How did I miss this? I ignore the news, but every now and then a breastfeeding story comes up, usually because of some uppity Victorian-types making lots of noise. If the Victorian-type is a politician, all the lefty sites will be all over it. Why wouldn’t they? It’s outrage red meat.
New Hampshire State Rep. Josh Moore said on Facebook that men should be allowed to grab the nipples of breastfeeding mothers if the law banning women exposing their breasts did not pass.
I don’t care either way if a woman breastfeeds in public spaces—though it’s really up to the property owner to allow/disallow as they see fit. Most people, I think, don’t care all that much, but the eternally offended tend to also be the eternally obnoxious, so a kind of spotlight fallacy shines bright in this context. I suppose my vague apathy rises to some level of de facto support, but that’s not for me to decide.
I can suggest an alternative proposal for Moore—one that isn’t so sexual assaulty: if women get to do publicly breastfeed without reprisal, then men can assume permission to manspread and mansplain (one privilege per breast) where a reasonable person would deem it appropriate. #EqualityForAll
Additional thought: in reality, breastfeeding is going to discourage nipple-grabbing. No dude, unless he’s on bath salts, is going to force his way onto a woman’s boob when there’s a baby attached to it. How in the world is that scenario more probable than a random grope of a breast or two? Can’t this guy factor some quick logistics into this?
6 Comments
I tend to think breastfeeding isn’t in quite the same category as exhibitionism. Otherwise the whole discussion is just more proof that our society is doomed.
It definitely isn’t exhibitionism, nor is it prurient. That’s like saying cooks are mass murderers because they use knives to cut flesh. Sane minds can see the correct similarities and differences.
And I see you took the plunge on the theme. Nice job of making it unique.
I did! I didn’t change any content around though. Not yet. Will do that tonight.
Who woulda thought manspreading is a thing? Re breastfeeding–so glad those days of babies are over. Somebody was always ready to make a fuss about it in public. I’m rather perpetually annoyed with people instead of perpetually offended.
Well, physiologically, all guys do it to a certain degree. It can get…crowded…down there.
Lori breastfed too, but I don’t think we had issues. Really, it’s not like you whipped it out and gave everyone a show, right?