Men Who Breastfeed (or BlueIris Gives BUST Magazine Another Chance.)

[BlueIris]

I wrote off BUST Magazine a number of years ago because I thought it was silly. I can't remember examples of why at this point, just that I thought it was shallow, superficial and only passably feminist.

For some reason, I picked up a copy this month, and was surprised to find a good article on men who breastfed their own children. It was great. It's possible I'd read about this concept somewhere before, but it was a fun refresher course on the topic anyway.

Can't find a copy online, (guess you'll have to buy the issue if you're interested) but I recommend the Spring 2012 issue. There were a couple of articles about...less than essential women's concerns, (what's on t.v., what kind of hairbrush is most glamorous) but otherwise, it was filled with interesting stuff that was definitely feminist, including a good article on how geography affects weight (wanna go anorexic?...Move to Southern California.)

Here's a good blog post about the magazine's other fine qualities:

http://welcometoladyville.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/why-bust-magazine-is-the-best-magazine-ever/

[boston bean]

1. I guess this would be an area

where I would need some more growth in. For some reason, it just doesn't sit right.

Can't put a finger on it.

But hey, to each his/her own, right?

[Hatchling]

2. Marge Piercy's "Women on the Edge of Time" addresses this.

It portrays a woman who visits a time when true equality has been achieved. In that time language has become completely gender neutral and society has changed dramatically. One of her points is that in order to achieve true equality, even women have to share up their gender privileges such as doing the breast feeding and care of children. The protagonist finds it all very disturbing, but in the end embraces the changes that seemed counter intuitive to her at first.

Complicated book, but well worth the read.

[redqueen]

3. Breastfeeding and child care are privileges?

I'm floored.

[Hatchling]

4. I didn't explain it very well.

I'll go back to the book and try to to find out how she puts it. It may take me some time.

[seabeyond]

5. i understood what you were saying. i had always considered it a privilege that i had the

chance to bond and spend the time to know and have that special relationship with my boys that my husband did not get. not saying they dont have a connection relationship. they do. regardless, hands down being the primary care giver and provider for the boys has given me what my husband did not get. i can value that.... and be thankful i had the opportunity to experience this in my life.

[Hatchling]

8. Yeah, that's the point she was trying to make.

It's a science fiction utopia story. Both genders have given up gender prerogatives, including child birth. Then anyone who wants to nurture/breastfeed the children has that option, including those born male.

I couldn't find the page where that is explained, so it looks as if I am going to have to re-read the book. LOL!

[redqueen]

6. After reading seabeyond's post, if that is the point of view she's coming from,

I can see that point of view.

I suppose it has to do with the experiences we've had, which influence our perspective. My ex didn't lift a finger to help with our babies. I would have given a limb to share breast-pumping duties at work, diapering, middle-of-the-night feedings, laundry, etc etc etc etc etc

Also neither my own father, nor any of the fathers I knew growing up, nor any of the ones I know now, seem interested at all in sharing child care duties. Actually there was a study done recently about which parental duties were favored and disliked by fathers and mothers. The results were predictably aggravating.

[seabeyond]

7. absolutely. and i dont see it as saying not work, either. nt