Journal 5: Breastfeeding in Public

It is difficult to argue that we do not live in a breast-obsessed society. Everyday, we are inundated with images of female breasts; Americans like to see cleavage on the red carpet, and in music videos, and at the beach. Yet, we often become prudish about breasts when it comes to nursing a baby in public. In recent years, there have been concerted efforts to protect women's legal right to publicly breastfeed (nursing is legal in all 50 states). And despite definitive studies illustrating the benefits of breastfeeding, there have been several high-profile skirmishes in which nursing mothers have been asked to leave places of business, even planes. How do you explain our country's dichotomous views of female breasts? Why is it that we like to see breasts on TV, but maybe not at a restaurant? Should there be public spaces in which women should not be allowed to nurse? Is nursing in public a mother's right? And what rights, if any, do babies have? Finally, what do you see as appropriate nursing etiquette? Is there such a thing?

Include at least one of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Woman Kicked Off Plane for Breastfeeding Baby" (MSNBC)
• "Olive Garden Asks Breastfeeding Mom to Either Cover Up or Leave (NBC News)
• "Facebook Won’t Budge on Breastfeeding Photos" (The New York Times)
• "Peaceful Revolution: Why Breastfeeding Needs to Be Part of Health Care Reform" (The Huffington Post"

Articles are located in the eR.

Due: Wednesday, April 14

Images of Gender: Glee

Women March Topless in Portland Without Incident

The marchers want to call attention to the double standard in society's attitudes toward male and female nudity.

By Edward D. Murphy, The Portland Press Herald
April 3, 2010

PORTLAND – About two dozen women marched topless from Longfellow Square to Tommy's Park this afternoon in an effort to erase what they see as a double standard on male and female nudity.

The women, preceded and followed by several hundred boisterous and mostly male onlookers, many of them carrying cameras, stayed on the sidewalk because they hadn't obtained a demonstration permit to walk in the street. About a thousand people gathered as the march passed through Monument Square, a mix of demonstrators, supporters, onlookers and those just out enjoying a warm and sunny early-spring day.

After the marchers reached Tommy's Park in the Old Port, some turned around and walked back to Longfellow Square, but most stayed and mingled in the park. Some happily posed for pictures.

Police said there were no incidents and no arrests – nudity is illegal in Maine only if genitals are displayed.

Ty McDowell, who organized the march, said she was "enraged" by the turnout of men attracted to the demonstration. The purpose, she said, was for society to have the same reaction to a woman walking around topless as it does to men without shirts on.

However, McDowell said she plans to organize similar demonstrations in the future and said she would be more "aggressive" in discouraging oglers.

Class Canceled: Monday, April 5th

I know everyone was anxious to get back after spring break, but I'm feeling too hot and so I'm canceling class for Monday, April 5th.

Be ready with your essays on Wednesday, we'll have a lot to cover.

See you soon. Hope you had a nice break!

Week 11

Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.

—Plato, The Republic

Week 11

M 4.5
CLASS CANCELED

W 4.7
READ: CR—“Women at Arms: Living and Fighting Alongside Men, and Fitting In” by Steven Lee Meyers, “Testimony of a True Female Sports Fan” by Emily Diekelmann; eR—“A Feminist Love For Football” from Weekend Edition Sunday, “The Girly Girls” by Jessi Miley-Dyer, “MMA Is No Breakthrough for Women” by David Whitley, “More Men Take Traditionally Female Jobs” by Lenny Bourin and Bill Blakemore, “Johnny Weir is a Real Man” by Jim Caple, “Meet America's First Legal Male Prostitute” by Ian Daly, “Parents Dialing 'Manny 911' for Help” by Mike Adamick
IN-CLASS: Reading discussion; Presentations; Preview—Process essay

UPCOMING:

Week 12

M 4.12
NO CLASS—Furlough Day (This class only)

W 4.14
IN-CLASS: Library Session (Meet in a TBD location in the MLK library)
DUE: Expository essay; Journal 5