Trends for 2007

Marian Salzman is a professional “trendspotter” (apparently she coined the term “metrosexual”) and purports to be an expert about what’s “in” and what’s “out” for 2007. She tells the British tabloid The Sun that the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan are out, as is being a size zero, dressing in an unladylike fashion and wearing heavy eye makeup. I think many of us are sighing in relief at all that news. But what else does this “futurist” claim is out for 2007?

Public breastfeeding. So much in our world is now public so we will see a move back towards privacy. There will be the sense that some things should remain private and breastfeeding, certainly after the early days, is one of them. So forget being an earth mother who lets it all hang out.

Looks like we have our work cut out for us girls. Let’s show Marian Salzman that she’s wrong in more ways that one. First of all, if my poll results are any indication, many of us are comfortable breastfeeding in public and will do so anytime, anywhere. Second of all, breastfeeding in public does not mean being “an earth mother who lets it all hang out.” Women do not need to let it all hang out to breastfeed in public, nor do they need to cover up to be discreet. Certainly if the nursing mother herself feels more comfortable using a nursing cover, sling or blanket, that’s fine. Nursing clothing helps too. In my experience though, practice makes perfect and the more a woman breastfeeds in public the easier it becomes. I don’t wear any special nursing clothing, nor do I cover up in any way. Am I letting it “all hang out”? Hardly! My baby covers the majority of my breast, and my shirt covers the rest. Any bit of flesh showing (and why is anyone looking anyway?) is far less than that shown by any number of women in their regular clothing, not to mention the celebrities featured in tabloids like The Sun.

Shame on Marian Salzman for trying to set back the cause of nursing in public. In light of all the press coverage of the nurse-ins (see number 10 on my list of most popular posts for 2006), doesn’t she realize the trend might actually be swinging the other way?