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Angelina Jolie breastfeeding photo stirs controversy
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Brad Pitt took a breathtakingly beautiful photograph of Angelina Jolie breastfeeding one of her twin babies. The black and white photo, which will grace the cover of W Magazine in November, shows a happy and smiling Jolie in her bed and nightgown. The top buttons of her gown are undone allowing her baby to nurse and revealing a side shot of her breast. The most striking part of the photo is a sweet, tiny baby hand that reaches up, strategically covering her nipple.
Believe it or not, in the age of Maxim Magazine, this utterly maternal image is stirring controversy. Apparently, there is worry that Jolie's photo is "sexualizing" the act of breast feeding and that it may detract from what would otherwise be a positive message about the benefits of breast milk. According to critics, "every man who sees that photo will see those breasts as sexual." I'm not a guy, so I can't really speak to what men will think when they see a picture of a mother nursing her infant. But I suspect that whatever inappropriate arousing it may cause will be vastly outweighed by the good it will do toward normalizing breastfeeding in America. Just as importantly, it may inspire those of us, like me, who have babies that are nursing, to keep it up. For mothers of twins, Jolie's commitment will be especially encouraging.
Breastfeeding is one of the most under appreciated acts of love and service a mother does. Too often, friends, family and spouses are unaware of just how much nursing takes out of a woman. Even I sometimes find myself wondering why I'm so tired at the end of the day. Hello? I have five kids and I'm nursing! Moms who are breastfeeding need support and encouragement (as well as those incredibly awesome Bebe au Lait nursing covers!). After five kids, I'm an old pro who nurses comfortably in public at meetings, restaurants and in church. Usually nobody realizes I'm doing it, but if they did and didn't like it, I wouldn't give a hoot. But when I was a new mom, I felt terribly self-conscious nursing in public and I believe that images of credible, and yes, beautiful celebrities nursing their own babies would have given me a bit more confidence in those early days. So thank you, Angelina, for helping our over-sexed culture get over it's strange reactions and aversions to women doing what nature intended for them to do with their breast.











ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
10-17-2008 @ 7:41AM
Caren Halverson said...I believe that she is helping the cause to promote breastfeeding...and it truely is one of the greatest gifts a mother can give to her child. There are times when women can't or don't wish to breastfeed and that is perfectly fine, but those who chose to do it should not be made to feel as though they are exposing themselves or doing anything wrong. It is perfectly accepted all over the world in developing and developed countries.
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10-17-2008 @ 8:22AM
Heather said...AMEN! I grew up with women who believed in breastfeeding. It helped but I still had to deal with ignorant people when I fed my babies. I wish more celebrities would do this! Thank you for posting this.
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10-17-2008 @ 9:13AM
wendy said...Who cares what disgusting and uneducated people think. There will always be a segment of our society that just don't get it. However, I truly feel that the more people see breastfeeding the better. That is why I don't use a cover when nursing. I understand ome women's needs for modesty--I am not judging them. However, I feel that covering up fuels the notion that nursing is something to be done under cover, that needs to be hidden, and is essentially embarrassing. Hooray for Angelina and her babies. Hooray for all the moms who go against the tide and nurse their babies, covered, uncovered, or on the front cover of a magazine!
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10-17-2008 @ 9:58AM
m catalan said...Breastfeeding is what breasts were meant for. Some of my most serene moments have been chatting with my daughter while she breastfed my grandchild. The moments were tender and beautiful. Being 62, my Dr. did not encourage breastfeeding when I had my first child at barely 22. He called it "old fashioned" and "old-world" Being so young and inexperienced, I listened to him. My kids grew up fine and healthy, but, in retrospect, I wish I had breastfed .People who say the photos of a mom breastfeeding is a sexualixed scenerio have dirty minds and THEY are the ones who are sexualizing breasts and what they stand for in this society. Just take into consideration all the silicone and saline inserts that are placed into breasts each day in this country as well as the Hooters mentality that encourages girls as young as 12 to think that their bodies are not beautiful unless their breasts look like cantelopes on a 22 inch waist body frame. It's pretty sick. As a teacher in Middle School, I hear plenty of sad conversations between many girls who are brainwashed by the media and the pop culture we adults force upon them.
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10-17-2008 @ 10:11AM
Baron said...Well, if all the photos that are going to be shown are the ones in that link, the only real controversy I can imagine is because of who they are of. A "normal" person might not have had this much controversy, but when you are dealing with someone who, for the length of their time in the public spotlight/career (from what I can tell), has basically used/been used as a "sex sells" actress, then you, unfortunately, have that connotation always tied to her. I personally don't have a problem with it, but I can see how many people would as soon as they hear that it is of Angelina. As unfortunate as it is, there will be quite a number of people (call them what you will, but we, as a society are just as much as fault for letting it happen as they are for indulging in it - progressively downward morals and ethics) that will be grabbing the magazine and flipping through it in hopes of one "slipped" shot and nothing else.
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10-17-2008 @ 10:20AM
Kim Wood said...I think that any woman has the right to breastfeed their child. I had 3 children and I breatfed all of them, at home, church, shopping. When they were hungry they got to eat. If anyone saw me the either ignored me or gave me an ätta girl". I think it is a mothers right to feed her children when and how she wants.
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10-17-2008 @ 10:24AM
Naomi said...There is no sight more beautiful, innocent, and touching than a mother breast feeding her infant. It is a great honor for women to be in the unique position of being the complete provider for another human being. Thank you, Brad, for taking the picture and sharing. I look forward to seeing the magazine cover. If any man who sees the photo becomes aroused that is the fault of their own perverted minds, not the natural woman.
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10-17-2008 @ 11:00AM
Julie said...Rachel, congrats on such a great post! I too as a new mother was incredibly self conscious about breastfeeding in public...even in front of my own family! I kept it up for over a year, and am so glad that I did. I see so many moms these days breastfeeding in public (discretely), and I'm so proud of them and I wish I was like them back in the day.
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10-17-2008 @ 11:15AM
pantrygirl said...Thank you. I think it's a wonderful picture and I love that celebrities such as Angelina can bond with everyday woman by demonstrating they do everyday things as well. Plus it does promote breastfeeding.
Anyone who looks at that photo and thinks sexual is not a parent and is probably immature.
Get over it.
I'm a breastfeeding first time mom and I'm darn proud I can give this gift to my child and from the looks of that photo, so does Angelina.
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10-17-2008 @ 11:27AM
Rachael said...Thank you for such a pointed and well done article. I am so glad that we are talking about breastfeeding and that there are products like the Bebe au Lait covers that allowed me to nurse or pump wherever, whenever despite my surroundings--work, social or otherwise. I couldn't have breastfed for as long without it.
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10-17-2008 @ 12:00PM
mckenna said...The sign of an intelligent mind is one that can hold two seemingly opposed thoughts at once and find validity with both. Breasts are both sexual and useful ,...and it's OK/normal/etc...! Humans deal with paradoxes all the time. I don't understand why we have such difficulty with it in this context. I think the fact that Angelina Jolie can be both sexy and motherly is a good thing. (And I'm not a big Angelina fan). Maybe it will help expand our concept of women to three dimensions at some point.
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10-17-2008 @ 10:02PM
kate said...Thanks for the good post. I have more and more respect for Angelina in recent years. She's clearly a devoted and loving mother, and that comes across so clearly in this photo. She may have nannies, and a flexible schedule, but she's still making a huge committment for her babies--wonderful and inspiring!
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10-17-2008 @ 10:20PM
Jancee said...We have 8 children in our family-1yr.old to 12 years old. They were all breast fed. One mother of four is a graduate of Children's Hosp. Dr. of course, her sister, PCOM same as her husband. It is not cool. It is intelligent, and the classy rich have done it for years, the trashy bitch is not cool, she's catching up. Two dog poops Angelina. Tatoo your you know what. maybe you'll keep him around for two more, pig woman.
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10-25-2008 @ 11:10AM
Sifrina said...I've never been a fan of Angelina Jolie - Sure, she's undeniably beautiful, talented, and smart (LOVE her politics and humanitarianism) - but she once said to reporters (not that long ago but before she had kids) that she preferred to be topless wearing nothing but rubber pants. Who says something like that?!! (other than an exhibitionist skank!) Be that as it may, I have no doubt that there was nothing other than innocence and pure parental love on her part and Brad's when they took the picture of her nursing her baby. I didn't see the picture but there isn't a cell in my body that thinks the photo had any inappropriate aspect to it.
This society is both overly sexualized AND ridiculously prudish about normal, natural, healthy things such as breastfeeding and the human body. Anyone who has nursed a baby knows how special, important and natural it is; those with hangups about it need help. Other countries have laws in place protecting mothers' rights in this regard. There's certainly more to motherhood than nursing, but I applaud anyone who promotes it, even Angelina.
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10-25-2008 @ 11:18AM
Sifrina said...PS To clarify - There are US States with laws protecting a nursing mother's rights (and Federal regulations governing breastfeeding in Federal buildings); however, legal support and overall cultural acceptance of breastfeeding is greater in some countries abroad.
10-27-2008 @ 8:44AM
Becka said...breastfeeding is sexy and whos sexier then her to show it? breastfeeding is all about the power of women. sexy does not have to mean as pertaining to sex. when will this country grow up??
http://www.babynursingblog.com/
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12-22-2008 @ 11:37AM
M. Taha Alam said...The thing is wht is wrong and wht is rite!!!
this is why we need to be in a religion to know all the depth.
Breast feeding is loving sign of a mother but posing in a photo shoot!!! its unaccpetable!!!
showing ur body is ILLEGAL!!!
EXPOSING anything which arouses sexual feelings is ILLEGAL In YOUR RELIGION, cux thts rite of UR over Ur HUSBAND and if u r KIM WOODS breast feeding in public in malls and on roads, i m sorry u r doin wrong!!! u can go to some female SHOP or somewher wher u see no man or men sees u!!!
PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PARTS ARE THE MAIN DUTY OF EVERY WOMEN ON EARTH AND THTS WHY U WEAR DRESS!!!!
WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS AND ARE EQUAL TO MAN!!!
GOING BEYOUND THE LIMITS LEADS YOU TO NO-WHERE!!!!
and as a result of that picture
PITTS parents asked brad not to marry her
and he refused angies proposal for marriage in christmas!!!
CAN YOU BELIVE DAT!! 6 KIDS AND NO MARRIAGE?!!!!
THTS WHERE U LAY!!!!!
HE SAYS HE NEED COUPLE COUNSELLOR!!! DAMMIT!!!
see thts wht happens when your sins turns into God's HANDS!!!
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