Cover Causes Controversy

Jimmy Choo · #1 08-10-2006, 01:54 AM

The August cover of the magazine "Baby Talk" is causing quite a stir. So let's discuss.

http://www.parenting.com/parenting/babytalk/channel

AlphaFrog · #2 08-10-2006, 07:46 AM

I personally don't see the problem with it. It's a PARENTING magazine. and the major feature article is about breast feeding.

If Vanity Fair (or whoever it was) can do an article about Brit, and have her naked on the cover, what's the big deal about this??

f8nacn · #3 08-10-2006, 08:12 AM

Why is this magazine causing such controversy? People choose to make big deals out of small things and turn big things into small things. This is a woman's natural right. There isn't anything unnatural about it that it deserves such attention. From what I believe, this magazine isn't sold in stores...you have to have a mail subscription for it...but of course I could be wrong. But anyway, there is nothing wrong this cover and people need to leave it alone!

DeltAlum · #4 08-10-2006, 09:12 AM

I see absolutely nothing controversial about the pictures/magazine cover.

It is tastefully done and doesn't "show" anything even remotely out of line.

And, as has been pointed out above, this is a natural human function.

Some people need to find something constructive to do with their time.

(Posted by the proud husband of a former member of the international board of directors of LaLeche League, International)

Drolefille · #5 08-10-2006, 09:33 AM

OMG did you know that women have these THINGS coming out in front of them? Men (and other women) view them sexually but BABIES EAT FROM THEM!!!!

Won't someone think of the CHILDREN!?!?
I'm too lazy to click on the article but is this the one with the woman who SHREDDED the cover so her 13 year old wouldn't see it?

SydneyK · #6 08-10-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f8nacn

This is a woman's natural right.

While it is certainly true that women have a right to opt to breastfeed, I think it's more important to point out that breastfeeding addresses a baby's right to EAT. Breastfeeding is (usually) the safest, most convenient, most nutritious and most affordable way to nourish an infant. I see nothing controversial about the cover. I think it's sad that some people are offended by it. Clearly, they've not been properly educated about the benefits of breastfeeding.

DeltAlum, hat's off to you and your support of LLL.

-gets off soapbox

33girl · #7 08-10-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

While it is certainly true that women have a right to opt to breastfeed, I think it's more important to point out that breastfeeding addresses a baby's right to EAT.

3 year old children also have a right to eat. That doesn't mean that they should be dragged to a 5 star restaurant where they'll misbehave, be general pains in the butt and make the other patrons miserable.

I'm all for breastfeeding, and I could care less about the cover of some parenting magazine I've never heard of till today (hmm, publicity stunt perhaps) but I don't think this has anything to do with the baby's "rights." Breastfeeding is wonderful. So is sex. That doesn't mean I want to see either one if I'm not a participant.

But if as f8nacn says - that this mag is by subscription only - then it's DEFINITELY a publicity stunt to get their name out there.

AlphaFrog · #8 08-10-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

But if as f8nacn says - that this mag is by subscription only - then it's DEFINITELY a publicity stunt to get their name out there.

I don't think it is. You can find "Baby Talk" at B&N and they give them away like last year's halloween candy at OB/GYN offices. Actually, most OB/GYNs have free subscription cards for their paitents that want them.

RACooper · #9 08-10-2006, 06:04 PM

This causes controversy? Seriously what nut jobs think that this is some how offensive or controversial? Simply put babies breastfeed, and they can do it legally anywhere (at least up here) so why are people in a snit over this cover? Someone please explain...

Scandia · #10 08-10-2006, 06:49 PM

It irritates me that some people find something so natural to be offensive. The cover is tasteful and pertinent to the subject of the magazine.

And also that people find breastfeeding in public to be offensive. It is not a health hazard (as compared to urinating or defecating).

Many body parts have dual functions. Hands can be used to caress someone or type on a keyboard, as an example. So why do some people have trouble accepting the fact that breasts can be both sexy (like practically any other body part) as well as nursing instruments?

kddani · #11 08-10-2006, 06:54 PM

I'm not a huge fan of women whipping it out to feed junior in certain public settings (particularly when said woman is not very discrete), and I personally haven't made a decision whether or not i'll be breastfeeding any future children of mine, but I have a hard time seeing this as offensive. You can't even see nipple or anything... he could be sucking on his fat, hairless father's belly button for all we know. Okay, maybe not, but it's not OH MY GOD IT'S A BOOBIE! Actually it looks like they airbrushed out any fragment of possible nipple.

JenMarie · #12 08-10-2006, 07:52 PM

Don't you typically see more boob on an issue of Cosmo or in the tabloids?

DSTCHAOS · #13 08-10-2006, 07:57 PM

Drolefile's and 33girl's posts made me laugh.

DeltAlum · #14 08-10-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

DeltAlum, hat's off to you and your support of LLL.

Two things were/are very neat about LaLeche League (LLL).

First, the good it does for moms and babies.

Second, what it does to empower its members. When "Mrs. DA" ran the organization in Colorado, later was administrator for all of the Southwestern US and Southern California, and then on the International Board of Directors, it was actually very neat to be introduced at meetings as "Mrs. DA's husband."

It felt very good to me for her to be in the spotlight.

honeychile · #15 08-10-2006, 10:37 PM

Like kddani, I'm not wild about women who "whip it out" without any attempt at discretion or modesty, but there is one thing I always got a kick out of:

Many years ago, in our county, a few women mounted a protest at a public pool, and have a "feed-in" or whatever they called it. The protest was stopped peacefully, and the "offenders" had to appear in court.

Which meant that they had to appear at Allegheny County's Court House, replete with three story frescoes, showing flora and fauna in allegorical forms, including women breast feeding! The irony was rich!

There's a glimpse of the one mural in the movie Mrs. Soffel, btw.