Ban mums' bare boobs: young Swedes
Published: 26 Oct 11 16:26 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/36980/20111026/
Three out of four young Swedes think that breastfeeding mothers ought to keep their tops on in restaurants, bars and on public transport, according to a new survey.
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Sweden is often seen as a very tolerant country and 85 percent of Swedes think that breastfeeding is a good idea.
However, three out of four 18- to 22-year-olds think that there are some places where it is inappropriate for mothers to breastfeed, according to the study from baby product manufacturer Philips Avent.
According to the study, the least appropriate places to breastfeed is in a restaurant (20 percent), a bar (24 percent) or on the public transport system (18 percent).
Most feel that breastfeeding at private parties, at the beach and in the library is acceptable.
Paediatric coordinator at the Örebro county council, Maria Lind, fears what consequences the change in attitude will have on Swedish mothers' breastfeeding habits.
”Seeing as we are out and about in society to such an extent today, I fear that many will choose not to breast feed rather than stay indoors to feed their baby. That is the consequence when society signals it's not OK to breastfeed in public,” said Lind to Metro.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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Hopefully, by 27.9 years old, women care more about their baby's well being than about what others think. One would hope...
spoiled brats should be happy they get some tit cleveage and stfu.
wait, why am I reading this stuff? my head hurts. dumb. so dumb!
Breast feeding is better for the babies than the baby formula, totally way more healthy.
Also, breast feeding is free and way better than transferring so much massive amounts of wealth to the big corporations like Nestle who manufacture the baby formula.
it's such a divine scene that reminds your babyhood and your mom :)
I do not agree with the crazy and over smart peoples who think otherwise.
I personally have no problems about breatfeeding in public.
should be encouraged to get 'em out more often...as long as we are allowed to look
Phillips Avent are not Nestlé. This is not a company selling baby formula to third world countries. However Avent do sell equipment for women to express their milk; that's obviously what they want to promote to mothers, "why embarrass 18-20 years old by showing your breasts, use our breast pump in private, real cheap."
I'm not going to stop my wife from feeding our newborn in public and I dear anyone to tell her different or try to stop her. My mom breastfed me, when needed, in public. If a 18-22 year old don't like it, they can look away.
Stupid poll!
Maybe I should have said Puritans....or better yet, prudes. And please, if there are any Friends of Prudes organizations out there, I don't want to know about it.
Interesting question but why not? The current research, at least that released in England a few months ago. is that a pregnant/nursing mother can drink some alcohol with our injuring her fetus/child. Why should any place be off limits? If a pregnant man (remember it takes two to make a baby) go into a bar why not a pregnant woman?
But to be fair to The Local, for a change, the article mentions more than just bars. There are restaurents and public transport talked about too. About the only places where a woman should not breastfeed are in the gents toilets and in a house of ill repute. Otherwise anywhere and everywhere should be okay.
Perhaps, this is related to other young women who are envious or don't want to be reminded that they either cannot, or took the easy path and bottle feed instead!
Gamla Hälsingebock : Something I noticed about Sweden is that the local bar is seen as a place for n'er do well folk - and hence even more shameful to bring your children. A pity and a missed opportunity for community spirit - Spain, France, even the UK and other countries welcome children to many "bars" (more likely community pubs, gastropubs [miss them big time], etc. than seedy dives)
They knew 18-22 year-olds would answer this way, that's why they did it. To put off breast-feeding mothers- to make them feel uncomfortable so they would end up either using formula in an Avent bottle or using an Avent pump at home to transport the breastmilk around with them in a bottle.
Seriously, shame on them.
I'm with you.
I detect a slight hint of fundamentalist religion creeping into 18-22 year old's.
#9 Philster61
Good point.
I find the prudishness in Sweden unusual to say the least!
Through breastfeeding the infant acquires a resistance to both local pathogens and allergies. Research has even also demonstrated that there are certain psychological benefits for the child, and weighing all this against the 'psychological discomfort' of some bystanders just doesn't hold up in balance.
I won't ask why anyone should be looking at a breastfeeding mother in the first place, nor point out that staring at someone is rude. But I will say the public displays of drunkeness, by so many in this age group every weekend here, do seem quite offensive, and I wouldn't mind those being banned.
It is far better to encounter a mother breastfeeding her baby than a young adult vomiting their evening's 'fun'.
Of course that's a time in everybody's life when you think you know a lot but really don't know much about anything. We were all there once.
Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear... I feel you have repressed mammories... sorry, memories. Did your mama not give you the booby as a little baby? Poor wee Scansson :(
*sniff sniff*
Besides that let them feed the baby for christ, dont be so square!
couldn't agree more!!
I suspect that the 'survey' was framed in the same way as the classic survey question " When did you stop beating your wife"
I find it a bit hypocritical too that 20-year olds think public breastfeeding is wrong. But being a bit 'prudish' myself I kinda agree. Why does everyone want everything about sex to get blase? And yes, you the older generations have taught us that breasts are sexual. Men don't really have them. But of course breastfeeding is not sexual but still why can't women be discreet about it.
And by the way it does not matter if the surveyed group does not have children themself, because it's the non-breastfeeders who are the accidental viewers.
But as I said I am ok with it if women are discreet.
As there are numerous tests that have shown that breastfed children (at least 3-6 months) have a better immune system and are more intelligent! Why not breastfeed unless for vain, selfish reasons? If you don't want to do the time don't do the crime you stupid bitches! Being a parent is being a parent, you can't just take "the good" and ignore "the bad". Breastfeeding also produces Oxytocin in both mother and child strengthening their bond. This is science. Opinion does not come into it, just selfishness enough to deny your own child the best possible start in life!
I would hope that these attitudes are not representative of the Swedish viewpoint on the subject. As a New Zealander I've long held up Scandinavia as countries of exemplary standards in terms of social progression and human rights. Is this misplaced? Has Sweden been the subject of a successful cultural takeover by the USA?
Incidently 15 persons between the ages of 18 - 22 just left a neighbours apartment roaring and screaming (or in high spirits) stole a bicycle and turned over picknic tables on their way to the local nightclub. No doubt they'll be back again at 03.30 to resume where they left off.
Its all about respect, I dont know one woman who has breastfed who didnt feel a little uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, can't say that about a lot of 18 - 22 year olds out on a weekend night!
However, anyone who could look at a baby nursing and think of sex, however indirectly, has a serious problem and may be a pedophile in the making.