Such an “in your face” photo!
TIME surely knew it would have “shock value” for marketing, despite their
stated purpose of celebrating Dr. Bill Sears, the champion of maternal
attachment. Online articles about it popped up everywhere, followed by public
comments of prudish criticism, perverted congratulations, and sometimes
practical commendation, like mine. Bravo
for TIME, but especially for courageous Jamie Lynne Grumet, who showed the
American public what God created breasts for!
“Teaching God’s Design for
Breasts” was an art class assignment that depicts one of my
routine tasks: helping topless mothers get their newborns latched on by
skin-to-skin nursing. I also intended this self-portrait to SHOCK, but only so
it could HEAL. This normal, non-sexual part of my job stands in stark contrast
to the way society exploits women's breasts. That many women themselves see
their breasts as sexualized objects indicates the degree to which this
perception of women's bodies controls our culture.
I grew up with America’s
sexualized view of breasts. Later, I pledged religious allegiance to exactly
the same view under a new name: prudery.
My experience as an RN, especially in teaching moms to breastfeed, cured me of
both. I feel privileged and liberated to participate in the reality of God's
primary purpose for women's breasts. For a small window of hospital time, I
watch first-time moms experience that freedom, too, as they learn the truth
about breasts. I encourage them to remember that truth and freedom as they
reenter a culture that treats their breasts as sexual commodities. Assertive
breastfeeding moms have a unique opportunity to force our society to face its
immaturity. By openly nursing their infants and toddlers, they can teach the
next generation of American citizens to see breasts wholesomely, as normal
parts of the female anatomy and as beautiful organs divinely designed with the
potential of nurturing babies.
America’s sex-obsessed focus on
breasts is seen by some world cultures as ludicrous. I think of it as toxic.
Our cultural prudery promotes a pornographic view of the human body, and we
need both spiritual and educational reformation. Everyone’s feelings and
reactions to breasts and breastfeeding have been culturally learned. Through my
work and my research, I’ve learned body
acceptance, thus breast acceptance.
If prudish and perverted views were merely harmless opinions, I’d let this
issue go. But they're not. Both treat women as sex targets, and both dishonor
the Designer of breasts. So, till I die or the Lord returns, I'll keep
denouncing this great American obsession and keep telling nursing moms to
openly demonstrate to our dysfunctional and immature culture what women’s
breasts are really for.