Chestfeeding

[ALoadOfTwaddle]

Just came across this term in a WhatsApp group I'm on. Apparently, it's a more inclusive word for breastfeeding.

So, I get the argument that if you're a woman who prefers to not be recognised as such, you may prefer not to be associated with words linked to women. But... Men have breasts too. Small and underdeveloped, but breasts. So what's wrong with calling it breastfeeding?

Transwomen get recognition for excelling at sports (against females)
Transmen get recognition... for having babies

It's almost as if nothing's actually ch... never mind.

Exactly!

It’s bollocks.

You say that it only applies to chemically induced child feeding by trans women, but there was a thread here a few weeks ago where a woman was kicked out of a breastfeeding support group for refusing to comply

These things start harmlessly and grow in to hard rules

The thought of chemically induced milk production by transwomen makes me feel physically ill. All those drugs going into an innocent baby.
It is the ultimate selfish act.

But men get breast cancer because they also have breasts.

Having breasts is part of being human.

The vast majority of anatomists in the past were men not women and they bloody named them.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I've seen no suggestion that this term should become universal?
Yes unfortunately I have seen people saying we should all use "chestfeeding" instead of "breastfeeding". "Pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women". Etc etc. So that transmen don't feel excluded. They remove the very language we need to describe ourselves and our issues and then try to tell us that this doesn't affect us at all?

Well, I know I'll be teaching my daughters that they are females and have breasts and there is nothing to be ashamed of about saying that. What the hell is this world coming to?

The harm is that it erases women, throws them under the bus, again, and tramples over what the incredible things WOMEN can do with their bodies.....

Yes, men can get breast cancer. Rare, but can happen.

What will periods be called in 10+ years?

Never mind 10 years time - some people refer to menstruating women as bleeders now! So charming.

People might have dysphoria around the word "breast," and calling it chestfeeding might make it a lot less uncomfortable for them. Whereas I can't think of anyone who'd feel uncomfortable about the word chest. It costs you nothing to try and use more inclusive words when you can.

As for the "why do we have to put effort into changing our language for some minor thing, it's stupid," argument... I'll remind you people say the same thing about saying police officer instead of policeman, saying firefighter instead of fireman, and using "he or she" for a random example person instead of defaulting to "he." Yeah, the positive effect may be small, but like I said it costs you nothing.

it costs you nothing

It costs language that is used to define women and female biology.

I agree it's ridiculous. Some people have too much time on their hands.....

Just seems everyone is ready and waiting to be offended these days and gets aggressively defensive when no harm was meant. A lot of people need counselling more than the English language needs overhauling!

Star I don't actually know where to begin

Is this some new form of gender dysphoria that is quite happy with being female as long as it can be called male? The whole point of there being a difference between men and women is women are the class of humans that can do things like give birth and breastfeed. If you feel that's something you want to do, whatever length of hair or outfit you feel like doing it in, you feel like a woman.

I hate all this gender neutral nonsense. World's gone mad. Your a boy or a girl, male or female - end of!! Get over it it's bloody pathetic!

DH's work ran a course for 'people who experience menopause' . He was tempted to book on it because he's likely to experience mine.
*The details made it obvious it was for women but never used the words woman or female.

When you think you've seen it all!! 🙄
I'll be a rebel and will continue calling it breastfeeding for as long as I live.

Maybe I think that I am batman I cant actually be batman though no matter how much I want to.

Should the whole world change its language to accommodate my beliefs?

Or should I accept that I am part of a bigger picture than just me?

Everything @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius said. That's all.

I like Germaine Greer's quote

'Just because you lop off your dick and then wear a dress doesn't make you a woman. I’ve asked my doctor to give me long ears and liver spots and I’m going to wear a brown coat but that won’t turn me into a f* cocker spaniel.'

The whole point is that trans women want to become women having never understood what being a woman is actually like because they don't have female biology, which is central to why women are oppressed. And then they expect us to move over and make space for them. They tell lesbians that they should want to have sex with penis owners. I think they are the offensive ones.

Isn't this a bit like those people who complain that you're not allowed to call it a blackboard anymore? As in, it's a load of bullshit and better paid no attention to?

Chests and breasts are two dkifferent, distinct anatomical parts of the body. Both men and women have breasts and chest. You cannot physically feed a baby with your "chest".

If one person has issues with one word, they can use whichever expression they want. But it's THEIR isssues. it is not reasonable to expect the rest of the World to change the way they speak, or use an incorrect term, just to humour that person. It is not ok to turn one person's issues onto everyone issue.