Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Asheville Citizen-Times columnist John Boyle weighed in on the debate over breast-feeding in a Sunday column that laid out his stance. He even called for the formation of a new support group:
I’ve seen plenty of women breastfeeding in public, and I’ve never been traumatized. Nor have I been particularly titillated (bad pun, yes, but the right word).
Most women throw a blanket over themselves and the baby, and you can’t tell what’s going on. Even if they don’t, it’s not like you really see anything more than the standard cleavage you see all over town, on supermarket tabloids or on TV.
And if your child sees this? So what? Explain to them that this is the natural way for babies to eat, and that — stop the presses! — women have breasts to accomplish the task.
I can’t believe how many women in particular get outraged at their sisters in breasthood over this. Maybe it’s because the formula companies did such a great job convincing mothers in the 1950s and ’60s that breast milk was inadequate, but a lot of women do seem very uncomfortable with breastfeeding. It somehow became seen as dirty.
And I’ll never understand men complaining about it. Since when, my fellow male pigs, do we gnash our teeth about possibly spotting a stray breast?
I’m so outraged I’m thinking of forming a support group for nursing moms and those of us who want them to continue. If you’d like to join my group, Americans Requesting Exposure of Lactating Organs, or AREOLA, just let me know.
Yesterday, I suggested that Asheville men supportive of breast-feeding women everywhere should show up topless at the Denny’s nurse-in. Then loyal reader Jeff added his own suggestion:
Here’s a suggestion for the *extra* supportive man: Show up dressed like a baby. Show up in nothing but a diaper with a rattle in one hand and an “up with breasts” sign in the other.
I hereby challenge John Boyle to do this. You know he’s going to be there anyway.
Boyle, the challenge has been made. So, John Boyle, will you and your new support group be present? Will you back up your words with your own bare nipples?
Lesley, the disadvantage of showing bare breasts at this event is that
1. It is not relevant to the cause. This is about a woman’s rights to breastfeed being violated. It it not about the health benefits of breastfeeding, women’s rights to have bare breasts, or public decency/exposure laws.
2. Being in public topless is not specifically protected under law. NC law states that no "private parts" should be shown. Since this is so vague, cops can (and probably will) arrest anyone who displays bare breasts when they are not being used for breastfeeding. Our goal is for this to be an even with NO arrests. We can’t stop those people who feel inspired, though.
3. It makes us look like a bunch of crazy liberals, which we are not. Crystal is simply asking that Denny’s respect the NC law and apologize. It was never about breasts. It is about breastFEEDING.
Marc, urine is not food. At least not where I come from.
Uh, Jason, thanks for the invite, but I don’t plan to wear a diaper for at least three or four more years. Hope there’s a big turnout, though.
I’d bet a million dollars that the last three replys are single men who never had children or have a clue as to how to raise a baby. You assume too much.
Just because you think it’s "natural" doesn’t mean it’s comparable at all to urinating. That’s wrong. Babys get FOOD from breasts, it’s how they SURVIVE. These mothers want to fight for their rights, protect the LAW and yeah also draw some attention to the bigger picture. Discrimination. Also, DogFace, I’m curious how you would know that ALL women in Asheville go bra-less? Got some free time, eh? I LOVE this town!!
Wow. What gives?! Breastfeeding equated to urinating? If naked breasts bring attention to the OVERWHELMING benefits of breastfeeding over formula feeding, then girls, by all means, whip them out!
Why are some people so afraid of breasts, lactation and nudity? What are the consequences of public displays of skin? Do tell.
Dog face, puh-lease.
"Yeah, let’s all go to Denny’s and do what God obviously intended. If I need to take a whiz, no need to go to the restroom. The male urinary organ is just something natural, and in this case it’s not being used as a sexual organ, so I’ll just whip it out and fill up a glass. Surely nobody would object. After all, it’s a natural part of life, and no one should be offended."
Um, I don’t think pissing in public and breastfeeding in public are even close to being similar. Don’t ever compare the two.
Please be aware that this is NOT A TOPLESS EVENT!! This protest is not about public exposure or indecency laws. It is not about women’s rights. It is about NC law stating that public breastfeeding on private or public property is legal, regardless of whether a nipple shows or now. PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP TOPLESS if you want to support this cause. It will HURT the cause if you do this. Topless protesting is another issue that may be addressed at a later protest, but not this one! Women who are not breastfeeding mothers are encouraged to dress in low-cut tops, but no nipples! We do not want anyone to get into legal trouble.
Our goal is for this to be peaceful and with no arrests.
Ugh. I’m more narrow-minded and puritan for having read these comments.
You forgot that these are the same women that don’t wear bras in public even when they are not pregnant. Something Asheville is known for.
Note: these are also the women that have no business going without a bra.
Yeah, let’s all go to Denny’s and do what God obviously intended. If I need to take a whiz, no need to go to the restroom. The male urinary organ is just something natural, and in this case it’s not being used as a sexual organ, so I’ll just whip it out and fill up a glass. Surely nobody would object. After all, it’s a natural part of life, and no one should be offended.
Or better yet, NO ONE from the media show up at all: and this non-issue die its own slow death …. all these "mothers" are concerned with, at this point, is publicity.
These same gals are probably sitting around telling each other what a nut-case the OCTOPUSSY is. They are no better.
Boyle is exactly right. This prejudice against families just doing what God obviously intended is ridiculous.
I just sent Denny’s a complaint via their on-line form at http://www.dennys.com/en/cms/Denny%27s+Contact+Us/195.html
Everyone should do the same.