on DVD and a ten year old who has seen and heard everything Eminem has produced.

Instead we let them listen to all music on the radio and TV uncesnsored. If you enjoy it - fine - but what do you think those young ones are learning when they hear "Slap My B**ch Up" on the radio or watch some of the pop videos which are really soft porn showing subservient women as sexual beings?

Instead we buy kids PC games without condieration of the messages they constantly learn - I know 7-11 year olds that have Carmageddon, GTA, San Andreas, Terminator vs Predator, CovertOp...

Now, I am no prude - my music collection is vast and full of heavy rock and sexual innuendo... one of my alltime favourite movies is Fight Club. I enjoy playing GTA. But I am an adult...

So... do I find anything wrong with either of those pix?
Nope - they show humans as natural, beautiful and creative beings - isn't that what we want our children to be?

[FreshNewbie]

It couldn't be said better!!!

[Lenusik]

RoadRaven,
Thanks for putting it together so well. I completely agree with you. I just don't care for Britney and think that she had wrong reasons for displaying herself. But there is nothing wrong with the photo itself.
I grew up in Europe in a port city where you could always see topless women on the beach. It has never been an issue and nobody thought that it was offensive.
This is a prudish society and the kids are taught incorrectly. I hope that families will figure it out on their own.

[Denise223]

Thank you to bikerchick68 & RoadRaven for saying EXACTLY everything that I was going to say!

If someone is offended at the sight of a bare breast (and, God forbid, a nipple), well then, DON'T LOOK!!

I have worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years - ten of those years were spent in OB/GYN & Pediatrics. (mid-late 80's). It was quite interesting how some people "handled" seeing women breastfeeding their babies.

On several occasions I was asked, "isn't there another room for them to "do that"? I don't want my little son/daughter being exposed to that".

I don't have any "human" kids -- only the furry feline kinds :D . (Truth be told, I think working in those two fields were EXCELLENT birth control).

I love babies. In fact, while working in OB/GYN, I was able to be in the delivery rooms/birthing rooms for the births of several babies :D . (both OB & midwife delivered babies).

I HAVE NEVER been witness to anything more BEAUTIFUL!! Absolutely miraculous.


Originally posted by LISE: I'm just a complete and total sucker for babies of all species. Every time I help a human baby into the world, I fall in love again for that little bit of time. I wish everybody could have that moment of awe and joy. When the baby looks up at mom for the first time, and puts his hand on her breast, safe, and home. I got to be part of that at 3 AM today. I'll never see it as anything but a miracle. A common, every day, around the world miracle. Let's celebrate that, and get on with bringing the peace these babies all deserve.

You chose a wonderful profession. I know that it is not easy, and you don't get a lot of sleep, but you are a part of that which is a miracle! I think that there is a very, very special bond between midwife and patient :).

Have a peaceful weekend everyone!

Denise

[bcipam]

In the context of the magazine (Babytalk), and the topics covered, and the audience that it's marketed to, the photo of the nursing baby is not offensive.

The Bazaar cover is different. It's shows basically a pregnant nekkid lady and regardless if its Brittany or anyone else (say Demi Moore back when) is in bad taste. Now if the photo were contained within the Babytalk magazine I probably would not have mind. Context, its all about context.

But little OT further, our society is just not offended by much anymore. Around here, Pregnant gals walk around in belly t's and low rise jeans and shorts. No one wears maternity clothes its all around showing off that the big belly and large bellybutton! Sadly, half these proud prancing pregnant gals aren't even married!

Also we watch commercial for Victoria Secrets and "dancing" sanitary pads with wings. Sadly our children take this as second nature. Modesty is long gone out the window when 10 year old girls wear thongs, and sport belly button rings. So sad! Almost makes me glad to be old.

Edited to add: Before some blast me for being a prude - I am far from that. I have a degree in fine art and spent many hours drawing nude models. I do believe the human body is beautiful and we should not be ashamed. But I see things diferently from others and you have to realize not everyone, especially alot of men, see the naked female body as something artisically beautiful. We have to acknowledge there is this component in our society that sees women as sex object and basically less than human beings. Young women and girls do not undertsand this part of the human psyche and don't know how to protect themselves from unwanted advances. I believe alot of young girls wear thongs 'cause they are fashionable (as they sure aren't comfortable) not realizing what they do to men and well I will say it, the deviants in our society.

What makes the Bazaar cover any different from what is on Playboy? Really nothing. A naked women is a naked women. It will cause men to think bad thoughts.

OK sorry I realize I sound like an old women. These are just my thoughts. Nothing else.

[CyclChyk]

I'm still trying to figure out why the boob/baby pic would be offensive regardless of what magazine it is on. There is no nippage, in or out of the baby's mouth, and by today's standard, as long as nipples are not showing, boobs can be aired on public TV well before the kiddies bedtime. Forgive me if I offend anyone for saying this but it sounds like the whinings of bible thumpers to me (I live in the bible belt so I am subjected to this thought process regularly).

As for Brittney - she's used up, has killed her reputation, and her music is desperate. Apparently she had an opportunity to try and make herself over (the dyed hair and extensions; naked and preggers) in hoping it would be well received like it was for Demi (altho I'm not well receiving). Besides that, the target market for the magazine shes on is more open to suggestive positioning and less likly to whine about "nudity". The mommy magazine's market is definately more of a "reserved" type (IMHO).

Brittney's just a wanna-be. Whether its Madonna or Demi, I still can't stand her.

[Lise]

CyclChyk--love your avatar! Great pup! :D

[chickwhorips]

(I live in the bible belt so I am subjected to this thought process regularly).

and where exactly is this?

[CyclChyk]

Lise - love your avitar as well. Mine is my biggest baby Zeus. He is a 1year old boxer. I also have a 7yr old chihuahua named Kong; a 5 year old Chihuahua-dachsund mix named Bruiser; a 3 year old rat-terrier named Zoe; and a 36 year old hubby named Pain in my a** - I mean Bill..........

Chickwhorips - the bible belt is defined as: Those sections of the United States, especially in the South and Middle West, where fundamentalist religious beliefs prevail.

My area happens to be on the border of South Carolina and Georgia. I live where the Masters Golf Tournament is held every year, in Augusta. Here religion is very predominant and dictates much of our local society.

Gawd I long for New England!

[RoadRaven]

The Bazaar cover is different. It's shows basically a pregnant nekkid lady and regardless if its Brittany or anyone else (say Demi Moore back when) is in bad taste. Now if the photo were contained within the Babytalk magazine I probably would not have mind. Context, its all about context.


Hey there BC... excuse me while I deconstruct this statement more as a reflection of society, than of you personally... please understand these thoughts are not aimed at you.

*deep breath*

What I wonder, and I guess what I was trying to say in my earlier post (thank you Fresh, Lenusik, Denise) is why is it a problem to have a tasteful beautiful picture (no, I am NOT a fan of Brittney herself AT ALL) on any magazine? Why does it have to be a parenting magazine?

Parents know that pregnancy is miraculous and stunning, they know the gift they have been given in that child choosing them as her/his guardian.

What I would love to see is that the context for acknowledging the beauty of this time in a womans life be more than parenting circles.

We will always have young males drooling over every hint of "boobage" because everything else about women is hidden away and mysterious. Breasts are literally "out there" and an achievable 'goal'.

However, if we (as a society) took a sensible attitude to women's bodies and didn't ONLY show them as provocative and sexual, then surely our children would realise and understand - with our support and guidance through discussion - that women have this incredible power and beauty and sensuality that isn't always associated with sex.

Of course boys will grow into young men who are interested in sex - it is hormonally and socially programmed into them. We can make sure this interest doesn't become an obsession if we offer a different perspective.

But instead we endeavour to limit exposure to naked and semi-naked women to music videos, girly calendars, page 3 girls, rank lyrics, violent movies and so on.

How can some boys grow up with anything more than a drooling attitude when we do not give them a chance to see the naturalness and beauty that humanity is?

[Bad JuJu]

My area happens to be on the border of South Carolina and Georgia. I live where the Masters Golf Tournament is held every year, in Augusta. Here religion is very predominant and dictates much of our local society.
Gawd I long for New England!

Or even the northeastern US! I know just what you're talking about, CyclChyk, having been raised in NJ and New England and now living in the southeast. It can be a pretty intolerant culture sometimes. Everyone's pretty friendly at the surface, but don't let them find out that you don't go to church.

On the other hand, I don't want to overgeneralize. I've made some wonderfully understanding friends here, and our neighbors are the best I've ever had. You just have to seek out the ones who are more tolerant.

[chickwhorips]

a slight thread drift, but still on the subject of preggers.

happened to be watching TLC last night and they had What Not to Wear: Baby on Board. never knew there was such cute maternity wear out there. they had three ladies that they made over. one a couple months preggers, a couple months to go and one that just had a second baby. i thought it was really good, and it made them all feel good and proud to be new mommys. then they had the guy from TLC's Cover Shot (show that takes mom's and makes them over and does a photoshoot with them) shoot all three of them for a beautiful picture.

back to orriginal pictures we were talking about....

[donnambr]

Hm, where to start...

- Nothing offensive about the baby shot. It's eating, for goodness sake.
- What I really like about the naked pregnant pic is that it is one of the only times you will see a woman on the cover of a popular fashion magazine who isn't dangerously underweight. Otherwise, it is rather unoriginal.
- Now, about Spears getting flack about it - that's another kettle of fish. She's spent her whole career sexualizing & objectifying her body to an extreme that one could argue was without precedent. More so than Madonna. Worse, it was in a somewhat sleazy way with undertones of appearing underaged. Influenced a whole generation of young women's fashion choices. (Have any of you had to write up anyone yet for wearing way too risque clothing to work? I have, and the young woman had no clue why her clothing was problematic! After all, even little girls dress that way...we actually had to write up a dress code, blech!) Now she wants to put that all behind her (for now) and be an icon for pregnant female beauty?? Dream on. I live in Oregon, we have hippies here, so there are plenty of examples of pregnant beauty I can admire that aren't so overdone and far more creative... Ok, can you tell I don't like Spears? :o

BTW, I am not in the least bit religious, but I am deeply concerned about the effects of sexualizing children and very young women. Pam, you're not the only one who finds thongs for 10 year old girls disturbing.