Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NNadir

(34,750 posts)
Thu Aug 8, 2024, 02:51 PM Aug 2024

Bodily autonomy from the waist up, what promises to be an interesting read, from Book TV, "Tits Up."

My wife breast fed my sons, often in public, until the oldest was almost 4 and the youngest was nearly three. Although it didn't happen often, this sometimes - I remember an egregious instance at the San Diego Zoo - generated unsolicited negative comments. However my wife and I agreed that the science was unambiguously supportive of long breast feeding; it hurt no one, and both my sons grew up to be fine, intelligent, healthy young men who are fairly well adjusted.

My father-in-law, a physician, actually objected to my wife and her sister breast feeding the kids in front of him; at least until my mother-in-law told him to screw off with his old world views.

In our culture, of course, breasts are highly sexualized, and I confess as a young man and even as a full (more or less) adult male, I was hardly immune from this acculturation; one reason I made a point of meeting my wife the first time I saw her was her lack of a bra and a body suit. (I've grown up hopefully.)

This is, apparently, as I just learned, hardly a cultural universal; in fact it was an export of American culture after import from 18th century French culture.

I learned this in a fascinating video on CSPAN's Book TV today featuring the sociologist Sarah Thorton speaking of her new book, "Tits Up." A gay woman who has had a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, she has apparently researched the topic thoroughly, talking with everyone from surgeons (cosmetic and otherwise), to sex workers, engineers and a host of other people talking about the topic, which after dispensing with the common vernacular, she discusses - I like this locution - bodily autonomy from the waist up.

Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons, Bra Designers, and Witches Tell Us about Breasts

The full video is here:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?535837-2/tits-up

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bodily autonomy from the waist up, what promises to be an interesting read, from Book TV, "Tits Up." (Original Post) NNadir Aug 2024 OP
Back in the 60's breast feeding more normalized than today. Often saw moms and remember LizBeth Aug 2024 #1

LizBeth

(10,861 posts)
1. Back in the 60's breast feeding more normalized than today. Often saw moms and remember
Thu Aug 8, 2024, 04:08 PM
Aug 2024

one time running up on a mom to ask something and stood fascinated just watching. It was not like that today. Weird how repressed 60's was more hip than todays world.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Women's Rights & Issues»Bodily autonomy from the ...