Personally, I love seeing photos of women breastfeeding while going on about their lives, and I love seeing photos that subvert the ‘good nurturing mother’ mythology. But you can probably imagine the kinds of anti-breastfeeding comments this photo is generating. I like how so many people are saying they’re totally supportive of breastfeeding, totally on board, just do not do it in public. Right. Do your ‘female thing’ behind closed doors, but otherwise you’re completely welcome to participate as a full member of the community and enjoy public space like everyone else.
This is why breastfeeding is a feminist issue.
Because mothering is a no-no when a woman is in uniform? But everyone fawns over the photos of dads crying as they are reunited with their kids. So it’s okay to parent if you’re a dad, but only parent in certain ways if you’re a mom.
Accepting women in the military means accepting women as women, not women as long as they act like men.
No, because that’s breaking a zillion uniform regs. They’re also outside without their covers on. Accepting women in the military means women accepting the regulations and standards that men follow. Equal doesn’t mean exemption. As a retired military man whose wife is still active duty, this picture is wrong. Not simply because of the narrow-minded ‘breastfeeding’ situation. Because their blouse tops are opened, shirts lifted (untucked), exposure in uniform, and no covers on when outdoors (took their hats off so they could pose for a cute photo). As an NCO and a future NCO, they should know better. My wife — who outranks both — would undoubtedly council them on their breaking of AFI 36-2903. Doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman, or what action is being performed. There ARE rules and regulations. In order to get equal respect, you need to follow the same rules. There are areas available to do this sort of thing. And because both women have their babies with them, it means both are off duty. If they’re off duty, they have no need to be in uniform. We don’t take our children to work, so it’s obvious they aren’t there. This further confirms that this is a “look at me, I want to open a debate” photo. This outrages me because my wife works her freaking a** off, and goes above and beyond to set an example as an NCO and woman. They are breaking dress and appearance standards, plain and simple. Trying to excuse this as “a natural motherly duty” is pure ignorance to military conduct. Military members cannot even walk while they are talking on their cellphones or taking a sip of water. They literally MUST stop walking, take a sip out of their cup, and then can continue walking. During operations or training when hydration is vital, this rule might be relaxed. But if you ever see a military man or woman who is in uniform while out in public, and they are flippantly chugging from a beverage as they are walking around, they are WRONG. These are the rules we adhere to while in uniform. That’s what it means to be in the US military…..discipline.
Great photo. I am really impressed at the standing up and feeding 2 at once. That’s skill!
Exactly what I was thinking. Maybe that’s something they teach you in the military.
Oh, yes the famous Conditional Nipple Brigade. “Oh, I am TOTALLY for breastfeeding. . . just cover it up; I don’t wanna see that!” mind=boggled
I nursed in restaurants, on sidewalks, in Costco, at home, and at the park, all around strangers, family, and friends. Most people never even noticed me, too busy with their own whatever. Those who did were moms themselves. I was lucky I was able to provide a basic life necessity for my children without harsh looks and words from strangers.
The problem started when my daughter started breastfeeding her dolls while I was breastfeeding my son, her younger brother. All of a sudden it was, like, oh my gracious what are you teaching this poor child!
Knock me over with a feather.
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The problem is that wearing military uniforms is violating a rule stating that military uniforms cannot be used to promote a product or cause. Calm down with all the women’s rights stuff
Right, and if men in uniform were photographed hugging their kids (ie. a normal part of fathering) for some fatherhood initiative I am sure they would be facing the same kind of controversy and formal disapproval.
“Normal part of fathering.” Firstly, PDA is against regulations while in uniform. Secondly, who ever criticized women for hugging their kids while in uniform? Do you know what is a “normal part of life?” Drinking fluids. This is also regulated while in uniform. “The member will cease movements during the act of drinking from a beverage container, while in uniform.” As a husband of an active duty wife, I want women to have equal respect more than anyone. Like my wife, I know that equality doesn’t mean exemptions. I also know that military members do NOT take their children to work. Therefore, both women have no need to be in uniform (or outside without their covers on), but they were so they could get a nice photo. This hurts the cause for equality. It’s also WRONG. The mere fact that they took their hats off while outdoors shows that they have a total disregard for dress and appearance standards, and their only objective is to pose for a controversial photo. Both should be counseled and given LOC’s if necessary.
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John – please note the following images. http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/0000260617-023/american-soldiers-relaxing-in-camp, http://www.texansforpeace.org/endthewar/oldersoldiers10.htm,
These include American soldiers in uniform with shirts removed, soldiers kissing other soldiers, soldiers swinging children around, soldiers reading porn magazines etc etc.
You have to understand what I’m trying to convey. There are — at times — exceptions to rules and regulations such as AFI 36-2903. For example, if my wife and I walked around base in uniform, holding hands and kissing, we would be immediately corrected. However, during deployment homecomings, the rule is relaxed. If you remember, there was a gay pride event (in CA, IIRC) where gay military members wore their uniforms in a parade. The DOD ended up authorizing this, and it stirred up a slew of controversy and angry troops. It had NOTHING to do with them being gay in the military. My BEST girlfriend (I KNOW that’s the first thing someone says when they actually feel the opposite on an issue, but I’m serious here) who I still talk to everyday, that I served with, is gay. She is now separated from the military, but we were stationed together for years. My Wife and I just got her a car seat for the baby that she had with her girl friend. Her and I went drinking with, partied with, went hiking with, went swimming with, went kayaking with, did EVERYTHING with (we spent EVERYDAY together) with dozens upon dozens of people who knew she was gay while serving. This was during the DADT era. NOBODY had an issue with her homosexuality or “turned her in.” I’m now rambling, but what I’m trying to say is that there’s not a huge bias against homosexuality as is often reported. And when that parade happened and gay service men and women were actually authorized to be in the parade while in uniform, this went against uniform regulations. There was a male Army National Guard member who was seen on stage, on TV in uniform with Ron Paul, at a campaign event during the last election season. This was also totally against regulations, and he was justifiably reprimanded. He was given an NJP Letter Of Reprimand. There are FEW exceptions and times were uniform regulations are relaxed. ANYTHING political is against regs. Posing for this photo in the manner they did, was definitely against regs. If they were at a deployment homecoming and kissing their spouses, it would have been perfectly acceptable. The issue with this photo isn’t just me targeting them because they’re women. —- Reading pornography in uniform is ALWAYS against the rules. That should never occur, and while I can’t verify because I’m not aware of this particular situation, I would bet that this was addressed. —– At certain times and in certain locations, blouse tops are authorized to be removed. But shirts are to remain tucked at all times. The picture you have of two soldiers playing cards with their shirts off IS different. They are considered within the confines of private living quarters. It’s akin to saying that it’s wrong to take off your uniform pants at the end of a duty day to change into jeans (while at home, of course). Additionally, they’re deployed. This is oftentimes relaxed. But I promise that once their unit commander is scheduled to visit their location, they WILL all be in uniform regardless of where they are sitting. The moment they are slotted to go out of that room to perform a duty or leave post, they WILL be in uniform. They are clearly on a break here, in private living quarters. —————– Having pictures of regulation violations doesn’t make these two women any more right. This picture falls under many areas. It can be seen as a political statement, they are exposing themselves (whether you and I think this is ok {which I think it’s more than ok for women to breastfeed in public} for them to be doing so or not), and they are considered what is referred to as “out of uniform” because of the uniform violations. I don’t mean to sound so passionate, pushy, or long winded. I’m just trying to convey why this is wrong because they’re in (or out, in this case) of uniform. Women breastfeeding in public is NO issue in my mind, whatsoever. It’s as much as anyone’s business as gay marriage (IMO). But it matters when their uniform is on. There ARE restrictions while in uniform. Just the way it all ‘goes down.’ It’s the rules. —— And last point I would like to make…..a personal one: The AF gets a lot of criticism, especially from other branches. It’s specifically because of behavior like this. The AF needs to garner more respect amongst its sister services. This isn’t going to do it. It’s only perpetuating the stereotypes.
[…] love this photo. But you know, I love images of breastfeeding that subvert the standard mother-baby image. Also, I love Ariel Gore’s new book, The End of Eve. So poetic, as […]
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