Breast-Feeding Argumentative Analysis

Breast-feeding not only includes many benefits for the child, but it has been shown that the benefits could tag along to the mother as well. So, with that being said, I believe breast-feeding is a very healthy option for mothers to take into consideration, when the time comes. As it states, in our textbook, “Human milk contains the proper amounts of carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals for babies” (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2015).). It has also been shown that the antibodies from the mother are carried on to the breast milk, causing babies to be less prone to certain illnesses, like diarrhea and constipation. As for the mother, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health states, that mothers who
breast-feed have lower risk of getting type two diabetes, certain types of breast cancer, as well as ovarian cancer. Overall, I do not see a problem with mothers who choose to breastfeed. On the other hand, society has made multiple scandals over women who breast-feed in public. I, personally, believe that if the mother properly covers herself, as well as her baby, then there should be no problem to why she cannot breast-feed her child in public. However, the mother does have to consider where she is at the time, and take into consideration if it is the proper place to breast-feed her child. Although, if for example, I chose to breast-feed my child, I would take the extra step to pump milk before going out to a public place, for example the mall, and that why it’ll not only save me time but it’ll save me many glares from others. When it comes to the question of if I think there is an age when it is no longer appropriate for a child to be breast-fed, I believe there is, but both the mother and the father should have the last word on when their child should stop being breast-fed. I consider children who are 1 year and younger to be an appropriate age for being breast-fed, but if a child is older than one year and still being breast-fed, it does make me feel iffy, especially if the child is three years old. I think that if the child can begin to take in semi-solid or solid foods, then breast-feeding should no longer be continued. However, breastfeeding toddlers are understood to continue health benefits, as well as helping the toddler understand discipline too. (Benefits of breast-feeding toddlers, from La Leche League) I think many Americans have such strong reactions to a photo of a toddler being breast-fed because of many reasons.
Some Americans may have the same view as me, referring to the ‘appropriate’ age limit in which a child should be breast-fed, and they simply might not consider a toddler into their belief of what an appropriate age to be breast-fed is. Which brings me to the topic of Western societies. Many people from Western societies have extremely firm beliefs, and what they believe in will be what everyone has to follow. So, because of how strong people believe in their customs and beliefs, and how strong they may show their beliefs, it is understandable that after a point, breast-feeding may feel “unacceptable” in the Western society. For example, if many people in the Western society believe children who are older than one year should not be breast-fed, and they see a mother breast-feeding a three year old child, then much rejection is going to be brought forward, making the mother feel as if what she is doing is completely unacceptable. Other times, these strong reactions may arise because maturity is not present, which can unfortunately bring forward the issue of seeing the breast as a sex object. The fact that our views on the breast as a sex object is so powerful that it overpowers the health benefits of breast-feeding, is quite hard to
believe. As I stated above, it should not be my decision, or the society’s decision to say when a child should stop being breast-fed. It all narrows down to the mother and the father, essentially because that is their own child. I know some people that think that the father doesn’t have as nearly as much of a role as the mother in the process of breastfeeding, but I think that both have equal roles. Both have to communicate to each other over what they think about breastfeeding, and if the mother decides to breast-feed, then whether breast-feeding should continue long term. The father should take into consideration the mother’s feelings and views, as much as the mother should consider the fathers feeling and views. Mark Calaway states in “Longer-term Breastfeeding: a Father’s Perspective,” “"I thought Henry was probably too old now and it definitely looks a bit strange sometimes, but I've listened to my wife and done some reading of my own, and it does seem to still be positive for them both.” So, communication is key.