I think I posted about this story before, Salma Hayek telling the media that she is "addicted to breastfeeding".
Well, in the feminist blogs and natural mothering sites this week is this story:
And I'm not sure how to take this. Of course, I think she was doing a great service, taking a starving baby and feeding it. She was promoting breastfeeding, trying to make it less taboo (in African culture, sex while breastfeeding is the ultimate taboo, and as a result, some men will force their wives to stop breastfeeding or will have quite open affairs, etc.), while showing the world that mothering=sexy. But on the other hand, was it a publicity stunt for her? What really are her motives in getting ABC News to film her playing wet-nurse to an African woman's child?
More concerning even is what happens next to this poor baby? Salma Hayek obviously isn't going to stay in Sierra Leone and continue to breastfeed the child. What happened that the cameras didn't capture? And why was this mother not producing milk in the first place? What societal structures are in place that inhibit this woman from keeping her child alive? Was she given formula samples at a hospital? Did her husband heed the taboo and force her to stop? Did she have medical difficulties?
Bottom line: Nice work Salma. But we have a long way to go...
I don't mean to sound harsh, but listen. Some women just can't make enough milk. Stop trying to make them feel like second class mothers.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think it was a bad move. Her saying she's "addicted" to breastfeeding is going to do more to perpetuate the myth that breastfeeding provides some sort of sexual release for a woman. I know what she means, and anyone who's ever breastfed knows better, but the idiots will make it sound dirty.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is that odd, my sister in law is from Taiwan and had no idea how to nurse, in Taiwan it is tradition for someone to come take care of the new mother, baby, and family for 2 months. The woman who took care of her was a "wet-nurse" for a few days while my sister in law got the hang of it. You can actually donate your breast milk to third world countries, it gets pasteurized and everything.
ReplyDeleteI completely get why it would be taboo to breast feed and have sex though, lets face it, your breasts don't know the difference between baby and hubby, so it is a little awkward being intimate while your a nursing mother. ANY kind of arousal makes you "let down" so I can see why thats odd.
Also, some women don't produce enough milk because of their own nutrition, or the baby isn't latching on properly, or they are pumping vs. nursing, or for some other reason they just don't. My best friend is a lactation specialist and women come to her all the time needing to take additional supplements to produce milk.
I really don't think its odd to be intimate and breast feed. Sure you might leak a little bit, but its a natural part of life, and your man should understand, and you should not be embarrassed, you are feeding your child
ReplyDeleteDo you watch 30 Rock? I love how they keep talking about Salma Hayek's breasts. Reference to this news story or just part of the show?
ReplyDeleteLucky Baby!!
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