Should Breastfeeding Be Shown on 'Sesame Street'?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/01/11 17:00:00

Related Topics: Sesame Street, Breastfeeding, Controversy, Breastfeeding Petition, Lactivists, Health, elmo, Baby, Entertainment, Intelligence, Sexual, birthday, Obesity, Michelle, Email, Son, 80s

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899 votes
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	Yes	484 votes	54%
	No	415 votes	46%

Can you tell me how to get, how to get breastfeeding back on Sesame Street? This is the question that angry moms are asking regarding why the show no longer features breastfeeding moms. Back in the 1970's and '80s, the show often featured women nursing, as you can see in the snapshot below.

Since then, breastfeeding has been replaced with bottle feeding on the show, despite growing evidence that breastfeeding is preferable for the health of both mom and baby. Moreover, as Lani Michelle, the mother of a breastfeeding toddler, wrote in an email to Care2.com: "Women breastfeeding are the images we want to show to our sons and daughters, so that they will view a woman’s body as more then a sexual object."

Another breastfeeding mom, Jessica Williams, has created a petition asking "Sesame Street" to bring back breastfeeding. She has a good case: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life. According to babycenter.com, breastfeeding protects a baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems and ear infections; can protect a baby from developing allergies; may boost a child's intelligence and may protect against obesity later in life. But does it need to be shown on "Sesame Street"?

+23

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maryhanna.mpt 2012/01/11 18:50:42

Yes

+27
I totally support Lani Michelle: "Women breastfeeding are the images we want to show to our sons and daughters, so that they will view a woman’s body as more then a sexual object."
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imsmarter to Popanator 2012/01/16 22:27:59

+4
That is subject to interpretation. And exactly why breastfeeding should be taught to children. Cause society has made idiots like you believe that a womans body (especially her breast) are purely sexual. You need to educate yourself. Your exposed ignorance is far more offensive then a mother feeding her child.

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shindogg to imsmarter 2012/02/09 08:37:58

i think i will respond even though this isn't directed towards me. 1st off, consumptive act? you make it sound like the baby is literally eating her breasts right off of her! and 2nd, i could say sex is a naturally consumptive act, so what now? believe it or not, (drum roll....go get ripleys! *sarcasm*) breastfeeding CAN be perceived as a sexual act. if you disagree, i guess you're not familiar with the way that some lactating women whose men suck on their breasts in much like the same way a baby would if they are teething. i think i've stated my case.

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imsmarter to shindogg 2012/02/14 02:50:03

Now I KNOW you were formula fed.

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shindogg to imsmarter 2012/02/15 04:10:23

now i know you were dropped on your head

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imsmarter to shindogg 2012/02/15 07:45:24

no.

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shindogg to imsmarter 2012/02/20 01:46:25

yes, or i wouldnt have said so. all of what i said is true. i hate when people argue with me over my opinions on the internet.

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imsmarter to shindogg 2012/02/20 07:33:40

All of your opinions are just that, opinions. None of what you have said is factual, infact it is so far gone that you have nothing to back it. You have your head so far up your ass you're convinced that I "photoshopped" oficial government documents to support my case. SAD is what you are. Get a life dude.

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shindogg to imsmarter 2012/02/22 07:09:09
imsmarter to shindogg 2012/02/22 07:22:55

My opinion is shared by the government. I don't care what your ignorant mind thinks. My opinion is supported by law. nananana boo boo.

oh and ps... you realize no one is making you reply to me right? your the one continuing this conversation. You could just... idk, not respond? LOL.

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shindogg to imsmarter 2012/02/22 07:32:17 (edited)
imsmarter to shindogg 2012/02/22 07:41:52
shindogg to imsmarter 2012/06/18 13:07:52
imsmarter to shindogg 2012/06/18 17:01:54

I don't have to. This is comedy. Every time you post all I think is "YAY, lets see what this idiot posted" then I read it and I just can't stop laughing. Because of you I don't even have to argue all of the wonderful reasons why breastfeeding in public is legal. Everyone who sees what you type knows they don't want to associate with anything an idiot like you is saying. It's wonderful. Because of ignorant you, my argument it made for itself.

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shindogg to imsmarter 2012/07/18 08:15:11
imsmarter to imsmarter 2012/07/19 16:52:31

YOU MAD? =D

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Ted 2012/01/13 22:41:22

No

+2
As much good as showing breastfeeding may be to teaching children about how to respect women's bodies, I feel that there's just too many souls out there that have already bad intentions and evil designs. Its better that children gain these lessons at home from parents that know the appropriate time to teach tender souls about the beauty of such a basic expression of love.

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Jackie 2012/01/13 21:55:52

No

+2
Children learn that stuff at home with mommy. They don't need it showcased on their childrens television show. Why drag reality into sesame street.

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AltPunk... to Jackie 2012/01/15 04:02:45

+1
Actually, part of what made Sesame Street such a superb children's show was that they did deal with real topics. Remember the episode where Mr. Hooper died?

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VioletY... to AltPunk... 2012/01/15 22:34:37

+2
Yeah, but that's different than allowing a mom to indulge in herr perversions on a kids' show.

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AltPunk... to VioletY... 2012/01/15 23:54:54

+2
How is nursing a growing a child perverted?

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Annie~P... to AltPunk... 2012/01/24 15:33:01

+1
Why do you think it is necessary for government run TV to teach our children breast feeding? That is something children need to learn at home.

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AltPunk... to Annie~P... 2012/01/26 03:39:58

Yes, but there's no reason it can't be reinforced on Sesame Street.

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Jackie to AltPunk... 2012/02/13 00:14:36

It isn't perverted, but that should be taught more intimately. By your Mom with a new baby or an Aunt with a new baby. Not the coldness of a television.And not a job for a childs show.

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iHatespam to VioletY... 2012/01/21 18:16:30

+1
Someone should bitch slap u

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VioletY... to iHatespam 2012/01/21 19:47:48

+1
Try to speak like an adult next time.

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Annie~P... to iHatespam 2012/01/24 15:33:42

Actually ihatespam, you're the one that needs a huge bitch slap.

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iHatespam to Annie~P... 2012/02/10 05:53:03

I'm gonna bitch slap both of you losers

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Jackie to AltPunk... 2012/02/13 00:10:36

Only real if everyone around you are puppets and large yellow child like birds inhabit your neighborhood. They do well at teaching letters and numbers. Mixing Puppets and reality are a bit surreal.

Well they did need to explain why Hooper wouldn't be there anymore.

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Sam LeFay 2012/01/13 21:25:16

Yes

+2
However, the fact that breastfeeding is not shown does not promote any kind of prejudicial idea towards women.
Showing breastfeeding is not a problem at all. Children are quite unaffected by nakedness, and showing the top skin of a woman's breast as she feeds her child is hardly scandalous. Nursing is in no way vulgar, nor disgusting, and I find the show to not lose nor gain any positive values by depicting it on television.

Though you know, that that organization, the PTC, is gonna jump all over this.

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stevie.luplow 2012/01/13 21:13:13

Yes

+5
I don't know how this became a "sexual" thing, since that's the argument I have heard in many forums. It's natural and it's not a bad thing. Some kids will ONLY learn about breastfeeding through TV...and really, kids don't know or care about a baby being on a boob or a bottle. They know the baby is getting food. The adults are the ones that are trying to sexualize it which is absolutely ridiculous!

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TJ 2012/01/13 19:10:22

Yes

+3
A breast when feeding a baby has nothing to do with sex.... unless we BAN it... then the conotations are there. Funny how most of those hat would BAN a breast being shown for breastfeeding are Christians. Well, if you are then you believe in God. God made it so babies could be breastfed..... I love the hypocricy that abounds in organized religion, especially Christianity!

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Joe 2012/01/13 17:39:48

Yes

+5
Breast feeding is natural and normal. It's not inappropriate if we say it's not inappropriate, this'll help get that message across.

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bettyboop to Joe 2012/01/15 15:28:59

I agree, and mothers milk is so much better for the babies

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Tori 2012/01/13 17:08:48

No

It's a children's show. Why do children need to know about breast feeding?

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Joe to Tori 2012/01/13 17:41:20

+4
If they know about it at a young age, they won't think it's inappropriate (because it isnt). If people would just think of breast feeding as normal as eating, no one would have a problem with it.

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Tori to Joe 2012/01/14 20:05:27

True... Many people think of it as digusting but its a way of feeding. It will bring up a lot of questions that the kid wants to ask the adults.

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AltPunk... to Tori 2012/01/15 04:03:45
Tori to AltPunk... 2012/01/17 02:59:06

Haha... okay?

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dheydrick 2012/01/13 17:02:38

No

Absolutely not. Breastfeeding is natural, beautiful, and baby's benefit from it, however, it doesn't need to be shown on TV. Parents, teach your kids about breastfeeding when it's appropriate and quit asking the public school system and the media to teach your 'Sesame Street' aged kids about this and other inappropriate subjects.

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JoeM 2012/01/13 16:49:06

Yes

+2
maryhanna.mpt Said it best. It is the most natural, and best food for a baby. nothing else measures up.

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