Pornography

Old News: You've probably already heard about the controversy surrounding a 2006 BabyTalk Magazine cover pictured here. I just came across it myself and thought I'd weigh in a few years too late because after all, the internet is for complaining to anyone who'll listen. This particular image is quite old, but the debate on whether nursing (be it live or in pictures) should be on public display is as lively as ever.

I want to make clear that I think this type of display is totally inappropriate.

As one mom put it, "I don't want my son or husband to accidentally see a breast they didn't want to see." Amen, sister! After all, you wouldn't want them to get confused and think they were about to have sex.

Another woman shed light on the male psyche. "Men are very visual... When they see a woman's breast, they see a breast, regardless of what it's being used for."

It's true. When a man sees a breast, he does indeed see a breast. This is indisputable.

Some have tried to justify allowing this kind of trash on newsstands by comparing it to other magazine covers, claiming that it is tasteful by comparison and not nearly as graphic. I believe this to be an attempt to deceive and confuse concerned citizens like myself, and would like to clear up any confusion on the issue right here and now.

See the difference? The magazine cover on the left is NOT offensive or sexually charged, because this woman is an ATHLETE. Any exposure of her body is obviously purely for academic purposes.

Here's another example.


Ah, TV Guide. Now THERE'S a magazine every God-fearing American should have a lifetime subscription to. The issue shown above is the Family Values Edition, featuring J-Love's mind-blowing all-nude talk show. I feel guilty displaying it next this "baby" (UGH) "eating" (GROSS).

Let's do one more just to make sure we're all clear on what constitutes acceptable newsstand material.


I hope that the folks over at BabyTalk, their sister publication Parenting Magazine, and their parent company Bonnier Corporation understand the depth of their mistake in putting such an offensive image on the cover of a mainstream magazine. Hopefully they won't make a habit of such displays, or people may actually come to see nursing as a natural, normal part of motherhood rather than the shameful act of lewdness that it is.