The recent photo
controversy of the cover of Malayalam women's magazine Grihalakshmi which featured the photograph of a woman breastfeeding an infant, sends the message loud
and clear. “Mothers tell Kerala, 'please don't stare, we need to breastfeed,'” says the headline. The cover story is part of the magazine's “breastfeed freely” campaign to mark International women’s day
that is celebrated in the month of March every year.
Though
the Government supports and creates awareness among the people encourage
breastfeeding, this is often being shamed or the breastfeeding mom in public
places like buses, trains, rail stations, bus stands and even in airport
lounges are stared at by men around her. Not only in India, in many countries
across the world breast feeding in public is considered an act of shame though
it is a natural act that takes place between the mother and the baby.
The law also requires that all government offices must
provide a nursery so working mothers can breastfeed. The present controversy on
Kerala Magazine launching campaign on breastfeeding in the open has started
receiving comments and opinions from all quarters. The magazine has pictures of two
women breastfeeding infants (one of them is a model), and a case has been
registered against the model and the publishers for indecent representation of
women.
It
was a welcome move when Nestle India came up with nursing stations as cubicles
set up in various clinics and hospitals where nursing moms can just get
absolute privacy to feed their babies while waiting for their turn to meet the
doctor. The idea to set up exclusive nursing rooms
originated from the understanding that breastfeeding outside home is one of the
major challenges that mothers face.
The mindset of the people and the society calls for a
change to let mothers to nurse their babies in public places and a law to this
effect be enabled in India soon so that the natural demand and right of the
baby and the mother is respected and dignified.
Despite recent campaigns like breastfeeding in the open
which definitely has reached all sections of the society managed only to get a
mixed review with men and women reacting for and against it. Though women folks
welcome the bold move of breastfeeding in open without a sense of guilt to feed
the baby, it is the conventional mindset of men who do not agree that the
baby’s demand is its right.
It is important to note that there are many products
like Feeding Cloaks, Scarves, Nursing cover or a blanket which is very helpful
and easy to use for the feeding moms during travel and outing and awareness to
this effect should thus be created.
This taboo of breastfeeding in public needs to be eradicated at a very fast pace. Women are the one who shape the country, they should be seen everywhere with respect & honor.
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