Completely OT...

[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!

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.

[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.