Symbols are Symbolic for a Reason
Since I am a suburbanite desperately seeking Crunchity Granola’d Enlightenment, I like to read Mothering Magazine. Awhile back, I read an excellent article on how images of bottlefeeding and bottles are prevalent in our mainstream collective – media, entertainment, – hell’s bells….. even down to baby gift wrapping paper. After reading that article, I became increasingly aware of how bottles are always shown as THE method for feeding a baby, but rarely, RARELY is breastfeeding shown. I was mildly shocked and impressed a few weeks back when Notes From the Underbelly, a network show, showed a woman breastfeeding (The Sopranos has shown breastfeeding on HBO, but seriously – did anyone even notice amidst all the footage set within the Bada Bing anyway??) What saddens me is that in my son’s myriad of books, not one single image of breastfeeding is shown. I always just skip over the baby bottles because he doesn’t know what that is for – he would rarely take one and even then, only under duress of starving. Even on Sesame Street, the venerable classic of children’s television programming, I have yet to see any breastfeeding. Why?
Anyway, I can’t find that Mothering article now, but within the article there was a call to the public to come up with a logo for breastfeeding. I recently ran across the winning logo of the contest and seriously – that symbol is AWESOME.
Found a here.
My StumbleUpon Page
May 16th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I like Mothering, but I hate the forums.
I loved the Bottlefeeding Culture article though.
I’m actually in the process of starting a little etsy store with more breastfeeding imagery. I’ll let you know when it’s up and running.
Mr. Rogers has shown breastfeeding - more reason why he rocks!
May 16th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Before I had kids, I never really paid attention to how much images of the bottle are everywhere! On the flip side, I now also notice when TV shows or whatever else make it a point to show breastfeeding.
Recently I saw a volume of Signing Time where they make a point to show a baby nursing when teaching the sign for milk. It made me happy.
May 16th, 2007 at 10:34 am
That is an awesome logo. I, too, think that breastfeeding should become a more prevalent image in today’s society.
We have a couple of the last shows of Notes from the Underbelly on DVR, it’s a cute show!
May 16th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Well I think part of the reason is that breasts are stil widely seen as more of a sexual thing than anything else. I personally don’t think thats right but it is how it is at this point. Hopefully things will start to change soon. Also they don’t want to alienate the families that were not able to breastfeed. Anyways whatever the reason I think we are on the road to change! Also someone said something about Notes from the Underbelly and I just wanted to say it is absolutely hilarious! My husband and I watch it together and roll!
Victoria
http://www.about-sandiegoca.com/