THE DAILY BLADE: Babytalk’s “Boobie” Backlash


The cover of the August issue of Babytalk magazine features a baby with his mouth  pressed to a teat. A young, firm, round teat. A poll of 4000 readers found that a quarter of them had a negative reaction to the cover, feeling that it was “inappropriate.” Babytalk editor Susan Kane attributes the outcry to “a huge Puritanical streak in Americans, and there's a squeamishness about seeing a body part.”

 

Here’s The Stiletto’s reaction to the cover shot: Although only a part of the breast is seen in profile, the model is not wearing a nursing bra, and the baby’s lips are not clamped around the nipple (in fact, it looks less like he’s suckling than kissing it) so the overall effect of the photo is not that of a “working breast.”  

 

But the hue-and-cry over the Babytalk cover has nothing to do with curbing a woman’s “right” to breastfeed in public, and everything to do with exercising the decorum to be unobtrusive while doing so. With all due respect to radical “lactivists,” nursing mothers' don’t have to shove their tit in everyone’s face.

 

The Stiletto believes that breastfeeding, like other natural bodily functions, is best performed behind closed doors. And if that’s impractical - for instance, if the only private area in a restaurant or other public place is the ladies’ restroom – is it really asking too much for a nursing mother to trouble herself to position a small blanket over the baby’s head to preserve her modesty?

 

 

He Has The Face For Radio, But Not The Voice

 

The New York Post reports that Ellis Henican’s radio talk show with Lynne White (“Henican & White”) will be syndicated nationwide on the WOR network starting Monday. Henican is what they call a “quadruple threat” – in addition to his radio gig, he’s in print (staff columnist at Newsday and blogger), and on TV (Fox News political analyst). The Stiletto rarely agrees with his opinion pieces, but it’s his radio and TV work that really sets her teeth on edge. The guy has an incredibly annoying voice. Think "Alvin" (check out the podcasts of his radio show to see what The Stiletto means). According to Arbitron, the show, which airs on WOR, 710 AM finished 25th in its 4-6 pm timeslot during the April – June period.   

 

 

Update Of Follow-Up

 

It remains to be seen whether Matt Lauer’s recent comments about politicians  appearing on “The Colbert Report” because “they want to look hip” will have a chilling effect on Stephen Colbert’s ability to attract fresh victims, but Jon Stewart need not worry about his supply drying up. Stewart famously ridiculed Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) for his analogy likening the Internet to a series of tubes that get clogged up when a huge amount of material is dumped into them. (An aide later explained that in his June 28 remarks during the  “Net neutrality” debate, the Senator meant to say “pipes” instead of “tubes.”) Stevens, who is known to be a Crackberry junkie, is now angling for an invitation to appear on “The Daily Show” to defend himself.

Posted by The Stiletto at July 28, 2006
Categories: The Daily Blade
 

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  • February 7, 2007 The Stiletto wrote:
    Chelsi Meyerson, 29, claims that when she began breast-feeding her 7-month-old son within view of other customers – some of them children - at the Toys 'R' Us in Times Square, the store’s personnel tried to stop her, though New York State law permits breastfeeding in all public places. Meyerson and the New York Civil Liberties Union demand that Toys 'R' Us officials meet with her, apologize, give her "appropriate compensation," and guarantee in writing that the chain will allow breast-feeding in its stores, which include the Babies 'R' Us and Kids 'R' Us chains. Toys 'R' Us, ...
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