Cultural differences?

[punkin]

2. How is the addition of that nipple valid to that story??? It was not about breast feeding.

I want to address the second point (mostly). A mother nurtures her baby. In most contexts food=nurturing. Since the article was about motherhood, it makes perfect sense to show breastfeeding. Actual BFing however, would cover both the nipple and and that adorable smile, so I think it is perfectly acceptable and the marketing ploy is in the smile, not the nipple.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I think it is reasonable to expect the general values around us to affect our values, and expectations whether about sex, parenting, religion or politics. It isn't prejudicial to say that there are general cultural differences.

 

[cardaway]

2. How is the addition of that nipple valid to that story??? It was not about breast feeding.

Adding the breast obviously adds context as to when the picture was taken.

As for what it adds, or doesn't add to the article, it wouldn't be the first time an editor used a picture that was not taken to match with the article. Don't jump tp blame the photoprapher, blame the editor.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Do I think Americans, as a nation in genera,l are prudish compared to my culture ... yes I do.

Well, then let me be one of the first to inform you that I think that many people here might find the words 'prude' and 'repressed' to be negative judgement calls and even name-calling. The word Prude here is used with a negative connotation.

 

[Freyja]

I think that you are very wrong in that assumption.

1. Anything to get attention and make a sale!!!

2. How is the addition of that nipple valid to that story??? It was not about breast feeding.

3. I maintain that nobody here will post that they do not see the sexual value and significance to a woman's breast/nipple. So, how could the 'sexual' aspect be completely unseen or ignored.

This American never did. My mother never did either, she nursed all 9 of her kids, back when Americans really were really repressed about such things.

That said, I never felt the need to expose myself to the general public while nursing. When out and about in the general public I always found a quiet place to nurse my kids, usually under a blanket. Nor have I ever seen any woman do this. I've read about it on the DIS, but I think in general, we Americans tend to keep our breasts covered while nursing. Is that not the case in your country OP? Just curious. It certainly wouldn't offend me if I did witness such a thing, nor did the picture that made headlines.

1. I can 100% say that I do not see anything sexual about a nipple shown in this context, nor would the majority of people in Denmark (where the article is from).

2. The majority of Icelandic women breastfeed. The way they do it is very individual. I would say the maybe 50/50 cover up/don´t. I usually tried to cover my baby up with a blanket when breastfeeding in public, but more so that the baby would be peaceful and enjoy its meal than to cover up my breasts. I had no problem with pulling my shirt up in public, on the bus, at the mall, airport in a shop and breastfeed. Couldn´t care less if anyone saw my ****s or not. If they don´t want to see it, they can look the other way.

 

[Crokette]

I have lived here almost 3 years and I have not seen one breastfeeding woman (and I go downtown Mon-Fri where there is a park with many infants in strollers). Italian women do like showing off cleavage with low cut blouses and there are some designated locations for nude beaches, but something tells me that maybe (at least for my area), breastfeeding is considered a private thing and not to be viewed by others. I will have to ask my Italian friend why I have never seen a woman breastfeed in public.

Usually, breastfeeding women don't feed their baby in front of everybody's sight! I've seen it twice in my whole life and the women were hiding the breast, so one could only guess they were breastfeeding...

 

[azgal81]

I'm not offended. I mean really I think everyone has seen breasts before.

 

[Freyja]

To me a photo(s) of a lesbian couple(s) with a baby and older children would be more appropriate for the article.

OP why did you feel a need to start this thread if not to mock or put down us prudish Americans. I cannot read the article. Now if we were having a discussion about lesbians having babies and told us what it said that would be different.

BTW when Janet Jackson did here SB stunt I could careless you saw that stupid star. My only grip was they said it was an "accident". I believe it was always planned.

I didn´t start the thread to discuss lesbian couples having kids. I wanted to hear how people felt about the picture. Positive or negative. Not to pass judgement. If you can stand by your opinion why do you feel so put down by me having a different opinion? This is a discussion board. Some people tend to forget that sometimes.

 

[punkin]

This whole discussion reminds me of when we went to the Louvre in Paris. My DD was 2 at the time and still BFing. She really liked all the paintings of the Madona with exposed breasts as she pointed to them and named them LOUDLY.

I guess some would think that the paintings were designed to sexually stimulate while I think they were designed to show domesticity.

 

[Freyja]

This whole discussion reminds me of when we went to the Louvre in Paris. My DD was 2 at the time and still BFing. She really liked all the paintings of the Madona with exposed breasts as she pointed to them and named them LOUDLY.

I guess some would think that the paintings were designed to sexually stimulate while I think they were designed to show domesticity.

I agree.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

it is totally natural - I have no problem with it!

I also don't see anything wrong with the OP's discussion of cultural differences on this topic???

 

[Sleepy]

Well, first of all there are more things that could be taken into consideration than just cultural differences. It could for example also be religious differences.

Religion plays a great deal in the cultural expectations of many countries.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I didn´t start the thread to discuss lesbian couples having kids. I wanted to hear how people felt about the picture. Positive or negative. Not to pass judgement. If you can stand by your opinion why do you feel so put down by me having a different opinion? This is a discussion board. Some people tend to forget that sometimes.

I already told you earlier that the photo did not bother me.

Actually this is a Disney discussion board, so a photo of a Denmark lesbian's breast and her cute bundle of joy is not really why we all came here. I do enjoy some of the OT threads and others seem to be started for other reasons (to spout out ones personal views on religion, politics etc.).

Well, first of all there are more things that could be taken into consideration than just cultural differences. It could for example also be religious differences. Do I think Americans, as a nation in genera,l are prudish compared to my culture (which by the way is not Danish), yes I do. Does that mean that I think any less of them? ABSOLOUTLY not. Do I in general like Americans? Very much so. Would I like to live for a couple of years in the States? Probably.
As someone said earlier, it´s not about who´s better or who´s worse. It´s just different. I can by no means see why those differences can not be discussed and debated.

So why did you have to state this? You DID want to make a point that we are lesser than those far-sighted Europeans.

 

[cardaway]

This whole discussion reminds me of when we went to the Louvre in Paris. My DD was 2 at the time and still BFing. She really liked all the paintings of the Madona with exposed breasts as she pointed to them and named them LOUDLY.

I guess some would think that the paintings were designed to sexually stimulate while I think they were designed to show domesticity.

Face it, you exposed your children to porn. Why you are not locked up is a mystery.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Face it, you exposed your children to porn. Why you are not locked up is a mystery.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I think the picture is fine. Exposed breasts are not scary. If you think about it, there is nothing really sexual about a breast. It's a big lump of fat that can deliver nourishment. In fact it could be said that a man's fixation on a breast could have some sort of reflection on his relationship with his mother.

As for the use of the word teat...hmmm.

 

[Charade]

Nah, most of the women who put them out there for free are not worth the effort. You get what you pay for.

You need to get out more...

 

[Hercules10]

I think the picture is fine. Exposed breasts are not scary. If you think about it, there is nothing really sexual about a breast. It's a big lump of fat that can deliver nourishment. In fact it could be said that a man's fixation on a breast could have some sort of reflection on his relationship with his mother.

As for the use of the word teat...hmmm.

Leave my mom's 'teat' out of this....

 

[snowy76]

OP why did you feel a need to start this thread if not to mock or put down us prudish Americans.

Some people just like to make interesting observations for the sake of discussion. I just finished a geography course where issues like this were often discussed. It doesn't have to be a debate. There ARE many differences about what is considered appropriate in public, based on what country or culture you are living in. If the photo had a baby holding a bottle, I doubt anyone would care whether the photo showed a baby feeding, or a baby with a lesbian couple.

I don't think the OP asked anyone whether the picture was "right" or "wrong". She basically said, isn't it interesting that there is such a difference in the way different people approach something like that. And it IS interesting. Whether you agree it's okay or not, it makes you think.

ETA, mickeyfan, not trying to pick here, but you mentioned this is a Disney board so this topic is not why we're here. I thought the point of the Community Board was to talk about non-Disney topics?

 

[snowy76]

I think the picture is fine. Exposed breasts are not scary.

Unless they are on a man, and they are bigger than mine. THAT is a bit alarming.