Extended bf pic

[VictorianSqualor]

Don't know if this has been linked before but isn't the picture in this article lovely?

I think it's fascinating to see how differently we're all reading this picture and her expression.

I really dont' see it as a come hither sexually objectified / still available when I've scraped off the kids look at all. It's clearly a lot about a woman's sexuality, but not necessarily sex. To me it looks like she's proud of her body adn what she is doing. I studied semiotics and feminism, I feel like i should be agreeing with OBM's points - but it's clearly not as clear cut as that, or we wouldn't have 100 women all looking at it and seeing / feeling such different things.

OBM, the one where I apologised and asked what you thought I meant - are you just ignoring that bit of it?

I agree Boco.

I see her exuding confidence, rather than raunchiness. Mind you, my first look when I saw the picture was of the beautiful vision of two children b/feeding first, then the mother, then at a closer look the woman who is the mother iyswim?

The OP is provocative. I don't believe she posted the image simply because it was 'lovely.' I imagine she has strong personal beliefs about breast feeding and wants to promote these by kicking off a debate. If so, she should explain her motivations in her first post.

Thank you everyone for being so nice about my pic (have taken it down now).

Yes, Boco, I think that's it - the difference between sexuality and sex... Have just had another look at it and it is not entirely come-hither. I think it's the angle of her head, the direction of her gaze - it's not congruent with the splayed-out hair and the open legs. There is something aort of defiant about it. She seems to be looking beyond both the boys and the camera.

I think- in terms of a kind of PR image intended to appeal to a wide demographic and really promote rather than document EBF - I'd be really,really happy to see an attractive woman, maybe late-thirties (ie older thatn the average model) tandem feeding or solo feeding.

Looking at the camera is great (less so when mimicking the traditional 'looking at the consumer prone porno pose, imo) but I would definitely art-direct it with her upright or lying on her side, with the deliberate intention of avoiding that 'splayed' idiom.

If I were the art director, I'd like to see, for example, someone like (gaah, searches round, has to commit, though not ideal) Jo Whiley, who's dyed and done, no scary hairy armpits , has a certain (absolutely certain, in fact) beauty, known to be smart. And who would never (I'll venture to say) do anything that could reinforce the common assumptions about what women's bodies are for.

I wonder if this was taken as part of a series of photos of her and the boys?

janeashercakewotsits, do you think VS doesn't think it's a lovely pic then?

Some images to portray that bfing is acually in the end something pretty normal as well as wonderful. So bfing reading paper, at a cafe chatting with friend, sleeping in bed, typing at computer (natch), looking amazing maybe at party (with sling and caption about not always being able to notice someone bf), reading to other children while bfing, and I think actually some incredible iconic stylized I am bf and I am woman ones.

Images to promote bfing need to also consider the audience they are trying to appeal to somewhat. It strikes me that a lot of appeal to bf posters are about health benefits (good, great message) and often feature real women (good as they should). But that they also tend to be aimed at older (than 20!) women who care enough about health to not eat maccy d's. What if some young women who might think breastfeeding is a bit yuck were to be appealed to?

Right here's a question for you. If it encouraged more women to breastfeed should posters be made that subscribed to current ideals of womenhood and sex appeal, and even perhaps celebrity? Should a campaign be about the bright and beautiful who breastfeed? Would that encourage more women to view bfing as a desirable thing to try? Or should the promotion of bfing be an opportunity to empower women to feel natural and 'real' alongside encouraging women to breastfeed?

oh sorry to have missed your pic bero
Janeasher - I don't see why, really, the OP should have to explain her motivations in her opening post. the picture is pretty lovely actually, and I am glad to have seen it and the debate has been interesting and informative.
I don't really see why you think she should have to justify linking to it, tbh.

janeashersbookofspacecakes, I think it is a lovely pic.
If I wanted to spark debate I would have said 'what do you think of this' before stating my own opinion.
I know that, on the whole, people who read the breastfeeding board on MN are supportive of extended breastfeeding and that most would support the act, and many support the picture. Which is what has happened.
I'm perfectly capable of starting a debate on breastfeeding in other ways dear.

But that is completely my own crush idea of who would be a good role model, in response to vvvqv's question.

I think mostly it\s about her lying down, and the fact that that position replicates so many others of women lying down. Most of which are pornographic.

So I'd go for same woman, same breasts, same kids, same look to camera, but sitting down and staring directly ate camera which crucially would be on the SAME level as her. Not standing over her.

About time this was linked again, I think

Here are some fantastic sexy images of breastfeeding women.

OBM, you are going to ignore me then?

I don't think posters should justify everything they say. But in this case, I feel the OP deliberately chose to appear innocuous, whilst actually wanting to kick off a powerful debate. I don't think that's fair to the reader.

I think you've eaten too many of those spacecakes.

Her expression reminds me very much of this and this

Slur, I think that is a very good question - the one in fact that we've been struggling to get through amidst the flying insults all the way through this thread. Wish I knew the answer.

no, hm, not ignoring.

just looking back, again, to check. Haven't responded yet because I don't want to post that I didn't see an apology (although I didn't - I saw a 'lighten up, I only upset you for a minute') because that makes me sound like a cunt.

I disagree jane because I think often opinions and thoughts develop through threads. I doubt VS could have anticipated the exact turn of this thread and possibly also didn't want to stifle people from forming their own opinions by saying in very clear terms.

'I think ebf is xyz and this pic is good for xyz and before you say xyz can I just add xyz.'

Sometimes to get a realistic and genuine idea of what people think it is worthwhile keeping back some of your thoughts.

(Course I think VS would sound less like she was directing co-ordinates to xyz )

Re. slur's q - it's good to see images of extended bfing, but I wonder whether it doesn't serve more to bolster those of us who already do it, than encourage those who would otherwise think 'eeurgh fark no'. That is to say, I'm not sure that the art direction of the pic would really make a material difference to bfing rates. It seems to me (on the basis of evidence that exists entirely in my own brain) that women make choices about bfing largely depending on their family influences, partner's influence (if relevant) and the competence or otherwise of the HCPs who advise them post-partum.

I'll save you some time, OBM

By hunkermunker on Mon 14-Jul-08 22:32:55
In the context of the thread?

I'm not sure I follow?

If I've upset you, I'm sorry - it was surely a fleeting thing, since I explained right away what I did mean - and I did think that the way I worded it was clearly lighthearted - and yes, on rereading it, I still think that.

What did you think I meant?