Time Magazine's controversial cover showing a woman breastfeeding her son was meant to do more than just sell magazines. That in itself is not controversial, but what made it so was the subtle sexual undertones in the layout. The mother, a beautiful woman, dressed scantily, baring her breast with a boy who looks to be six (though apparently three) latched on, both looking at the camera.
We've seen too much of the relentless attacks on Judeo-Christian values by the media and those they service to not see right through this.
It is a clear attempt to break down the strong taboo against incest. Now, I'm not saying this is incestuous. What I'm saying is that they wanted to make regular people uncomfortable--they wanted them to feel bad about the feelings they have at the image, chastising themselves for being 'judgmental'.
'This is just another choice. Breastfeeding is natural. We shouldn't judge'. Well, I'm a mother who breastfed my three children, though I stopped when they were between a year and a year and a half. I don't have any problems with breastfeeding and I feel that most mothers know when it's time to stop or it could cause unhealthy attachment issues. I also know that in some cultures children are breastfed a lot longer than in our culture with no problems. I don't have a problem with any of those things. I don't even care if the woman on Time's cover wants to breastfeed her three year old, though I seriously question her judgment in setting her son up for ridicule by peers as he gets older.
But I really am annoyed when I see I'm being manipulated by a magazine cover to make me associate breastfeeding with sexuality and I see it as an effort to break down the strong revulsions society carries toward incest. The media may have been able to break down many long held taboos in this society--and they're efforts seem to be working, but in this case, I think they will find it a harder sell. I sure hope so.
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